Chandler, Ariz. &151; Microchip Technology Inc. offers a 3-V photoelectric smoke-detector IC with an integrated horn driver and boost regulator. Touted as the industry’s first smoke-detector IC to offer low-voltage operation with programmable calibration and operating modes, the RE46C190 IC enables the desired operating modes to be selected and calibrated during manufacturing. This simplifies smoke-detector design and manufacturing, while reducing component count and cost, said Microchip.
The smoke-detector IC’s low operating current of 8 microamperes (typical) enables up to 10 years of operation from a single lithium battery. Two Alkaline batteries may also be used to power the RE46C190.
Programmable calibration and selection of smoke-detector operating modes provides designers with an easy way to control smoke-detector operation, and enables a single IC to be used to design smoke detectors for different markets and regulatory requirements, said Microchip. This feature also reduces the number of external components required, as electronic programmability allows the integration of several formerly external components into the IC, which in turn reduces costs associated with manufacturing and inventory.
Availability:Samples are available at www.microchip.com/get/JEQ6. Volume-production quantity orders can also be placed at microchipDIRECT.
Pricing: The RE46C190, available in a 16-pin SOIC 150 mil package, is priced at $0.94 each, in quantities of 10,000.