LM91 Diode Input Digital Temperature Sensor with Two-Wire Interface

November 2001

LM91
Diode Input Digital Temperature Sensor with Two-Wire
Interface
General Description n Register readback capability
n 7 bit plus sign temperature data format
The LM91 is a remote diode temperature sensor,
n 2 address select lines enable 9 LM91s to be connected
Delta-Sigma analog-to-digital converter, and digital
to a single bus
over-temperature detector with an SMBus™ interface. The
LM91 senses its own temperature as well as the tempera-
ture of a target IC with a diode junction, such as a Pentium ® Key Specifications
II processor or a diode connected 2N3904. A diode junction
j Supply Voltage 3.0V - 3.6V
(semiconductor junction) is required on the target IC’s die. A
host can query the LM91 at any time to read the temperature j Supply Current 1 mA (max)
of this diode as well as the temperature state of the LM91 j Local Temperature Accuracy ± 1.0˚C (typ)
itself. A T_CRIT_A interrupt output becomes active when the j Remote Diode Temperature Accuracy
temperature is greater than a programmable comparator
limit, T_CRIT. +60˚C to +100˚C ± 4˚C (max)
The host can program as well as read back the state of the 0˚C to +125˚C ± 6˚C (max)
T_CRIT register. Power up default values for T_CRIT are as
shown in the ordering information table. Three state logic
inputs allow two pins (ADD0, ADD1) to select up to 9 SMBus Applications
address locations for the LM91. n System Thermal Management
n Personal Computers
Features n Electronic Test Equipment
n Directly senses die temperature of remote ICs n Office Electronics
n Senses temperature of remote diodes n HVAC
n SMBus compatible interface, supports SMBus Timeout

Simplified Block Diagram

20034301
# Indicates Active Low (”NOT“)

SMBus™ is a trademark of the Intel Corporation.

Pentium ® II processor is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation.
I2C ® is a registered trademark of the Philips Corporation.

© 2001 National Semiconductor Corporation DS200343 [Link]

LM91
Connection Diagram
QSOP-16

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TOP VIEW

Ordering Information
SMBus Local Remote
NS Package Transport Noise Filter Remote Diode
Order Number Revision T_CRIT T_CRIT
Number Media on SMBCLK Accuracy
Level Default Default
MQA16A 95 Units in 1.1 20MHz ± 4˚C 127˚C 95˚C
LM91DIMQA
(QSOP-16) Rail
MQA16A 2500 Units on 1.1 20MHz ± 4˚C 127˚C 95˚C
LM91DIMQAX
(QSOP-16) Tape and Reel

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 LM91
Typical Application

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Pin Descriptions
Label Pin # Function Typical Connection
Manufacturing test pins. Left floating. PC board traces may be routed
through the pads for these pins. Although, the
1, 5, 9, 13,
NC components that drive these traces should share the
16
same supply as the LM91 so that the Absolute
Maximum Voltage at any Pin rating is not violated.
Positive Supply Voltage
VCC 2 DC Voltage from 3.0V to 3.6V
Input
Diode Current Source To Diode Anode. Connected to remote discrete
D+ 3 diode or to the diode on the external IC whose die
temperature is being sensed.
Diode Return Current Sink To Diode Cathode. Must be grounded when not
D− 4
used.
User-Set SMBus (I2C) Ground (Low, “0”), VCC (High, “1”) or open
ADD0–ADD1 10, 6
Address Inputs (“TRI-LEVEL”)
GND 7, 8 Power Supply Ground Ground
Critical Temperature Pull Up Resistor, Controller Interrupt Line or System
T_CRIT_A 11
Alarm, open-drain output Shutdown
SMBus (I2C) Serial From and to Controller, Pull Up Resistor
SMBData 12 Bi-Directional Data Line,
open-drain output
SMBCLK 14 SMBus (I2C) Clock Input From Controller
No Connection Left floating. PC board traces may be routed
NC 15
through the pads for this pin.

