ICs Bring Temperature/Voltage Management To A Host Of Applications

March 29, 2004

Computer and embedded systems with temperature- and voltage-management issues can look to a trio of intelligent ICs from Standard Microsystems Corp. Targeting workstations, servers, and other multifan embedded applications, the ECM6W201...

Roger Allan

Computer and embedded systems with temperature- and voltage-management issues can look to a trio of intelligent ICs from Standard Microsystems Corp.

Targeting workstations, servers, and other multifan embedded applications, the ECM6W201 boasts intelligent thermal management and automatic fan control. Its piecewise linear-approximation adaptive fan control prevents systems from continually reaching critical temperatures.

The ECM6W201 also monitors six temperature zones (five remote and one internal) and up to six system voltages. Three "processor hot" pins on the IC are compatible with multiple Intel processors. High- and low-frequency pulse-width-modulated (PWM) outputs support three- and four-wire fans and four fan tachometer or locked rotor inputs.

The EMC6D103 fits desktop PCs and embedded systems that require temperature and voltage monitoring in addition to fan control. It features 20- to 30-kHz drives for lower noise and supports three- and four-wire fan standards. Four fan tachometer inputs, fan ramp rate control for acoustic noise reduction, and programmable fan control are included.

This IC can monitor up to three temperature zones and voltages of 2.5 V, 5 V, 12 V, and VCC and VCCP. It sports interrupts for out-of-limit events, five voltage ID inputs, and two system power-saving modes and complies with the SMBus 2.0 interface.

And, the EMCT03 is designed for SMBus interfaces in PCs, gaming, graphics, and embedded systems. It includes three temperature sensors (two internal and one external) in an eight-pin MSOP, whereas competitors only have two sensors. Also, it features ±1°C temperature accuracy from 40°C to 80°C, external temperature monitoring from −64°C to 191°C, external diode fault reporting, and programmable conversion rates for reduced power consumption.

In 10,000-unit lots, pricing is $2.75, $1.80, and $0.90 each, respectively.

Standard Microsystems Corp.www.smsc.com

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.