The LM35 series from Texas Instruments represents a line of precision integrated-circuit temperature devices with an output voltage linearly proportional to the Centigrade temperature. These temperature sensors are renowned for their ease-of-use, high accuracy, low cost, and minimal need for external calibration or trimming to achieve typical accuracies.
Key Features
- Calibrated Directly in Celsius (Centigrade): The LM35 device has an advantage over linear temperature sensors calibrated in Kelvin, as the user is not required to subtract a large constant voltage from the output to obtain convenient Centigrade scaling.
- Linear +10 mV/°C Scale Factor: The linear scale factor allows for simple and straightforward temperature readings without the need for complex calculations.
- Low Self-Heating: The LM35's low self-heating, at only 0.08°C in still air, ensures that the sensor does not significantly affect the temperature it is measuring.
- Operates from 4 V to 30 V: A wide range of operating voltages enhances the versatility of the LM35, making it suitable for various applications and compatible with many different types of circuitry.
- Less than 60-µA Current Drain: The low power consumption of the LM35 helps to preserve battery life in portable applications.
- Low Impedance Output: The 0.1-Ω output impedance provides a strong signal that is less susceptible to noise and can drive long cables without the need for additional amplification or buffering.
Applications
The LM35 is incredibly versatile and can be employed in a multitude of applications, including:
- Power Supplies
- Battery Management
- HVAC
- Appliances
- Data Loggers
- Environmental Monitoring
- Automotive
- Process Control
- Consumer Electronics
The LM35's design simplicity, ease of interfacing, and reliability have made it a standard for temperature measurements in microcontroller systems. Whether you're designing a home thermostat, a car's climate control system, or monitoring the temperature in a server room, the LM35 provides a straightforward and practical solution.