10 mV/°C analog output — the linear scale factor
The MCP9700T-E/LT: The output voltage scales linearly at 10 mV per degree Celsius. At 0°C the output is 500 mV; at 100°C it is 1.5 V. No digital interface or protocol handler is needed — a simple ADC read on the host MCU converts the voltage to temperature. The scale factor is fixed, so the system calibration is a single-point offset correction rather than a multi-point curve fit. The output voltage stays within the supply rails across the full temperature range, so no level shifting is required when feeding a 3.3 V ADC input.
Accuracy budget — ±2°C typical, wider at the extremes
The highest accuracy is ±2°C, specified under the 0°C to 70°C test condition. For a system that only needs ±2°C in the 0-70°C band — typical for ambient monitoring, battery pack temperature, or HVAC duct sensing — this part meets the budget without a trim. If the application requires ±2°C at -40°C or +125°C, a higher-grade sensor or a calibration step is needed.
SC-70-5 footprint — board integration
The sensor is housed in a 5-lead SC-70 package (also known as SOT-353). Surface-mount assembly is standard; no special reflow profile beyond the typical lead-free solder curve is required.
This is the same range as the sensing temperature, so the sensor can measure its own ambient environment without derating. Applications include outdoor telecom enclosures, motor drive cabinets, engine bay monitoring, and cold-chain logistics where the sensor sees the full environmental swing.