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LM91
Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1) Soldering Information, Lead Temperature

Supply Voltage −0.3V to 6.0V QSOP Package (Note 3)

Voltage at Any Pin: Vapor Phase (60 seconds) 215˚C

NC (Pins 1,5,9), ADD0, ADD1, D + Infrared (15 seconds) 220˚C

−0.3V to
(VCC + 0.3V) ESD Susceptibility (Note 4)
All other pins (except D−) −0.3V to 6.0V Human Body Model 2500V
D− Input Current ± 1 mA Machine Model 250V
Input Current at All Other Pins (Note
2) 5 mA Operating Ratings
Package Input Current (Note 2) 20 mA (Note 1) and (Note 5)
SMBData, T_CRIT_A Output Sink
Specified Temperature Range TMIN to TMAX
Current 10 mA
LM91D 0˚C to +125˚C
Output Voltage 6.0V
Supply Voltage Range (VCC) +3.0V to +3.6V
Storage Temperature −65˚C to +150˚C

Temperature-to-Digital Converter Characteristics

Unless otherwise noted, these specifications apply for VCC =+3.0 Vdc to +3.6 Vdc. Boldface limits apply for TA = TJ = TMIN
to TMAX; all other limits TA = TJ =+25˚C, unless otherwise noted.
Typical LM91D Units
Parameter Conditions
Limits
(Note 6) (Note 7) (Limit)
Local Temperature Error (Note 8) ±1 ˚C
Remote Temperature Error using Pentium Diode +60˚C ≤TA ≤ +100˚C, ±4
˚C (max)
(Note 8) and (Note 9) VCC = 3.3 Vdc
0˚C ≤ TA ≤ +125˚C, ±6 ˚C (max)
VCC = 3.3 Vdc
Remote Temperature Error using Diode +60˚C ≤TA ≤ +100˚C, +2, −6 ˚C (max)
Connected 2N3904 (Note 8) and (Note 9) VCC = 3.3 Vdc
0˚C ≤ TA ≤ +125˚C, +4, −8 ˚C (max)
VCC = 3.3 Vdc
Resolution 8 Bits
1 ˚C
Temperature Conversion Time (Note 11) 120 145 ms
Quiescent Current (Note 10) SMBus (I2C Inactive) 0.500 1 mA (max)
D− Source Voltage 0.7 V
Diode Source Current (D+ − D−)=+ 0.65V; high 160 µA (max)
level 50 µA (min)
Low level 16 µA (max)
5 µA (min)
T_CRIT_A Output Saturation Voltage IOUT = 3.0 mA 0.4 V (max)
Power-On Reset Threshold On VCC input, falling edge 2.2 V (max)
1.2 V (min)

