! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.

DS00988A-page 1
AN988
INTRODUCTION
The MCP9800 is a digital CMOS silicon temperature
sensor that provides an accurate digital temperature
measurement. Data is converted from an internal
diode temperature-sensing element to a digital format
that can be directly interfaced to a PICmicro

microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCP9800 sensor

offers many system-level advantages, including the
integration of the sensor and signal-conditioning
circuitry in a small Integrated Circuit (IC) package. The
MCP9800 also has a One-shot Conversion mode that
performs a single temperature measurement and then
goes into power-saving Shutdown mode. The One-
shot Conversion mode makes this sensor a good
choice for power-critical, portable applications.
The MCP9800 digital temperature sensor is especially
suited for embedded systems due to its I
2
C interface,
which serves to provide an industry standard method of
interface to a microcontroller. This application note will
discuss system integration, firmware implementation
and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout techniques for
using the MCP9800 in an embedded system.
The techniques for integrating the MCP9800 into an
embedded systems environment will be demonstrated
by using the PICkit1 Flash Starter Kit and a
MCP9800 PICtail daughter board. The MCP9800
PICtail daughter board plugs into the PICkit 1 Flash
Starter Kit expansion header J3, as shown in Figure 1.
The MCP9800 demonstration is designed to measure
and display temperature using the on-board 7-segment
LED display.
Gerber files for the PCB, source code and a hex file to
program a PIC16F684 are included in the companion
zip file, 00059R1.zip.
FIGURE 1: Block Diagram of the MCP9800 Digital Temperature Sensor Demonstration.
Author: Ezana Haile and Jim Lepkowski
Microchip Technology Inc.
V
DD
PICmicro

Flash
I
2
C Interface
SPI
GND
MCU
PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit
PC
USB
J3
2
+5V
J2
2
SPI Interface
I
2
C
Alert Indicator
MCP9800 PICtail Demo Board
MCP9800
Thermal
Sensor
PIC16F737
Display Controller
7-Segment display
PIC16F684
Interface
Interface
Interfacing the MCP9800 I
2
C

Digital Temperature Sensor
to a PICmicro

Microcontroller
AN988
DS00988A-page 2 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
MCP9800 FUNCTIONAL
DESCRIPTION
The MCP9800 consists of an internal diode
temperature sensor, a user selectable 9-12-bit sigma
delta Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), digital
registers and a I
2
C communication port. Figure 2
provides a simplified block diagram of the MCP9800. A
schematic of the MCP9800 to PICmicro MCU interface
is shown in Figure 3.
FIGURE 2: Functional Block Diagram.
FIGURE 3: MCP9800 to PICmicro

MCU Interface.
Temperature Data Format
Temperature data is represented by a 9-12-bit twos
complement word with a resolution of 0.15C per bit to
0.0025C per bit. The temperature data is stored in the
temperature registers in a twos complement format, as
shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1: TEMPERATURE REGISTER
Refer to the MCP9800 data sheet, 2-Wire Accuracy
Temperature Sensor (DS21909), for more information
regarding the serial interface.
Resolution
9-Bit
10-Bit
11-Bit
12-Bit
Temperature
T
HYST

T
SET

Register
Register
Register
Register
Pointer
I
2
C/SMBus
Interface
Configuration
Register
ADC
Band-Gap
Temperature
Sensor
One-Shot
Shutdown
Fault Queue
Alert Polarity
Alert Comp/Int
SDA
SCK
I/O
SDA
SCK
ALERT
MCP9800
0.1 F
V
DD
GND
V
DD
PICmicro

