embedded world: Atmel unveils ‘revolutionary’ digital temperature sensors

According to the company, this combination allows for user configured settings to be retained across power cycles to simplify the system design, reduce processor start up code, improve reliability and ensure proper operation. The AT30TS750 series is designed for consumer, industrial, computer and medical applications and integrates 2, 4 and 8Kbits of Serial EEPROM memory to store system parameters and user preference data. The user can then access the EEPROM, which is fully functional and drop in compatible with industry standard I²C serial EEPROMs. "Previous generation temperature sensors had to be set up by the microcontroller each time the system boots," said Kerry Maletsky, product line director, Atmel. "With this new range of digital temperature sensors, a system can automatically power up in the right state, so the microcontroller doesn't have to do anything to support the temperature sensing capability. By eliminating this extra step, system designers can reduce their overall time to market, use less power and improve the reliability of the system."