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 LM91
Logic Electrical Characteristics
DIGITAL DC CHARACTERISTICS
Unless otherwise noted, these specifications apply for VCC =+3.0 to 3.6 Vdc. Boldface limits apply for TA = TJ = TMIN to
TMAX; all other limits TA = TJ =+25˚C, unless otherwise noted.
Symbol Parameter Conditions Typical LM91D Units
(Note 6) Limits (Limit)
(Note 7)
SMBData, SMBCLK
VIN(1) Logical “1” Input Voltage 2.1 V (min)
VIN(0) Logical “0”Input Voltage 0.8 V (max)
IIN(1) Logical “1” Input Current VIN = VCC 0.005 1.0 µA (max)
IIN(0) Logical “0” Input Current VIN = 0V −0.005 −1.0 µA (max)
ADD0, ADD1
VIN(1) Logical “1” Input Voltage VCC 1.6 V (min)
VIN(0) Logical “0”Input Voltage GND 0.5 V (max)
IIN(1) Logical “1” Input Current VIN = VCC 50 600 µA (max)
IIN(0) Logical “0” Input Current VIN = 0V 50 600 µA (max)
ALL DIGITAL INPUTS
CIN Input Capacitance 20 pF
ALL DIGITAL OUTPUTS
IOH High Level Output Current VOH = VCC 100 µA (max)
VOL SMBus Low Level Output Voltage IOL = 3 mA 0.4 V (max)
IOL = 6 mA 0.6
SMBus DIGITAL SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS
Unless otherwise noted, these specifications apply for VCC =+3.0 Vdc to +3.6 Vdc, CL (load capacitance) on output lines = 80
pF. Boldface limits apply for TA = TJ = TMIN to TMAX; all other limits TA = TJ = +25˚C, unless otherwise noted.
The switching characteristics of the LM91 fully meet or exceed the published specifications of the SMBus or I2C bus. The fol-
lowing parameters are the timing relationships between SMBCLK and SMBData signals related to the LM91. They are not nec-
essarily the I2C or SMBus bus specifications.
Symbol Parameter Conditions Typical Limits Units
(Note 6) (Note 7) (Limit)
fSMB SMBus Clock Frequency 400 kHz (max)
10 kHz (min)
tLOW SMBus Clock Low Time 10% to 10% 1.3 µs (min)
25 ms (max)
tLOWSEXT Cumulative Clock Low Extend Time 25 ms (max)
tHIGH SMBus Clock High Time 90% to 90% 0.6 µs (min)
tR;SMB SMBus Rise Time 10% to 90% 1 µs
tF;SMB SMBus Fall Time 90% to 10% 0.3 µs
tOF Output Fall Time CL = 400 pF 250 ns (max)
IO = 3 mA
tTIMEOUT SMBData and SMBCLK Time Low for 25 ms (min)
Reset of Serial Interface (Note 12) 40 ms (max)
t1 SMBCLK (Clock) Period 2.5 µs (min)
t2, Data In Setup Time to SMBCLK High 100 ns (min)
tSU;DAT
t 3, Data Out Stable after SMBCLK Low 0 ns (min)
tHD;DAT 0.9 µs (max)
t4, SMBData Low Setup Time to SMBCLK 100 ns (min)
tHD;STA Low
t 5, SMBData High Delay Time after SMBCLK 100 ns (min)
tSU;STO High (Stop Condition Setup)
t 6, SMBus Start-Condition Setup Time 0.6 µs (min)
tSU;STA

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LM91
SMBus DIGITAL SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS
Unless otherwise noted, these specifications apply for VCC =+3.0 Vdc to +3.6 Vdc, CL (load capacitance) on output lines = 80
pF. Boldface limits apply for TA = TJ = TMIN to TMAX; all other limits TA = TJ = +25˚C, unless otherwise noted.
The switching characteristics of the LM91 fully meet or exceed the published specifications of the SMBus or I2C bus. The fol-
lowing parameters are the timing relationships between SMBCLK and SMBData signals related to the LM91. They are not nec-
essarily the I2C or SMBus bus specifications.
Symbol Parameter Conditions Typical Limits Units
(Note 6) (Note 7) (Limit)
tBUF SMBus Free Time 1.3 µs (min)

SMBus Communication

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SMBus TIMEOUT

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Note 1: Absolute Maximum Ratings indicate limits beyond which damage to the device may occur. DC and AC electrical specifications do not apply when operating
the device beyond its rated operating conditions.
Note 2: When the input voltage (VI) at any pin exceeds the power supplies (VI < GND or VI > VCC), the current at that pin should be limited to 5 mA. The 20 mA
maximum package input current rating limits the number of pins that can safely exceed the power supplies with an input current of 5 mA to four.
Parasitics and or ESD protection circuitry are shown in the figure below for the LM91’s pins. The nominal breakdown voltage of the zener D3 is 6.5V. Care should
be taken not to forward bias the parasitic diode, D1, present on pins: NC pins 1,5 and 9, D+, ADD1 and ADD0. Doing so by more than 50 mV may corrupt a
temperature or voltage measurement.

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 LM91
Pin Name D1 D2 D3 D4 Pin Name D1 D2 D3 D4
NC (pins 1, 5, 9) x x x T_CRIT_A x
VCC x SMBData x x
D+ x x x NC (pin 13) x x
D− x x x SMBCLK x
ADD0, ADD1 x x x NC (pin 16) x

Note: An x indicates that the diode exists.

