MAX1617

    The MAX1617 is a serially programmable temperature sensor optimized for monitoring modern high performance CPUs with onboard, integrated temperature sensing diodes. Temperature data is converted from the CPU's diode outputs and made available as an 8bit digital word.

    Communication with the MAX1617 is accomplished via the standard System Management Bus (SMBus) commonly used in modern computer systems. This permits reading the current internal/external temperature, programming the threshold setpoints,and configuring the device. Additionally, an interrupt is generated on the ALERT pin when temperature moves outside the preset threshold windows in either direction.

    A Standby command may be sent via the SMBus by signaling the STBY input to activate the lowpower Standby  mode. Registers can be accessed while in Standby mode. Address selection inputs allow up to nine MAX1617s to share the same 2wire SMBus for multizone monitoring.

    All registers can be read by the host, and both polled and interrupt driven systems are easily accommodated.  Small size, low installed cost, and ease of use make the MAX1617 an ideal choice for implementing sophisticated system management schemes, such as ACPI.