Remote/Local Temperature Sensor
with SMBus Serial Interface
MAX1617
A/D Conversion Sequence
If a Start command is written (or generated automatical-
ly in the free-running auto-convert mode), both chan-
nels are converted, and the results of both
measurements are available after the end of conver-
sion. A BUSY status bit in the status byte shows that the
device is actually performing a new conversion; howev-
er, even if the ADC is busy, the results of the previous
conversion are always available.
Table 1. Remote-Sensor Transistor
Manufacturers
MANUFACTURER
Central Semiconductor (USA)
Motorola (USA)
National Semiconductor (USA)
Rohm Semiconductor (Japan)
Samsung (Korea)
Siemens (Germany)
Zetex (England)
MODEL NUMBER
CMPT3904
MMBT3904
MMBT3904
SST3904
KST3904-TF
SMBT3904
FMMT3904CT-ND
Remote-Diode Selection
Temperature accuracy depends on having a good-qual-
ity, diode-connected small-signal transistor. Accuracy
has been experimentally verified for all of the devices
listed in Table 1. The MAX1617 can also directly mea-
sure the die temperature of CPUs and other integrated
circuits having on-board temperature-sensing diodes.
The transistor must be a small-signal type with a rela-
tively high forward voltage; otherwise, the A/D input
voltage range can be violated. The forward voltage
must be greater than 0.25V at 10µA; check to ensure
this is true at the highest expected temperature. The
forward voltage must be less than 0.95V at 100µA;
check to ensure this is true at the lowest expected tem-
perature. Large power transistors don’t work at all.
Also, ensure that the base resistance is less than 100Ω.
Tight specifications for forward-current gain (+50 to
+150, for example) indicate that the manufacturer has
good process controls and that the devices have con-
sistent VBE characteristics.
For heat-sink mounting, the 500-32BT02-000 thermal
sensor from Fenwal Electronics is a good choice. This
device consists of a diode-connected transistor, an
aluminum plate with screw hole, and twisted-pair cable
(Fenwal Inc., Milford, MA, 508-478-6000).
Note: Transistors must be diode-connected (base shorted to
collector).
fastest rate and simultaneously sinking maximum cur-
rent at the
ALERT
output. For example, at an 8Hz rate
and with
ALERT
sinking 1mA, the typical power dissi-
pation is V
CC
x 450µA plus 0.4V x 1mA. Package theta
J-A is about 150°C/W, so with V
CC
= 5V and no copper
PC board heat-sinking, the resulting temperature rise
is:
dT = 2.7mW x 150°C/W = 0.4°C
Even with these contrived circumstances, it is difficult
to introduce significant self-heating errors.
ADC Noise Filtering
The ADC is an integrating type with inherently good
noise rejection, especially of low-frequency signals
such as 60Hz/120Hz power-supply hum. Micropower
operation places constraints on high-frequency noise
rejection; therefore, careful PC board layout and proper
external noise filtering are required for high-accuracy
remote measurements in electrically noisy environ-
ments.
High-frequency EMI is best filtered at DXP and DXN
with an external 2200pF capacitor. This value can be
increased to about 3300pF (max), including cable
capacitance. Higher capacitance than 3300pF intro-
duces errors due to the rise time of the switched cur-
rent source.
Nearly all noise sources tested cause the ADC measure-
ments to be higher than the actual temperature, typically
by +1°C to +10°C, depending on the frequency and
amplitude (see
Typical Operating Characteristics).
Thermal Mass and Self-Heating
Thermal mass can seriously degrade the MAX1617’s
effective accuracy. The thermal time constant of the
QSOP-16 package is about 140sec in still air. For the
MAX1617 junction temperature to settle to within +1°C
after a sudden +100°C change requires about five time
constants or 12 minutes. The use of smaller packages
for remote sensors, such as SOT23s, improves the situ-
ation. Take care to account for thermal gradients
between the heat source and the sensor, and ensure
that stray air currents across the sensor package do
not interfere with measurement accuracy.
Self-heating does not significantly affect measurement
accuracy. Remote-sensor self-heating due to the diode
current source is negligible. For the local diode, the
worst-case error occurs when auto-converting at the
8
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