New Industry Products

New Sensors from Texas Instruments Simplify Thermal Profiling of Portable Consumer Electronics

May 11, 2011 by Jeff Shepard

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) unveiled what it says is the industry’s smallest, most power-efficient digital temperature sensor. The TMP103 consumes 97% less power and is 75% smaller than the next closest competitor. It also provides global read/write functionality to ease thermal profiling. Using a single command, eight TMP103 devices mounted on the board can simultaneously identify and monitor hotspots. The TMP103 simplifies thermal profiling while enabling longer battery life and smaller form factors for portable consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and netbooks.

Key features and benefits include: draws a maximum of 1µA while in shutdown mode and 3µA while in active mode to extend battery life. In its active state, the TMP103 draws approximately half the power of the next closest competitor in shutdown state; measures only 0.76 x 0.76mm, making it suitable for high-density, space-constrained applications requiring multiple temperature measurement zones; and global read/write functionality reduces software development and processor loading (with a single command, the software can poll up to eight devices, reducing MIPS and bandwidth on the I2C bus).

An evaluation module is available now for the TMP103 for $49. An IBIS model to verify board signal integrity requirements is also available.

The TMP103 is available now in a 0.76 x 0.76mm WCSP package for a suggested retail price of $0.39 in 1,000-unit quantities.

More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.