Microchip Technology MCP96L00-E/MX

Overview

MCP96L00-E/MX from Microchip Technology Inc. is a thermocouple EMF-to-°C converter IC with integrated cold-junction compensation, ±2.0°C typical hot-junction accuracy (Type K, 0°C to +85°C), 0.0625°C measurement resolution, and I²C-compatible two-wire interface operating up to 100 kHz - used in industrial oven temperature monitoring, handheld thermal meters, and engine thermal management systems.

For engineers reviewing the MCP96L00-E/MX datasheet, MCP96L00-E/MX pinout, MCP96L00-E/MX application, or MCP96L00-E/MX equivalent, this page delivers verified technical context, package mapping, alert configuration logic, thermocouple type support (K/J/T/N/E/B/S/R), and design-meaningful specifications for thermal sensing system integration.

Technical Context

The MCP96L00-E/MX implements NIST ITS-90 thermocouple voltage-to-temperature conversion in the millivolt domain, applying polynomial correction coefficients to eight standard thermocouple types. Its ADC core supports 12–18-bit programmable resolution with configurable digital filtering for transient suppression.

It features four independent, user-programmable alert outputs with rising/falling edge detection and up to +255°C hysteresis, plus low-power modes (shutdown: 2 µA typ., burst sampling: 1–128 samples). Unlike the L01 variant, the MCP96L00-E/MX lacks integrated open-circuit and short-circuit detection on the thermocouple inputs.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 20-Lead 5 mm × 5 mm MQFN with exposed thermal pad (EP).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar thermocouple interface applications.

Compared with MCP9600-E/MX, the MCP96L00-E/MX trades ±1.5°C higher hot-junction error for lower cost and simplified qualification, while AD8495ARZ shifts processing burden to the host system but avoids digital protocol dependencies entirely.

Availability

MCP96L00-E/MX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial oven control, handheld thermal meter development, and engine thermal monitor designs requiring stable component supply across extended production lifecycles.

Supply support for MCP96L00-E/MX includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology Inc. is a global semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, and interface ICs for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

The MCP960X/L0X family was designed to simplify high-accuracy thermocouple-based temperature measurement by integrating NIST-certified conversion, cold-junction compensation, and programmable alerts into a single I²C device - targeting thermal management in cost-sensitive industrial systems.

FAQ

What thermocouple types does the MCP96L00-E/MX support?

The MCP96L00-E/MX supports Type K, J, T, N, E, B, S, and R thermocouples per NIST ITS-90 standards. Configuration is performed via its user registers, and all types share the same ±2.0°C typical hot-junction accuracy specification within 0°C to +85°C ambient. The MCP96L00-E/MX applies validated polynomial coefficients internally - no external lookup table or firmware interpolation is required for any of these types.

Does the MCP96L00-E/MX include open-circuit or short-circuit detection?

No, the MCP96L00-E/MX does not include integrated thermocouple open-circuit or short-circuit detection. That feature is exclusive to the MCP96L01-E/MX and MCP9601-E/MX variants. The MCP96L00-E/MX relies on external circuitry or host firmware to detect broken or shorted thermocouple wires, as confirmed by the absence of VSENSE, OC Alert, and SC Alert pins in its pinout and functional description.

What is the maximum I²C clock frequency supported by the MCP96L00-E/MX?

The MCP96L00-E/MX supports standard-mode I²C operation up to 100 kHz, as specified in its timing characteristics. It does not support fast-mode (400 kHz) or high-speed mode. The device requires tSU:DAT ≥250 ns for reliable communication, and clock stretching is implemented during temperature calculations (tSTRETCH ≈60 µs), which must be accommodated by the host controller.

How many devices can share the same I²C bus with the MCP96L00-E/MX?

Up to eight MCP96L00-E/MX devices can operate on a single I²C bus. Device addressing is controlled via the ADDR pin, which accepts eight distinct voltage levels (GND through VDD in 1/8-VDD steps) to configure unique 3-bit address bits. This allows scalable multi-sensor deployments - such as thermal racks or distributed engine monitoring - without bus contention or address conflicts.

What power modes does the MCP96L00-E/MX offer for low-energy operation?

The MCP96L00-E/MX provides three power modes: active (300 µA typ.), burst sampling (configurable 1–128 conversions per cycle), and shutdown (2 µA typ.). Burst mode reduces average current by gating conversion cycles, while shutdown disables the ADC and I²C interface entirely. These modes are software-controlled via register writes and enable multi-year battery life in portable thermal instruments using the MCP96L00-E/MX.