MCU
Example using a 10-bit data:
Temperature = 41.5C
MSb Temperature Register = 00101001b
= 2
5
+ 2
3
+ 2
0
= 32 + 8 + 1 = 41
LSb Temperature Register = 10000000b = 2
-1
= 0.5
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
Address/
Register
Sign 2
6
2
5
2
4
2
3
2
3
2
1
2
0
02H
Temp. MSb
2
-1
2
-2
0 0 0 0 0 0 01H
Temp. LSb
! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00988A-page 3
AN988
REGISTERS
The MCP9800 family has four registers that are user-
accessible. These registers are specified as the ambi-
ent temperature register, the Temperature Limit-set
(T
SET
) register, the Temperature Hysteresis (T
HYST
)
register and device Configuration registers.
The Ambient Temperature register is a read-only
register and is used to access the ambient temperature
data. The data from the ADC is loaded in parallel in the
register. The T
SET
and T
HYST
registers are read/write
registers that provide user-programmable temperature
limits. If the ambient temperature drifts beyond the
programmed limits, the MCP9800 outputs an alert
signal using the ALERT pin (refer to ALERT Output
Configuration). The device Configuration register
provides access for the user to configure the
MCP9800s various features. These registers are
described in further detail in the following sections.
FIGURE 4: Register Block Diagram.
The registers are accessed by sending a register
pointer to the MCP9800 using the SPI interface. This
is an 8-bit pointer. However, the two Least Significant
bits (LSb) are used as pointers and all other bits need
to be cleared <0>. This device has additional registers
that are reserved for test and calibration. If these
registers are accessed, the device may not perform
according to specification. Refer to the MCP9800 data
sheet for detailed information.
ALERT Output
Control Logic
ALERT
Output
Resolution
Temperature
T
HYST

T
SET

Register
Register
Register
Configuration
Register
One-shot
Shutdown
Fault Queue
Alert Polarity
Alert Comp/Int
AN988
DS00988A-page 4 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
The MCP9800 does not require any additional
components in order to measure temperature, though
it is recommended that a decoupling capacitor (a high-
frequency ceramic capacitor should be used) of 0.1 F
to 1 F be provided between the V
DD
and GND pins.
The capacitor should be located as close as possible to
the IC power pins in order to provide effective noise
protection to the sensor.
The MCP9800 measures temperature by monitoring
the voltage of a diode located on the IC die. The IC pins
of the MCP9800 provide a low-impedance thermal path
between the die and the PCB, allowing the MCP9800
to effectively monitor the temperature of the PCB. The
thermal path between the ambient air is not as efficient
because the plastic IC housing package functions as a
thermal insulator. Thus, the ambient air temperature
(assuming that a large temperature gradient exists
between the air and PCB) has only a small effect on the
temperature measured by the MCP9800.
A potential for self-heating errors can exist if the
MCP9800 I
2
C interface communication lines are
heavily loaded. Typically, the self-heating error is
negligible because of the relatively small current
consumption of the MCP9800. A temperature accuracy
error will result from self-heating if the I
2
C communica-
tion pins sink/source the maximum current specified for
the MCP9800. Therefore, to maximize the temperature
accuracy, the output loading of the I
2
C inteface signals
should be minimized.
MCP9800 PICtail DAUGHTER
BOARD
The MCP9800 PICtail daughter board is plugged into
the PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit via expansion header J3.
Figure 5 shows the MCP9800 PICtail daughter board
plugged into the PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit. For more
information on the PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit, refer to the
PICkit1 Flash Starter Kit Users Guide (DS40051).
The MCP9800 PICtail daughter board consists of a
MCP9800 temperature sensor and a bypass capacitor.
The bypass capacitor (C
1
) is used to provide noise
immunity on the +5 VDC power supply. In addition, this
demo board has a 7-segment LED temperature display
circuit. Figure 6 shows a schematic of the board.
Refer to the MCP9800 Thermal Sensor PICtail
Demo Board Users Guide (DS51528) for further
details.
FIGURE 5: MCP9800 PICtail Daughter Board and PICkit1 Flash Starter Kit.
PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit
USB Cable
Expansion
Header (J3)
Insert PIC16F684
Potentiometer RP1
Push-Button Switch SW1
MCP9800 PICtail Demo Board
! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00988A-page 5
AN988
FIGURE 6: MCP9800 PICtail Daughter Board Schematic.
1
4
5
2
RC1
RC0
RC5
GND
13
10
11
4
14
PICkit 1
Flash Starter Kit
+5V
SDA
U1
J3 J2
13
10
11
4
14
SCL
RC3
6 6
15
14
21
SCL
U2
SDA
V
DD
V
DD
V
DD
6
MCP9800 PICtail Daughter Board
MCP9800
PIC16F737
AN988
DS00988A-page 6 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
MCP9800 INTERFACE FIRMWARE
A block diagram of the firmware flow is shown in the Figure 7.
FIGURE 7: Block Diagram of the Firmware.
Initially, the position of the RP1 potentiometer is
determined using an ADC. This data is used to set the
ALERT output limit and hysteresis. Temperature data
is then obtained from the MCP9800. If the PC
requests temperature data, the raw temperature data
is transmitted using the USB cable. Refer to the
MCP9800 Thermal Sensor PICtail Demo Board
Users Guide (DS51528), for further detail. The SW1
switch position is determined to select the measure-
ment unit as degree Celsius or Fahrenheit. Once the
unit conversion is completed, data is transmitted for
display using the 7-segment display.
Initialization
Obtaining
Temperature
Value
Transmitting
Temperature for
Display
Converting
Temperature to
Desired Units
T
SET
and T
HYST

