NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO EXPAND PRESENCE IN TEMPERATURE SENSOR MARKETS

National Broadens Its Temp Sensor Product Portfolio with Five New Introductions

July 26, 1999 - National Semiconductor Corporation® today announced an initiative to expand its presence in temperature sensor markets by significantly broadening its range of temperature sensor products, while offering customers the highest accuracy, lowest power and smallest packaging. National's introduction of five next-generation products signals its intent to penetrate high-volume temperature sensor markets with its distinctively cost-effective solutions and ease of use.

National's new temperature sensor products expand the scope of both its analog and digital sensor offerings, and are targeted at the requirements of new high-volume, low-cost sensor markets. The LM20 expands an already extensive analog temp sensor family and is ideal for applications such as cellular phones, hard disk drives, smoke detectors and other multi-market applications. Where the requirements are for smaller packages, lower power and lower price, the LM20 precision analog temperature sensor is designed to meet these demands. The LM20 is available in the industry's smallest package-the four-bump micro SMD that is slightly smaller than a 1mm x 1mm x 1mm cube. To ease migration to the LM20 in the micro SMD package, the LM20 is also available in the SC70 package. For applications with critical portability and space requirements, the LM20 provides the most cost-effective solution.

Another addition to National's analog temp sensor family, the LM62 adds an increased output scale factor, small package option to the SOT23 family of temperature sensors. The LM62 extends the LM60B or LM60C and LM61 family, featuring low voltage and low power, as well as enhancements to gain and offset voltage. It provides all of these advantages to applications for wireless communications, personal systems, consumer appliances and other multi-market applications.

National's program for fully addressing temp sensor markets also encompasses advancements in the digital temperature sensor arena. The introduction of the LM84 provides a low-cost alternative to several remote diode temperature sensors currently available. This device is capable of sensing its own temperature as well as the temperature of a target IC, such as a Pentium II&3153; processor or a diode-connected 2N3904. New designs continue to require cost reductions, and the LM84 is aimed at eliminating non-essential functions to offer that reduced-cost solution. The LM84 specifically meets the needs of applications for PC notebooks, desktops, workstations and servers, as well as electronic test equipment and office electronics.

National is also adding the LM74 to its digital temperature sensor portfolio. For customers requiring SPI or MICROWIRE® compatibility, the LM74 provides an ideal solution that is easy to use. Furthermore, its simple architecture does not require the usual overhead in cost. The LM74 is a cost-effective solution for designers of disk drives, system thermal management, PCs, electronic test equipment, office electronics and other cost-sensitive markets.

To meet the demand for higher accuracy digital temperature sensors, National introduces the LM76 temp sensor. LM76 provides even better accuracy than the existing LM77 product while maintaining the same package and pin-out configuration. The LM76 launches a patented high accuracy technology that improves precision for this and future products. The LM76CNM optimizes the accuracy for PC notebooks, desktops, workstations and servers.

Product Detail
The LM20 precision analog output sensor has a range of -55 degrees C to +130 degrees C while operating from a single power supply range of +2.4V to +5.5V. The accuracy of the LM20 when specified to a parabolic transfer function is +/- 2.5 or +/- 5 degrees C in the SC70 package and +/- 3.5 degrees C in the micro SMD package. The quiescent current is less than 10uA; self-heating is less than 0.02 degrees C in still air. The LM62 is a precision integrated-circuit temperature sensor that can sense 0 degrees C to 90 degrees C temperature range while operating from a single +3.0V supply. The LM62's output voltage is linearly proportional to Celsius (centigrade) temperature (+15.6mV/C) and has a DC offset of +480mV. The offset allows reading negative temperatures without the need for a negative supply. The nominal output voltage of the LM62 ranges from +480mV to +1884mV for a 0 degree C to +90 degrees C temperature ranges. The LM62 is available in two different grades. The B grade is calibrated to provide accuracy of +/- 2.0 degrees C at room temperature and +2.5/-2.0 degrees C over the full temperature range. The C grade is calibrated to provide accuracy of +/- 3.0 degrees C at room temperature and +4.0/-3.0 degrees C over the full temperature range.

The LM84 is a remote diode input temperature sensor, Delta-Sigma analog-to-digital converter, and digital over-temperature detector with an SMBusTM interface. The LM84 provides additional benefits compared to competitive offerings, such as noise immunity for remote temperature sensing and noise reduction, and SMBus timeout to prevent bus lock-up. The LM74 is a digital temperature sensor with an SPI- and MICROWIRE-compatible interface. It has a 12-bit plus sign temperature resolution or 0.0625 degree C, +/-1.25 degrees C accuracy, while operating over a temperature range of -40 degrees C to +125 degrees C. A supply voltage range of 3.0V to 5.5V, low supply current and simple SPI interface make it ideal for a wide range of applications. The LM76 is a high accuracy digital temperature sensor and thermal window comparator with an I2CR interface. It has a 12-bit plus sign temperature resolution or 0.0625 degree C, +/-1.0 degree C accuracy, while operating over a temperature range of +70 degrees C to +100 degrees C. The supply voltage range is 3.3V +/- 5 percent.

Pricing and availability
The LM20, LM62, LM84, LM74 and LM76 are available now. The LM20, in the SC70 package, is priced at $0.50 for B grade and $0.40 for C grade in 1000-piece quantities. The LM20, in the micro SMD package, is priced at $0.50 in 1000-piece quantities. The LM62 is priced at $0.80 for B grade and $0.66 for C grade in 1000-piece quantities. The LM84 is priced at $1.80 in 1000-piece quantities. The LM74 is priced at $0.87 in 1000-piece quantities. The LM76 is priced at $1.30 in 1000-piece quantities. For more information on the temperature sensor products or other National Semiconductor products, see the company's World Wide Web site at www.national.com.

About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National has annual sales of $2 billion and 11,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.