With the MCP9604 thermocouple conditioning IC, Microchip Technology has overcome a barrier in thermal measurement and integration. This is the first four-channel I2C thermocouple conditioning IC capable of delivering accuracy down to ±1.5°C and offering an alternative to discrete and multi-chip thermocouple conditioning solutions, which can introduce errors and increase system design complexity.
“The thermocouple has been an indispensable tool for measuring extremely high temperatures for more than two centuries, but the necessary precision and accuracy could not be achieved with the level of integration and cost-effectiveness required by today’s demanding production line applications,” said Keith Pazul, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear product business unit. “Our device combines accuracy, integration, and cost-effectiveness, helping to reduce the need for up to 15 discrete components and the associated system design challenges.”
The MCP9604 achieves its advanced measurement accuracy for four thermocouples using higher-order NIST ITS-90 equations instead of the first-order linear approximations characteristic of analog amplifier designs. For example, it achieves ninth-order accuracy with type K thermocouples on a single integrated chip containing the ADCs, cold-junction compensated temperature sensors, amplifiers, and other components required for the signal chain, temperature measurement, and mathematical calculation engine.
Eliminating external components simplifies the printed circuit board design, reduces bill of materials costs, and can eliminate the weeks it takes discrete solutions to test and calibrate each unit on the production line—a costly and complex but necessary process in the thermocouple measurement signal chain before data can be sent to the host system.
The MCP9604 also offers flexibility and versatility by supporting all eight commonly used thermocouple types, including types J and K, which can operate at temperatures as low as 200°C. In addition to supporting a wide temperature range of -200°C to +1372°C across a variety of industrial applications, the MCP9604 also supports I2C communication for easy integration with microcontrollers and other digital systems.
Based on Microchip's single-channel thermocouple conditioning integrated circuit, the MCP9604 is the first all-in-one device to achieve accuracy down to ±1.5°C. The technological advancements that made this device possible paved the way for the company to develop the MCP9604 on a single, four-channel chip, which provides digital temperature readings with the highest levels of accuracy on the market for an I2C thermocouple conditioning device.
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MCP9604 is supported by Microchip's EV19L27A evaluation board. It can connect to and read data from up to four thermocouples and includes a microcontroller that acts as the host system to receive this data from the selected thermocouple. The evaluation card also includes free software that can be downloaded from the MCP9604 or EVB web pages.
Accurate temperature measurement across four channels is paramount for production line applications ranging from the chemical and food processing industries, manufacturing process control, and medical and HVAC equipment to refrigerated, cryogenic, and other environments requiring precise control. With the MCP9604 thermocouple conditioning IC, Microchip Technology has overcome a barrier in thermal measurement and integration by delivering the first four-channel I2C thermocouple conditioning IC capable of providing accuracy down to ±1.5°C. This offers an alternative to discrete and multi-chip thermocouple conditioning solutions, which can introduce errors and increase system design complexity.
“The thermocouple has been an indispensable tool for measuring extremely high temperatures for more than two centuries, but the necessary precision and accuracy could not be achieved with the level of integration and cost-effectiveness required by today’s demanding production line applications,” said Keith Pazul, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear product business unit. “Our device combines precision, integration, and cost-effectiveness, helping to reduce the need for up to 15 discrete components and the associated system design challenges.”
The MCP9604 achieves its advanced measurement accuracy for four thermocouples using higher-order NIST ITS-90 equations instead of the first-order linear approximations characteristic of analog amplifier designs. For example, it achieves ninth-order accuracy with type K thermocouples on a single integrated chip that contains the ADCs, cold-junction compensated temperature sensors, amplifiers, and other components required for the signal chain, temperature measurement, and mathematical calculation engine.
Eliminating external components simplifies printed circuit board design, reduces bill of materials costs, and can eliminate the weeks it takes discrete solutions to test and calibrate each unit on the production line—a costly and complex but necessary process in the thermocouple measurement signal chain before data can be sent to the host system.
The MCP9604 also offers flexibility and versatility by supporting the eight most commonly used thermocouple types, including types J and K, which can operate at temperatures as low as -200°C. In addition to supporting a wide temperature range of -200°C to +1372°C across a variety of industrial applications, the MCP9604 also supports I2C communication for easy integration with microcontrollers and other digital systems.
The MCP9604 is based on Microchip's single-channel thermocouple conditioning integrated circuit and is the first all-in-one device to achieve accuracy down to ±1.5°C. The technological development that made this device possible paved the way for the company to develop the MCP9604 on a single, four-channel chip, which provides digital temperature readings with the highest levels of accuracy on the market for an I2C thermocouple conditioning device.
Development Tools:
The MCP9604 is supported by Microchip's EV19L27A evaluation board. It can connect to and read data from up to four thermocouples and includes a microcontroller that acts as the host system to receive this data from the selected thermocouple. The evaluation board also includes free software that can be downloaded from the MCP9604 or EVB web pages.
Pricing and Availability:
The MCP9604 thermocouple conditioning integrated circuit is available in reel-mounted (MCP9604T-E/3YW) or rail-mounted (MCP9604-E/3YW) configurations. The price is $10.56 per device for orders of 10,000 units, and they are supplied in 24-pin, 5x5 LGA (Land Grid Array) packages. The EV19L27A evaluation board is priced at $96.00 per unit and is available now.
The MCP9604 thermocouple conditioning integrated circuit is available in reel-mounted (MCP9604T-E/3YW) or rail-mounted (MCP9604-E/3YW) configurations. The price is $10.56 per device for orders of 10,000 units, and they are supplied in 24-pin, 5x5 LGA (Land Grid Array) packages. The EV19L27A evaluation board is priced at $96.00 per unit and is available now.