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FIGURE 1. ESD Protection Input Structure

Note 3: See AN-450 “Surface Mounting Methods and Their Effect on Product Reliability” or the section titled “Surface Mount” found in a current National
Semiconductor Linear Data Book for other methods of soldering surface mount devices.
Note 4: Human body model, 100 pF discharged through a 1.5 kΩ resistor. Machine model, 200 pF discharged directly into each pin.
Note 5: Thermal resistance of the QSOP-16 package is 130˚C/W, junction-to-ambient when attached to a printed circuit board with 2 oz. foil.
Note 6: Typicals are at TA = 25˚C and represent most likely parametric norm.
Note 7: Limits are guaranteed to National’s AOQL (Average Outgoing Quality Level).
Note 8: The Temperature Error specification does not include an additional error of ± 1˚C, caused by the quantization error.
Note 9: The Temperature Error will vary less than ± 1.0˚C for a variation in VCC of 3V to 3.6V from the nominal of 3.3V.
Note 10: Quiescent current will not increase substantially with an active SMBus.
Note 11: This specification is provided only to indicate how often temperature data is updated. The LM91 can be read at any time without regard to conversion state
(and will yield last conversion result).
Note 12: Holding the SMBData and/or SMBCLK lines Low for a time interval greater than tTIMEOUT will cause the LM91 to reset SMBData and SMBCLK to the IDLE
state of an SMBus communication (SMBCLK and SMBData set High).

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FIGURE 2. Temperature-to-Digital Transfer Function (Non-linear scale for clarity)

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LM91
1.0 Functional Description address select pins ADD1 and ADD0, and are set by con-
necting these pins to ground for a low, (0) , to VCC for a high,
The LM91 temperature sensor incorporates a band-gap type (1), or left floating (TRI-LEVEL).
temperature sensor using a Local or Remote diode and an
Therefore, the complete slave address is:
8-bit ADC (Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converter). The
LM91 is compatible with the serial SMBus and I2C inter- A6 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1 A0
faces. Digital comparators compare Local and Remote read-
MSB LSB
ings to user-programmable setpoints (LT_CRIT and
RT_CRIT). Activation of the T_CRIT_A output indicates that and is selected as follows:
a temperature reading is greater than the limit preset in a
T_CRIT register. Address Select Pin State LM91 SMBus Slave
Address
1.1 T_CRIT_A OUTPUT, T_CRIT LIMITS
ADD0 ADD1 A6:A0 binary
T_CRIT_A is activated when the Local temperature reading
0 0 001 1000
is greater than the limit preset in the local critical temperature
setpoint register (LT_CRIT) or when the Remote tempera- 0 TRI-LEVEL 001 1001
ture reading is greater than the limit preset in the remote 0 1 001 1010
critical temperature setpoint register (RT_CRIT), as shown in TRI-LEVEL 0 010 1001
Figure 3. The T_CRIT_A mask bit (bit 7 of the Configuration
Register) when set will disable the T_CRIT_A output. TRI-LEVEL TRI-LEVEL 010 1010
The Status Register can be read to determine which event TRI-LEVEL 1 010 1011
caused the alarm. A bit in the Status Register is set high to 1 0 100 1100
indicate T_CRIT temperature alarm, see Section 1.8.3. 1 TRI-LEVEL 100 1101
Local and remote temperature diodes are sampled alter- 1 1 100 1110
nately by the A/D converter. The T_CRIT_A output and the
Status Register flags are updated at the completion of a The LM91 latches the state of the address select pins during
conversion, which takes approximately 60 ms. T_CRIT_A the first read or write on the SMBus. Changing the state of
and the Status Register flags are reset only after the Status the address select pins after the first read or write to any
Register is read and if the temperature is below the setpoint. device on the SMBus will not change the slave address of
the LM91.

1.4 TEMPERATURE DATA FORMAT

Temperature data can be read from the Local Temperature,
Remote Temperature, and T_CRIT setpoint registers. Tem-
perature data can only be written to the T_CRIT setpoint
registers. Temperature data is represented by an 8-bit, two’s
complement byte with an LSB (Least Significant Bit) equal to
1˚C:

