Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced a four-channel thermocouple conditioning integrated circuit (IC), the MCP9604, designed to simplify precision temperature measurement across a wide range of industrial applications including food processing, medical equipment, refrigeration, chemical production, and manufacturing process control.
The MCP9604 is the first single-chip, four-channel I²C thermocouple conditioning IC to deliver system accuracy of up to ±1.5°C, according to the company. The device addresses long-standing challenges in precision thermal measurement, replacing discrete or multichip solutions that often add design complexity, increase calibration requirements, and introduce errors when operating under extreme high or low temperatures.
“For more than two centuries, the thermocouple has been a critical tool for measuring extremely high temperatures, but the necessary precision and accuracy could not be achieved with the level of integration and cost-effectiveness required today,” said Keith Pazul, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear business unit. “Our device now delivers a combination of precision, integration, and cost-effectiveness, reducing the need for as many as 15 discrete components.”
The new device enhances measurement accuracy by applying higher-order NIST ITS-90 equations rather than the single-order linear approximations typically found in analog amplifier-based designs. For example, it achieves ninth-order accuracy with K-type thermocouples. Within a single package, the MCP9604 integrates analog-to-digital converters, cold junction compensation sensors, amplifiers, and the necessary math engine, offering a full signal chain in a compact footprint.
This level of integration simplifies printed circuit board design, reduces bill of materials costs, and eliminates the need for weeks of complex, unit-by-unit validation and calibration before systems can report reliable data. With support for the eight most common thermocouple types, including J and K variants, the MCP9604 covers a wide operating range of -200°C to +1372°C. Its I²C communication capability enables seamless integration with microcontrollers and digital platforms, making it suitable for advanced process automation and tightly controlled environments.
The four-channel device expands on Microchip’s earlier single-channel thermocouple conditioning IC, which was the first all-in-one solution to achieve ±1.5°C accuracy. By extending those capabilities to four thermocouples in a single chip, the MCP9604 offers efficiency gains for industrial systems requiring simultaneous, multi-point monitoring.
To support product development, Microchip has also released the EV19L27A evaluation board. The board allows connection to up to four thermocouples, with a microcontroller serving as the host system for data plotting and analysis. Free software is available for download to simplify evaluation and integration.
The MCP9604 is available in a 24-pin 5×5 Land Grid Array package. Pricing begins at $10.56 each in 10,000-unit quantities, with tape-in-reel (MCP9604T-E/3YW) and rail (MCP9604-E/3YW) options. The EV19L27A evaluation board is priced at $96. Both the IC and evaluation board are available immediately, the company said.
