TMP6-THERMISTOR-DESIGN

TMP6 linear thermistors, like other traditional negative temperature coefficient (NTC) or positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors on the market, require resistance-to-temperature conversion tables to use them within a system. The TMP6 thermistor design tool offers these tables in addition to helpful tools for completing a system design. This tool has two options for using the thermistor in a resistor divider or constant current circuit to accommodate any design. Once the correct tool is chosen, it can be configured based on the TMP6 thermistor part number that will be used, the bias voltage/current, bias resistor if needed, and the ADC resolution.

After selecting the values that meet the system requirements, developers can then use additional tabs for comparisons between devices, as well as ANSI generic C code examples for the ideal conversion method. The comparison tab shows the different resistance curves of two devices and then calculates voltage curves, sensitivity/ºC power in milli-watts/ºC as well as resistance tolerance across temperature. The C code available can be used for converting resistance to temperature using a look-up table (LUT) in a microcontroller, running a 4^th order polynomial regression and using Steinhart-Hart equations.

In addition to traditional code examples, the thermistor design tool also includes examples for more specific use-cases such as threshold detection and an averaging method for an increased measurement resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.