Microchip Unveils Industry's First Ion and Photo Smoke-Detector ICs with Alarm Memory

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Low-Power ICs Enable Smoke Detectors with 10-Year Battery Life

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, analog, and Flash-IP solutions, today announced the industry's first Ion and photo smoke-detector ICs to offer alarm memory. The low-power RE46C162/3 Ion and RE46C165/6/7/8 (RE46C16X) photo smoke-detector ICs make it easy to quickly determine which detector in an interconnected loop triggered an alarm. The ICs' low energy use enables smoke detectors with a battery life of 10 years, and an interconnect filter enables a connection to other devices, such as CO detectors.

Homes often have interconnected smoke detectors, to remotely alert the resident about remote smoke events. When an alarm is falsely triggered, also known as "nuisance tripping," it is difficult to determine which smoke detector set off the alarm. The alarm-memory feature available on the RE46C16X ICs enables the detector that caused the fault to be easily identified, which greatly reduces costs associated with installing and troubleshooting these types of smoke-detector systems. A charge-dump feature allows the alarm on all interconnected devices to stop sooner.

"The addition of an alarm-memory product further illustrates Microchip's commitment to the smoke-detector market," said Bryan J. Liddiard, vice president of marketing with Microchip's Analog and Interface Products Division.

Art Eck, senior product marketing manager with Microchip's Analog and Interface Products Division, continued, "Microchip already offers a broad line of PIC(R) microcontrollers (MCUs), horn drivers, other smoke-detector ICs, signal-chain and power-management products, providing complete smoke-detector solutions for residential devices to programmable commercial devices."

Device-Specific Features

The following table summarizes RE46C16X IC device-specific features. 


Part #       Horn Pattern    Length of Hush

RE46C162     Temporal        10 min.

RE46C163     Temporal        1 min.

RE46C165     Temporal        10 min.

RE46C166     Continuous      10 min.

RE46C167     Temporal        1 min.

RE46C168     Continuous      1 min.

Packaging, Pricing & Availability

The following table outlines RE46C16X IC package options and 10k-unit quantity pricing. Samples can be ordered today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/4VL1. Volume-production quantity orders can be placed today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/N8XF. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at http://www.microchip.com/get/3EK9. 


Part #      Package Options              10k-Unit Quantity Pricing

RE46C162    16-pin PDIP                  $0.88 each

RE46C163    16-pin PDIP                  $0.88 each

RE46C165    16-pin PDIP, SOIC 150/300    $0.71 each for the SOIC 150, $0.88 each
                                         for the SOIC 300 and PDIP

RE46C166    16-pin PDIP, SOIC 150/300    $0.71 each for the SOIC 150, $0.88 each
                                         for the SOIC 300 and PDIP

RE46C167    16-pin PDIP, SOIC 150/300    $0.71 each for the SOIC 150, $0.88 each
                                         for the SOIC 300 and PDIP

RE46C168    16-pin PDIP, SOIC 150/300    $0.71 each for the SOIC 150, $0.88 each
                                         for the SOIC 300 and PDIP

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip Web site (http://www.microchip.com/get/V0TT).

Note: The Microchip name and logo, and PIC, are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A., and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

High-res Photos and Block Diagram available through editorial contact, or Flickr (feel free to publish):

RE46C162/3 Photo: http://www.microchip.com/get/BVNV

RE46C165/6/7/8 Photo: http://www.microchip.com/get/9BN6

Block Diagram: http://www.microchip.com/get/EE3J

Tags / Keywords: Microchip, MCHP, PIC, microcontroller, MCU, analog, linear, smoke detector IC, photo smoke detector, Ion smoke detector, RE46C

RSS Feed for Microchip Product News: http://www.microchip.com/get/PBEP 


    Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released June 21, 2010