Maxim Integrated Products introduces the DS75LX, a digital temperature sensor that allows up to 27 addresses on one I2C communication bus. To enable 27 address combinations, this temperature sensor provides three dedicated address pins that can be placed in one of three states: tied to GND, tied to VDD, or left floating. Most competing devices only allow the three address pins to be tied to GND or VDD, resulting in a maximum of only eight addresses.

The DS75LX's additional addresses greatly simplify applications in which several I2C components reside, thus making it ideal for base stations, networking and telecom equipment, and other distributed temperature-sensing systems. The DS75LX operates from a 1.7V to 3.7V supply voltage, and it can be connected directly to low-voltage supply rails. The temperature sensor is factory calibrated to an accuracy of ±2.0°C (max) over its entire supply-voltage range and a wide temperature range of -25°C to +100°C. It is ±3.0°C (max) accurate over its full operating-temperature range of -55°C to +125°C. Temperature is reported as user-selectable 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-bit digital temperature readings that translate to resolutions between 0.5°C (9 bit) and 0.0625°C (12 bit).

The DS75LX also has thermostat functionality with user-defined trip points that allow the user to customize the threshold temperature and output hysteresis. Additionally, this device includes an optional bus-timeout function that releases the data line if held longer than a predetermined amount of time. This prevents any possible lockup problems that might occur on the two-wire bus. Function, pin, and software compatible with the DS75, the DS75LX makes it easy to migrate to low-voltage designs. It is available in both lead-free, 8-pin µSOP (µMAX) and 8-pin SO packages. Prices start at $0.75 (1000-up, FOB USA).