Silicon Labs Microcontrollers Deliver Best-in-Class Temperature Sensing Accuracy

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced a family of high-performance 8-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) featuring the company’s latest mixed-signal breakthrough, an integrated temperature sensor with best-in-class accuracy over an extended temperature range and without the need for calibration. Offering a unique mix of integrated high-performance analog peripherals and a very fast 8051 CPU in a compact package, the new C8051F39x/7x MCU family provides an optimal solution for optical transceiver modules, sensor interfaces and brushless dc motor applications for fans, dryers, vacuum cleaners and remote control toy vehicles.

Many consumer and industrial applications require highly accurate temperature sensors to adjust for behavior shifts over temperature for on-board components such as sensors, lasers or power sources. The C8051F39x/7x MCUs’ on-chip temperature sensor provides ±2 ^oC accuracy through an extended temperature range (up to 105 ^oC) without the need for calibration. Providing five times higher accuracy than competing in-class MCUs, the C8051F39x/7x family improves temperature compensation routines, resulting in better end-product reliability. In addition, the temperature sensor reduces manufacturing cost by eliminating the need for the factory calibration step required by competing MCUs.

C8051F39x/7x MCUs are more than 30 percent smaller than competing solutions, making them an excellent choice for space-constrained applications such as optical transceiver modules. The MCU family’s exceptional integration eliminates the need for external components such as a temperature sensor, a crystal, a differential analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a voltage reference and two digital-to-analog converters (DACs), further reducing bill-of-materials (BOM) cost and PCB footprint. These on-chip analog peripherals enable developers to minimize discrete components and reduce the BOM cost by more than $0.30 (USD). In addition, the MCU family’s innovative crossbar technology gives developers the flexibility to assign peripherals to specific pin locations, thereby easing system layout and eliminating pin conflicts.

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