Temperature Digital Output

Binary Hex
20034306 +125˚C 0111 1101 7Dh
+25˚C 0001 1001 19h
FIGURE 3. T_CRIT_A Temperature Response Diagram +1˚C 0000 0001 01h
1.2 POWER-ON RESET DEFAULT STATES 0˚C 0000 0000 00h
LM91 always powers up to these known default states: −1˚C 1111 1111 FFh
1. Local Temperature set to 0˚C −25˚C 1110 0111 E7h
2. Remote Temperature set to 0˚C until the LM91 senses a −55˚C 1100 1001 C9h
diode present or open circuit on the D+ and D− input
pins.
1.5 OPEN-DRAIN OUTPUTS
3. Status Register set to 00h.
SMBData and T_CRIT_A outputs are open-drain and do not
4. Command Register set to 00h; T_CRIT_A enabled. have internal pull-ups. A “high” level will not be observed on
5. Local T_CRIT set to 127˚C and Remote T_CRIT set to these pins until pull-up current is provided from some exter-
95˚C. nal source, typically a pull-up resistor. Choice of resistor
value depends on many system factors but, in general, the
1.3 SMBus INTERFACE pull-up resistor should be as large as possible. This will
The LM91 operates as a slave on the SMBus, so the minimize any local temperature reading errors due to self
SMBCLK line is an input (no clock is generated by the LM91) heating of the LM91. The maximum resistance of the pull-up,
and the SMBData line is bi-directional. According to SMBus based on LM91 specification for High Level Output Current,
specifications, the LM91 has a 7-bit slave address. Bit 4 (A3) to provide a 2V high level, is 30 kΩ.
of the slave address is hard wired inside the LM91 to a 1.
The remainder of the address bits are controlled by the 1.6 DIODE FAULT DETECTION
Before each remote conversion the LM91 goes through an
external diode fault detection sequence. If the D+ input is

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 LM91
1.0 Functional Description (Continued) bit 4 (RTCRIT) of the Status Register will be set which will
activate the T_CRIT_A output, if enabled. If D+ is shorted to
shorted to VCC or floating then the temperature reading will GND or D−, the temperature reading will be 0˚C and bit 2 of
be +127˚C, bit 2 (OPEN) of the Status Register will be set. If the Status Register will not be set.
the Remote T_CRIT setpoint is set to less than +127˚C then
1.7 COMMUNICATING with the LM91

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There are 10 data registers in the LM91, selected by the Acknowledge from the Master (No Acknowledge is typically
Command Register. At power-up the Command Register is used as a signal for the slave that the Master has read its
set to “00”, the location for the Read Local Temperature last byte).
Register. The Command Register latches whatever the last
location it was set to. Reading the Status Register resets 1.7.1 SMBus TIMEOUT
T_CRIT_A. All registers are predefined as read only or write The LM91 SMBus interface circuitry will be reset to the
only. Read and write registers with the same function contain SMBus idle state if the SMBData or SMBCLK lines are held
mirrored data. low for more than 40 ms. The LM91 may or may not reset the
A Write to the LM91 will always include the address byte and state SMBData or SMBCLK if either of these lines are held
the command byte. A write to any register requires one data low between 25 ms and 40 ms. Holding SMBData or SMB-
byte. CLK low for less than or equal to 25 ms will not reset the
Reading the LM91 can take place either of two ways: interface circuitry. The LM91 has a built-in internal timer to
guarantee that the interface is reset if the SMBData line were
1. If the location latched in the Command Register is cor-
to get stuck low. This can commonly occur when the master
rect (most of the time it is expected that the Command
is reset while the slave is transmitting low. This enhance-
Register will point to one of the Read Temperature Reg-
ment to the SMBus TIMEOUT specification ensures error
isters because that will be the data most frequently read
free performance even in remote systems where complete
from the LM91), the read can simply consist of an ad-
power supply shutdown, for reset, is a nuisance. This would
dress byte, followed by retrieving the data byte.
have to occur since many cost effective temperature sensors
2. If the Command Register needs to be set, then an such as the LM91 do not have a pin dedicated for reset.
address byte, command byte, repeat start, and another
address byte will accomplish a read.
The data byte has the most significant bit first. At the end of
a read, the LM91 can accept either Acknowledge or No

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LM91
1.0 Functional Description (Continued)

1.8 LM91 REGISTERS

1.8.1 COMMAND REGISTER

Selects which registers will be read from or written to. Data for this register should be transmitted during the Command Byte of
the SMBus write communication.