Programming
Raw Data
Reporting
RP1
T
SET
/
T
HYST
Raw Temperature Scaled Temperature
Converted Temperature
BCD Temperature
T
A
SW1
! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00988A-page 7
AN988
Figure 8 shows the flow diagram that describes the
temperature unit conversion.
FIGURE 8: Temperature Unit Conversion Flow Diagram.
The temperature data from the MCP9800 is checked
for positive or negative reading. If the temperature is
below 0C, the reading is converted to the two's
compliment. Then, based on the position of the SW1
switch, the unit-conversion is followed as shown above.
The SPI interface is used to transmit the temperature
data to the 7-segment display driver PICmicro MCU
(PIC16F72). This PICmicro MCU receives temperature
data from the PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit and displays it
on the 7-segment display. The display requires refresh-
ing, therefore, this MCU continuously displays the
received temperature data. The flow diagram is shown
in Figure 9.
FIGURE 9: Display Flow Diagram.
SIGN is positive
SIGN is negative
Two's complement
TEMP
Multiply TEMP by
9
Divide TEMP by 5
Add 32*256 to
TEMP
Sign-extend value
into third byte
Convert to
Fahrenheit?
Y
N
TEMP MSb
set?
N
Y
Initialization
Display Refresh Receive Display
DIgits
Display Digits
AN988
DS00988A-page 8 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
The SPI interface routine protocol for the 7-segment
display driver is designed to function as a generic tool
to display any data. The protocol is described in the
MCP9800 Thermal Sensor PICtail Demo Board
Users Guide (DS51528). The flow diagram in
Figure 10 shows the firmware structure for the serial
interface.
FIGURE 10: Firmware Structure for the Serial Interface.
Is SIGN
negative?
Send next digit as
dash
Send next digit as
100's digit
Is 100's digit 0?
Is 10's digit 0?
Send next digit as
10's digit
Send next digit as
1's digit with
decimal point
Are we trying to
send the first
digit?
Send next digit as
blank
Are more digits
available?
Are more digits
available?
Send next digit as
10th's digit
Send next digit as
100th's digit
N
N
N
N
N N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00988A-page 9
AN988
CONCLUSION
The MCP9800 digital temperature sensor PICtail
daughter board demonstrates the ease of integrating a
digital output IC temperature sensor to a PICmicro

microcontroller. The MCP9800 is a CMOS silicon digital

temperature sensor that provides many system-level
advantages, including the integration of the sensor and
the signal-conditioning circuitry in a small IC package.
This provides for easy system integration and
minimizes the required PCB space, component count
and design time.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. AN871 Solving Thermal Measurement
Problems Using the MCP9800 and TC77 Digital
Silicon Temperature Sensors, DS00871,
Lepkowski, J., Microchip Technology Inc., 2003
2. PICkit 1 Flash Starter Kit Users Guide,
DS40051, Microchip Technology Inc, 2003
3. MCP9800 Data Sheet, 2-Wire Accuracy
Temperature Sensor, DS21909,
Microchip Technology Inc., 2004
4. MCP9800 Thermal Sensor PICtail Demo
Board Users Guide, DS51528,
Microchip Technology Inc., 2005.
AN988
DS00988A-page 10 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
NOTES:
! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00988A-page 11
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DS00988A-page 12 ! 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
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