Semtech Unveils Latest Ultra-Small Sensing Platform Device

Semtech Corp. announced the SX8724, an ultra-small sensor interface device that uses the company’s ZoomingADC™ signal amplification circuitry to directly connect to a wide array of pressure, temperature and magnetic sensors.

The SX8724 enables electronics to be co-located with the sensor. With a digital output from the sensor, whether it be magnetic, pressure or chemical, manufacturers can provide a total solution to their customers. The device is designed to operate off a single Li-Ion battery without loss of its 16-bit precision even with a depleted battery.

The device features Semtech’s ZoomingADC, a 10-bit preamplifier with a programmable gain of between 0.1 and 1,000 and a 16-bit ADC. The SX8724 interfaces directly with up to six sensors which can be a mix of pressure, magnetic and chemical, making the device truly a "sensing platform" which can be deployed across a manufacturer’s complete range of sensors.

"With an ability to directly read most Wheatstone bridge sensors and with flexible signal input, the SX8724 is the industry’s most versatile sensing solution," said Michel Chevroulet, Sensing Product Group Manager for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Business Unit. "This flexibility and the focused amplification of our ZoomingADC technology allows customers to drive down the cost of their systems through the use of low-cost sensors."

The SX8724 is the smallest data acquisition device in Semtech’s sensing machines product platform, making it possible to embed it directly inside a sensor enclosure. The device is available in a 4 x 4mm MLPQ16 leadless, 16-pin package that can be soldered with regular SMD soldering process. The SX8724 is RoHS and WEEE compliant.

The SX8724 is available immediately in production quantities and is priced at $2.42 each in 10,000-piece lots.