Mini Temperature-Sensor ICs Accurately Monitor Seven Channels

Dec. 16, 2004

Precise sensing and monitoring of a single temperature or two with an IC is a nice achievement. But doing so for up to seven channels represents a breakthrough. That's just the case with the MAX-6697 and MAX6698 sensors, which measure 8.5 by 8.5...

Roger Allan

Developed by Maxim, these devices measure their own temperature as well as six others' at external locations within 1°C between 60°C and 100°C. When the measured temperature of a channel exceeds the respective threshold, a status bit is set in one of the status registers. Two open-drain outputs corresponding to these bits in the status register assert themselves.

The MAX6697 measures its own temperature and the temperature of six external locations. Such locations may include CPUs, graphics processor units, memory devices, and others important in notebook and laptop computer applications.

The MAX6698 also measures its own temperature as well as the temperatures of three thermistors and three remote CPUs, graphics processor units, memory devices, or other key locations in notebook and laptop computer applications. It's well suited for industrial applications. Users can program the temperature threshold of alarm outputs, which can serve as an interrupt or be connected to a system fan or other thermal-management circuitry.

Both devices communicate through the two-wire SMBus interface and operate from 3- to 5-V supplies, consuming only 500 mA (3 µA in standby). They are both specified to operate from 40°C to 125°C. The MAX-6697 and MAX6698 start at $3.75 each in 2500-unit lots and higher.

Maxim Integrated Productswww.maxim-ic.com (800) 998-8800

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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.