Remote and Local Temperature Sensor with SMBus Interface

The LM90 is an 11-bit digital temperature sensor with a 2-wire System Management Bus (SMBus) serial interface. The LM90 accurately measures its own temperature as well as the temperature of an external device, such as processor thermal diode or diode connected transistor such as the 2N3904. The temperature of any ASIC can be accurately determined using the LM90 as long as a dedicated diode (semiconductor junction) is available on the target die. The LM90 remote sensor accuracy of ±3°C is factory trimmed for the 1.008 typical non-ideality factor of the mobile Pentium III thermal diode. The LM90 has an Offset register to allow measuring other diodes without requiring continuous software management.

Activation of the ALERT output occurs when any temperature goes outside a preprogrammed window set by the HIGH and LOW temperature limit registers or exceeds the TCRIT temperature limit. Activation of the TCRITA occurs when any temperature exceeds the TCRIT programmed limit. The LM90 is pin and register compatible with the LM86, Analog Devices ADM1032 and Maxim MAX6657/8.