The MCP9600 from Microchip is a single chip solution to convert thermocouple output EMF to degrees Celsius. The chip includes integrated cold-junction compensation and corrects thermocouple non-linearity for the eight most popular types of thermocouple.

User-programmable registers in the MCP9600 allow the chip to be configured for various applications including a low-power mode for battery operation and adjustable digital filter characteristics for fast-changing transient temperature sensing. There are also four programmable temperature alert outputs which can be used to detect multiple temperature zones.

Key features of the MCP9600:

- Thermocouple voltage to °C converter - integrated cold-junction compensation
- Supported types (designated by NIST ITS-90): - type K, J, T, N, S, E, B and R
- ±1.5°C (Max.) measurement accuracy: - ±1.0°C (Max.) cold-junc., 0°C to +85°C
- Temperature measurement resolution: - hot and cold-junctions: 0.0625°C (typical)
- Four programmable temperature alert outputs - monitor hot or cold-junction temperatures - detect rising or falling temperatures - up to 255°C of programmable hysteresis
- Programmable digital filter for temperature
- Low power: - shutdown mode - burst mode –1 to 128 temperature samples
- 2-wire interface: I2C™ compatible, 100 kHz - supports eight devices per I2C bus
- Operating voltage range: 2.7 V to 5.5 V
- Operating current: 500 μA (typical)
- Shutdown current: 2 μA (typical)

Packaging is a 20-lead mQFN priced at $3.54 each in 5,000-unit quantities. Microchip also supply a MCP9600 evaluation board (ADM00665) available for $65.00.