New Industry Products

Microchip Debuts TC654/655/664/665 Fan Managers

July 04, 2002 by Jeff Shepard

Microchip Technology Inc. (Chandler, AZ) announced the expansion of the TC6xx family, with its single- and dual-SMBus fan speed controllers featuring fan-fault and over-temperature detection, suitable for next-generation fan-speed control and fan-monitoring applications.

The TC654, TC655, TC664 and TC665 fan managers adjust fan speed according to temperature instead of continuously running a system's fan at maximum speed. The TC6xx family detects fan wear-out before the fan stops rotating by reading rotations-per-minute data from up to two individual fans. The TC6xx family utilizes an external power device, enabling design flexibility and allowing the devices to drive 5V, 12V, 24V and 48V fans rated up to 1A. The TC654/5 are able to monitor two fans simultaneously. The TC655 and TC665 devices also assert an over-temperature signal to indicate any possible over-heating conditions, eliminating the need for an additional temperature-detection IC.

Offered in 10-pin MSOP packages, the devices have an operating voltage range of 3.0V to 5.5V and a temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees C. Pricing in 1,000-unit quantities is $1.70 each for the TC654, $1.79 each for the TC655, $1.51 each for the TC664 and $1.59 each for the TC665. Samples are available now with volume quantities available in the third quarter of 2002.