MIC841HYMT-TR Voltage Detector: Features and Applications
The MIC841HYMT-TR is a high-accuracy, ultra-low-power voltage detector designed for monitoring power supply voltages in a wide range of electronic systems. This tiny but robust device from Microchip Technology plays a critical role in ensuring system reliability, data integrity, and safety by providing a reset signal to a microcontroller or logic circuit when the supply voltage falls below a predefined threshold.
Key Features of the MIC841HYMT-TR
The standout characteristics of this voltage detector make it a preferred choice for power-sensitive designs.
Ultra-Low Quiescent Current: One of its most significant advantages is its remarkably low supply current, typically 350 nA. This minimal power draw is crucial for battery-powered and portable devices, such as IoT sensors and wearables, where extending battery life is paramount.
High Accuracy: The device offers a tight threshold accuracy of ±1.5% over the entire temperature range. This precision ensures reliable and predictable system reset operation, preventing microcontrollers from malfunctioning at unstable voltages.
Small Form Factor: Housed in a SOT-23-5 package, the MIC841HYMT-TR is ideal for space-constrained printed circuit board (PCB) designs, allowing for high-density layouts.
Push-Pull Output: The integrated push-pull output stage provides a strong, clean digital output signal without requiring an external pull-up resistor, simplifying circuit design and saving additional components.
Wide Operating Voltage Range: It can monitor voltages from 0.7V to 5.5V, making it versatile for various applications, from 1.8V core logic to 5V systems.
Manual Reset Capability: Some variants in the MIC841 family include a manual reset pin, allowing a user or external circuit to initiate a system reset independently of the supply voltage.
Primary Applications
The combination of low power and high accuracy enables the MIC841HYMT-TR to be deployed in numerous fields.
Portable and Battery-Powered Electronics: It is extensively used in smartphones, tablets, wireless headphones, and medical wearables to monitor battery health and initiate a safe shutdown before the battery is completely depleted, preventing data corruption.
Microcontroller and µP Reset Generation: Its primary function is to hold a microcontroller in reset during power-up, power-down, or brownout conditions, ensuring the processor only operates within its specified voltage range for reliable initialization.
Power Supply Supervision: In larger systems like servers, networking equipment, and industrial controllers, multiple MIC841 devices can monitor different voltage rails (e.g., 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V), guaranteeing all power supplies are stable before the system becomes active.
Window Comparators: By using two voltage detectors set to different thresholds, designers can create a window comparator circuit to monitor if a voltage remains within a specific safe window.
Data Integrity Protection: In memory-intensive systems and data storage devices, sudden power loss can cause data errors. The voltage detector provides an early warning, allowing the system to complete critical write operations or enter a safe state.
In summary, the MIC841HYMT-TR is an exceptionally efficient and reliable voltage monitoring solution. Its ultra-low quiescent current, high threshold accuracy, and minuscule package make it an indispensable component for designing robust, power-efficient, and compact modern electronics, from everyday consumer gadgets to critical industrial systems.
Keywords:
Voltage Detector
Ultra-Low Power
Brownout Reset
Battery-Powered Devices
Power Management
