Holt Integrated Circuits today announced the introduction of HI-8436, a new 3.3V, 32-channel, discrete-to-digital sensing IC with SPI interface and low threshold sensing capability. The sense input thresholds and hysteresis are programmable via the 20MHz SPI port in 100mV steps, from 0.4V to 5.2V and all 32 sense output states may be read with a single SPI command. In addition, the device has built-in lightning protection on the sense inputs.

The 32 sensing channels are divided into four banks of 8 inputs, with each bank independently configurable over the SPI port to detect either GND/Open or 28V/Open signals.

This type of device may be used in a multitude of aircraft sensing applications, such as “hatch open” and “wheels up” indicators. Customers may easily implement a 32-channel solution using a single device, or increase the number of sense channels on a single SPI port by addressing multiple HI-8436 devices by their individual chip selects.

“This product expands Holt's existing discrete-to-digital product family, giving our customers ultimate flexibility and cost savings in applications requiring a large number of sense channels,” said George Noh, Director of Sales and Marketing at Holt. “The low threshold capability of this part expands the detection capability of the family from 0.4V to 22V.”

The device is available in industrial −40oC to +85oC and extended −55oC to +125oC temperature ranges and comes in multiple standard package options, including 44‑pin PQFP and compact 7mm x 7mm 44-pin QFN. An Evaluation Kit, ADK-8436, is also available from Holt on request.