Supports low-voltage operation as well as programmable calibration and operating modes.
As an IC equipped with a horn driver and boost regulator, it reduces cost and component count and enables design simplification.

Microchip Technology (Country Manager for Korea: Han Byung-don), a global specialist in microcontroller, analog, and flash IP solutions, has introduced the RE46C190, a 3V photo smoke detector IC equipped with a horn driver and boost regulator.

The RE46C190 is the industry's first smoke detector IC to implement low-voltage operation based on programmable calibration and operating modes, allowing desired operating modes to be selected and calibrated during manufacturing. This simplifies the design and manufacturing process of smoke detectors, as well as reducing costs and the number of components.

Microchip's new smoke detector IC can operate for up to 10 years with a single lithium battery thanks to its low average operating current of 8μA (microamperes), and can also use two alkaline batteries. By programmatically calibrating and selecting smoke detector operating modes, designers can more easily control the operation of the smoke detector. Furthermore, using a single IC has enabled diverse smoke detector designs that meet various market and regulatory requirements.

This new product has successfully integrated various previously used external components into a single IC by applying electronic programming capabilities. This not only reduces the number of required external components but also provides cost savings associated with manufacturing and inventory.

Bryan J. Ridyard of Microchip’s Analog and Interface Products Division “Microchip has an extensive line of products, such as PIC microcontrollers, horn drivers, smoke detector ICs, signal chains, and power management devices, that enable a wide range of smoke detector applications, from simple residential detectors to programmable commercial systems,” said Liddiard, Vice President of Marketing.