P7 P6 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 P0
0 0 0 0 Command Select

P0-P7: Command Select:

Command Select Power On Default State Register Name Register Function

Address
< P7:P0 > hex < D7:D0 > binary < D7:D0 >
decimal
00h 0000 0000 0 RLT Read Local Temperature
01h 0000 0000 0 RRT Read Remote Temperature
02h 0000 0000 0 RS Read Status
03h 0000 0000 0 RC Read Configuration
04h 0000 0000 0 RMID Manufacturers ID
05h 0111 1111 127 RLCS Read Local T_CRIT Setpoint
07h 0101 1111 95 RRCS Read Remote T_CRIT Setpoint
09h 0000 0000 0 WC Write Configuration
0Bh 0111 1111 127 WLCS Write Local T_CRIT Setpoint
0Dh 0101 1111 95 WRCS Write Remote T_CRIT Setpoint

1.8.2 LOCAL and REMOTE TEMPERATURE REGISTERS

(Read Only Address 00h and 01h):
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
MSB Bit 6 Bit 5 Bit 4 Bit 3 Bit 2 Bit 1 LSB

D7–D0: Temperature Data. One LSB = 1˚C. Two’s complement format.

1.8.3 STATUS REGISTER

(Read Only Address 02h):
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
0 LTCRIT 0 RTCRIT 0 OPEN 0 0

Power up default is with all bits “0” (zero).

D2: OPEN: When set to 1 indicates a Remote Diode disconnect.
D4: RTCRIT: When set to 1 indicates an RT_CRIT alarm.
D6: LTCRIT: When set to 1 indicates an LT_CRIT alarm.
D7, D5, D3, D1–D0: These bits are always set to 0.

1.8.4 Manufacturers ID Register

(Read Address 04h) Default value 00h.

1.8.5 CONFIGURATION REGISTER

(Read Address 03h /Write Address 09h):
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
T_CRIT_A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
mask

Power up default is with all bits “0” (zero).

D7: T_CRIT_A mask: When set to 1 T_CRIT_A interrupts are masked.
D6–D0: These bits are always set to 0. A write of 1 will return a 0 when read.

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 LM91
1.0 Functional Description (Continued)

1.8.6 LOCAL AND REMOTE T_CRIT REGISTERS

(Read/Write):
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
MSB Bit 6 Bit 5 Bit 4 Bit 3 Bit 2 Bit 1 LSB

D7–D0: RT_CRIT and LT_CRIT setpoint temperature data. Power up default is LT_CRIT =127˚C and RT_CRIT = 95˚C.

2.0 SMBus Timing Diagrams

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(a) Serial Bus Write to the internal Command Register followed by a the Data Byte

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(b) Serial Bus Write to the internal Command Register

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(c) Serial Bus Read from a Register with the internal Command Register preset to desired value.

FIGURE 4. Serial Bus Timing Diagrams

3.0 Application Hints path of best thermal conductivity is between the die and the
pins, its temperature will effectively be that of the printed
The LM91 can be applied easily in the same way as other circuit board lands and traces soldered to the LM91’s pins.
integrated-circuit temperature sensors, and its remote diode This presumes that the ambient air temperature is almost the
sensing capability allows it to be used in new ways as well. same as the surface temperature of the printed circuit board;
It can be soldered to a printed circuit board, and because the if the air temperature is much higher or lower than the

