Texas Instruments: An IR temperature sensor that opens up new apps

Texas Instruments: An IR temperature sensor that opens up new apps

In today’s smartphones, no contact-type sensor can be built in to measure case temperature because of assembly constraints, and contact-less solutions have been too large and, at prices greater that $5 in high volumes, cost-prohibitive. Housed in a 1.6 x 1.6 x 0.625-mm WCS package, the TMP006 MEMS-based infrared temperature sensor changes that by offering a low-cost, easy-to-add solution for monitoring case temperature. The device can not only provides greater safety and better system performance, but it opens up a range of new possibilities for cellular devices.

The highly integrated device — it incorporates a complete thermopile sensor, signal conditioning, analog-to-digital converter, and local temperature and voltage references on a single monolithic IC — can monitor the passive infrared energy radiated by any object in front of it without physical contact. Thus the sensor can let consumer electronics products measure temperature in the real world. For example, if placed in smartphone adjacent to the camera module, the sensor transforms the phone into a complete portable measurement system. Just point the phone at what you’d like to measure and use the camera to aim. So you could use your phone for tasks ranging from checking to see if a baby’s milk is at a safe temperature to basic medical diagnosis.

Texas Instruments
Dallas , TX
Information 800-477-8924
www.ti.com