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Digital Potentiometer Design Guide
Microchip’s Family of Digital Potentiometers
Microchip offers a range of devices that allow the customer
to select a device that is a best fit for their application. Some
of the selection options include:
■ A wide range of resistor values
– RAB resistance (typical) from 2.1 kΩ to 100 kΩ
■ Step resolution
– 6-bit
– 7-bit
– 8-bit
■ Serial interfaces
– Up/Down
– SPI
– I2C
■ Memory types
– Volatile
– Non-volatile
■ Resistor network configurations
– Potentiometer (resistor divider)
– Rheostat (variable resistor)
■ Single, dual and quad potentiometer options
■ Package options
■ Special features
– Shutdown mode
– WiperLock technology
■ Low voltage, Low power options
Resistor sizes and resolutions allow the designer to select
the step resistance and number of steps. For the device with
the resistance (RAB) equal to 2.1 kΩ, there are 64 steps (63
resistors), so the step resistance (RS) equals RAB/63 (or
33.33Ω). For a 5 kΩ device with 257 steps (256 resistors), a
step resistance (RS) equals RAB/256 = 19.53Ω. Now at the
other end of the spectrum, for the device with the resistance
(RAB) equal to 50 kΩ, there are 64 steps (63 resistors), so
the step resistance (RS) equals RAB/63 (or 793.65Ω).
The serial interface options allow the designer to easily
integrate the device into the application. For some
applications the simple Up/Down interface will be adequate.
For devices with higher resolution (7-bit, 8-bit) being able
to directly write/read the wiper register is desirable. This
is supported with SPI and I2C interfaces. SPI is simpler to
implement, but I2C uses only 2 signals (pins) and supports
multiple devices on the serial bus without additional pins.
The availability of both volatile and non-volatile devices
allows the designer flexibility in optimizing the application.
Some applications may use the digital potentiometer as a
replacement for a mechanical potentiometer. In this case, a
non-volatile device with the serial interface connecting to the
test hardware interface allows a low cost device with low cost
manufacturing.
Resistor network configurations allow the package size/
cost to be minimized for the desired functionality. If a
variable resistor (rheostat) with one terminal tied to ground
is desired, then only one resistor terminal (the wiper) needs
to be implemented. In the MCP4017/18/19 family, this
configuration is shown in the MCP4019 and allows the
functionality to be achieved in a low-cost SC70-5 package.
Dual and quad digital potentiometer resistor networks
are closely matched, due to residing on the same silicon.
Matched components allow customers to achieve better
system performance in some applications
Packaging options allow customers to address their system
requirement trade-offs including device cost, board area, and
manufacturing sites (surface mount vs. thru-hole). Packages
include 3x3 mm SOT-23 and DFN packages, 3x2 mm DFN
package and tiny SC70 packages.
Digital Potentiometer Solutions