Fan speed management MCU from Maxim for data center servers

Maxim has introduced a device coded MAX31782, a system management microcontroller that can monitor and controll various heat and electric power related physical health parameters of complex systems such as servers used in data centers. MAX31782 is based on MAXQ20, a 16-bit microcontroller core with 16 accumulators and 16 level hardware stack. This device has 6 temperature measurement channels with 6 channels of closed loop fan control. This chip by tracking temperature levels at multiple points help computer-system designers to implement precise zoned-cooling schemes. The benefits listed by Maxim include low power consumption, reduced cooling costs, reduced fan wear, compensation for fan speed variances due to dust accumulation, and acoustic noise reduction. The MAX31782 is C-language programmable and enables designers to customize algorithms for precision cooling in servers, network switches and routers, etc.

Data centers are estimated to be consuming 1.5% of U.S. electricity in 2006. This MCU device is intended to cut power comsumption of data centers by smartly monitoring power consumption parameters of computer servers in data centers. The key saving is through managing heat dissipation. MAX31782 enables adjusting the speeds of fans proportion to the heat generated by the processor so that unnecessary running of fans at high speed are avoided.

Maxim says that the MAX31782 consumes 55% less board space and reduces cost by at least 25% as compared to conventional circuit which require a microcontroller and an external multichannel temperature sensor for implementing zoned cooling.

MAX31782 packs 6-channel, 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a temperature-sensing analog front-end (AFE) that allows direct connection to thermal diodes. The AFE offers 0.125°C resolution, series resistance cancellation for the entire external diode circuit, and configurable ideality factor to deliver the high temperature measurement accuracy.

The MAX31782 can be directly connected to up to six remote thermal diodes, which are integrated on CPU, FPGA, and ASIC ICs. Additional temperature points can be monitored using the on-chip master I²C interface. This device can control up to six cooling fans, each with an independent 16-bit PWM output and timer/tachometer input.

The MAXQ20 microcontroller core in this MCU provides programs and data with 32-KWord reprogrammable flash and 1-KWord RAM for data storage.

Package: 6mm x 6mm, 40-pin TQFN

Operating temperature range: -40°C to +85°C

Price: Starts at US$2.95