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SBOS273C − JUNE 2003 − REVISED FEBRUARY 2005
www.ti.com
5
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
The TMP121 and TMP123 are 12-bit plus sign read-only
digital temperature sensors optimal for thermal
management and thermal protection applications. The
TMP121 and the TMP123 communicate through a serial
interface that is SPI-compatible. Temperature is converted
to a 12-bit plus sign data word with 0.0625°C resolution.
The TMP121 and TMP123 are specified for a temperature
range of −40°C to +125°C, with operation extending from
−55°C to +150°C.
The TMP121 and TMP123 are optimal for low power
applications, with a 0.5s conversion period for reduced
power consumption. The TMP121 and TMP123 are
specified for a supply voltage range of 2.7V to 5.5V, and
also feature a hardware shutdown to provide additional
power savings.
The TMP121 and TMP123 require no external
components for operation, though a 0.1µF supply bypass
capacitor is recommended. Figure 1 shows typical
connections for the TMP121 and TMP123.
TMP121
0.1µF
V+
GND
2
5
1
3
CS
NC(1)
4
6
SCK
SO TMP123
0.1µF
V+
GND
1
5
2
3
CS
NC = No Connection
NC(1)
4
6
SCK
SO
NOTE: (1) Pins labeled NC should be left floating or connected to GND.
Figure 1. Typical Connections of the TMP121 and
TMP123
The sensing device of both the TMP121 and TMP123 is
the chip itself; the die flag of the lead frame is thermally
connected to pin 2 of the TMP121, and of the TMP123.
Thermal paths run through the package leads as well as
the plastic package, and the lower thermal resistance of
metal causes the leads to provide the primary thermal
path. The GND pin (pin 2) of the TMP121 and the NC pin
(pin 2) o f the TMP123 are thermally connected to the metal
lead frame, and are the best choice for thermal input.
To maintain accuracy in applications requiring air or
surface temperature measurement, care should be taken
to isolate the package and leads from ambient air
temperature.
TEMPERATURE REGISTER
The Temperature Register of the TMP121 and TMP123 is
a 16-bit, signed read-only register that stores the output of
the most recent conversion. Up to 16 bits can be read to
obtain data and are described in Table 1. The first 13 bits
are used to indicate temperature with bits D2 = 0, and D1,
D0 in a high impedance state. Data format for temperature
is summarized in Table 2. Following power-up or reset, the
Temperature Register will read 0°C until the first
conversion is complete.
D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8
T12 T11 T10 T9 T8 T7 T6 T5
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
T4 T3 T2 T1 T0 0 Z Z
Table 1. Temperature Register
TEMPERATURE
(°C) DIGITAL OUTPUT(1)
(BINARY) HEX
150 0100 1011 0000 0000 4B00
125 0011 1 110 1000 0000 3E80
25 0000 1100 1000 0000 0C80
0.0625 0000 0000 0000 1000 0008
00000 0000 0000 0000 0000
−0.0625 1111 1111 1111 1000 FFF8
−25 1111 0011 1000 0000 F380
−55 11 10 0100 1000 0000 E480
(1) The last two bits are high impedance and are shown as 00 in the
table.
Table 2. Temperature Data Format
COMMUNICATING WITH THE TMP121
The TMP121 and TMP123 continuously convert
temperatures to digital data while CS is high. CS must be
high for a minimum of one conversion time (320ms max)
to update the temperature data. Reading temperature data
from the TMP121 and TMP123 is initiated by pulling CS
low, which will cause any conversion in progress to
terminate, and place the device into analog shutdown.
Quiescent current is reduced to 1µA during analog
shutdown. Once CS is pulled low, temperature data from
the last completed conversion prior to dropping CS is
latched into the shift register and clocked out at SO on the
falling SCK edge. The 16-bit data word is clocked out sign
bit first, followed by the MSB. Any portion of the 16-bit word
can be read before raising CS. The TMP121 and TMP123
typically require 0.25s to complete a conversion and
consume 50µA of current during this period. If CS is held
high for longer than one conversion time period the
TMP121 and TMP123 will go into idle mode for 0.25s,
requiring only 20µA of current. A new conversion begins
every 0.5s. Figure 2 describes the conversion timing for
the TMP121 and TMP123.