DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCES FIRST CLOCK/CALENDAR AND DIGITAL THERMOMETER ON A SINGLE CHIP
DALLAS, TEXAS-March 8, 1999-Dallas Semiconductor today announced the DS1629 2-Wire Digital Thermometer and Real Time Clock, the first digital system component to incorporate a direct-to-digital temperature sensor and a real-time clock and Y2K-correct calendar on one chip. Previously, designs for digitally monitoring thermally sensitive instruments and operating equipment have required a separate chip for each function, with separate programming configurations and interfaces.
 Chris Beaudoin, product manager, said, "Thermally sensitive environments often require that temperature changes be monitored over time. The DS1629 provides digital accuracy and programmability for both time and temperature while cutting down the number and size of components. This is particularly important when you're designing for compact spaces."
The digital thermometer is accurate to ±2°C with 9-bit readouts in increments of 0.5°C. The user can even fine-tune a thermostatic response for extra sensitive applications, yielding 13-bit readouts in increments of 0.03125°C. The real-time clock/calendar counts time from seconds through years, with leap year compensation through 2100.
For timed and/or thermostatic interrupt functions, the DS1629 has open-drain alarm outputs that activate at user-defined setpoints. For example, the user can set an interrupt for a certain time or at time intervals, at certain temperatures, or at temperatures occurring at a certain time or over specific periods of time. An additional 32 bytes of memory are available as a notebook for general user data. All communication is accomplished through a standard two-wire serial interface.
Digital time and temperature monitors are currently used in cellular telephones, industrial controls, office equipment, dataloggers and other thermally sensitive, clocked systems. The DS1629 is unique in offering both functions on one chip, and will benefit those applications where saving space on board design and speeding program implementation are also important.
Currently available from stock in a 150-mil SO-8 package, the DS1629 sells for $2.10 in quantities of 10,000.
Dallas Semiconductor designs, manufactures and markets CMOS chips and chip-based subsystems. In its 15-year history, the company has sold its products to more than 15,000 customers worldwide. Major markets include Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in personal computers, telecommunications, office equipment, instrumentation, factory automation, medical equipment and mainframe computers.
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