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LM91
3.0 Application Hints (Continued) where:
• η is the non-ideality factor of the process the diode is
surface temperature, the actual temperature of the of the manufactured on,
LM91 die will be at an intermediate temperature between the
• q is the electron charge,
surface and air temperatures. Again, the primary thermal
conduction path is through the leads, so the circuit board • k is the Boltzmann’s constant,
temperature will contribute to the die temperature much • N is the current ratio,
more strongly than will the air temperature. • T is the absolute temperature in ˚K.
To measure temperature external to the LM91’s die, use a The temperature sensor then measures ∆VBE and converts
remote diode. This diode can be located on the die of a to digital data. In this equation, k and q are well defined
target IC, allowing measurement of the IC’s temperature, universal constants, and N is a parameter controlled by the
independent of the LM91’s temperature. The LM91 has been temperature sensor. The only other parameter is η, which
optimized to measure the remote diode of a Pentium II depends on the diode that is used for measurement. Since
processor as shown in Figure 5. A discrete diode can also be ∆VBE is proportional to both η and T, the variations in η
used to sense the temperature of external objects or ambient cannot be distinguished from variations in temperature.
air. Remember that a discrete diode’s temperature will be Since the non-ideality factor is not controlled by the tempera-
affected, and often dominated, by the temperature of its ture sensor, it will directly add to the inaccuracy of the
leads. sensor. For the Pentium II Intel specifies a ± 1% variation in
η from part to part. As an example, assume a temperature
sensor has an accuracy specification of ± 4˚C at room tem-
perature of 25˚C and the process used to manufacture the
diode has a non-ideality variation of ± 1%. The resulting
accuracy of the temperature sensor at room temperature will
be:
TACC = ± 4˚C + ( ± 1% of 298˚K) = ± 7˚C
.
The additional inaccuracy in the temperature measurement
caused by η, can be eliminated if each temperature sensor is
calibrated with the remote diode that it will be paired with.

3.2 PCB LAYOUT for MINIMIZING NOISE

In a noisy environment, such as a processor mother board,
layout considerations are very critical. Noise induced on
traces running between the remote temperature diode sen-
sor and the LM91 can cause temperature conversion errors.
The following guidelines should be followed:
1. Place a 0.1 µF power supply bypass capacitor as close
as possible to the VCC pin and the recommended 2.2 nF
capacitor as close as possible to the D+ and D− pins.
20034316
Make sure the traces to the 2.2 nF capacitor are
Pentium Temperature vs LM91 Temperature Reading
matched.
2. Ideally, the LM91 should be placed within 10 cm of the
FIGURE 5. Processor diode pins with the traces being as straight,
short and identical as possible.
Most silicon diodes do not lend themselves well to this
application. It is recommended that a 2N3904 transistor 3. Diode traces should be surrounded by a GND guard ring
base emitter junction be used with the collector tied to the to either side, above and below if possible. This GND
base. guard should not be between the D+ and D− lines. In the
event that noise does couple to the diode lines it would
A diode connected 2N3904 approximates the junction avail-
be ideal if it is coupled common mode. That is equally to
able on a Pentium microprocessor for temperature measure-
the D+ and D− lines.(See Figure 6)
ment. Therefore, the LM91 can sense the temperature of this
diode effectively. 4. Avoid routing diode traces in close proximity to power
supply switching or filtering inductors.
3.1 ACCURACY EFFECTS OF DIODE NON-IDEALITY 5. Avoid running diode traces close to or parallel to high
FACTOR speed digital and bus lines. Diode traces should be kept
The technique used in today’s remote temperature sensors at least 2 cm. apart from the high speed digital traces.
is to measure the change in VBE at two different operating 6. If it is necessary to cross high speed digital traces, the
points of a diode. For a bias current ratio of N:1, this differ- diode traces and the high speed digital traces should
ence is given as: cross at a 90 degree angle.
7. The ideal place to connect the LM91’s GND pin is as
close as possible to the Processors GND associated
with the sense diode. For the Pentium II this would be
pin A14.

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 LM91
3.0 Application Hints (Continued)

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FIGURE 6. Recommended Diode Trace Layout

Noise on the digital lines, overshoot greater than VCC and munication is rather low (400 kHz max) care still needs to be
undershoot less than GND, may prevent successful SMBus taken to ensure proper termination within a system with
communication with the LM91. SMBus no acknowledge is multiple parts on the bus and long printed circuit board
the most common symptom, causing unnecessary traffic on traces.
the bus. Although, the SMBus maximum frequency of com-

4.0 Typical Applications

20034317
Using a Diode Connected 2N3904 as a Remote Temperture Sensing Element

13 [Link]
LM91 Diode Input Digital Temperature Sensor with Two-Wire Interface
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters)
unless otherwise noted

16-Lead QSOP Package

Order Number LM91DIMQA, or LM91DIMQAX
NS Package Number MQA16

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