2006 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS21978C-page 39
MCP4011/2/3/4
6.1
Resistor Configurations
6.1.1
RHEOSTAT CONFIGURATION
When used as a rheostat, two of the three digital poten-
tiometer’s terminals are used as a resistive element in
the circuit. With terminal W (wiper) and either terminal
A or terminal B, a variable resistor is created. The
resistance will depend on the tap setting of the wiper
and the wiper’s resistance. The resistance is controlled
by changing the wiper setting.
The unused terminal (B or A) should be left floating.
Figure 6-2 shows the two possible resistors that can be
used. Reversing the polarity of the A and B terminals
will not affect operation.
FIGURE 6-2:
Rheostat Configuration.
This allows the control of the total resistance between
the two nodes. The total resistance depends on the
“starting” terminal to the wiper terminal. At the code
00h, the RBW resistance is minimal (RW), but the RAW
resistance in maximized (RAB + RW). Conversely, at the
code 3Fh, the RAW resistance is minimal (RW), but the
RBW resistance in maximized (RAB + RW).
The resistance step size (RS) equates to one LSb of the
resistor.
The change in wiper-to-end terminal resistance over
temperature will occur in the first few codes due to the
wiper resistance
coefficient affecting the
total
resistance. The remaining codes are dominated by the
total resistance tempco RAB.
6.1.2
POTENTIOMETER
CONFIGURATION
When used as a potentiometer, all three terminals are
tied to different nodes in the circuit. This allows the
potentiometer to output a voltage proportional to the
input voltage. This configuration is sometimes called
voltage divider mode. The potentiometer is used to
provide a variable voltage by adjusting the wiper
position between the two endpoints as shown in
terminals will not affect operation.
FIGURE 6-3:
Potentiometer Configuration.
The temperature coefficient of the RAB resistors is
minimal by design. In this configuration, the resistors all
change uniformly, so minimal variation should be seen.
The wiper resistor temperature coefficient is different
from the RAB temperature coefficient. The voltage at
resistance, just the ratio of the RAB resistors, so this
temperature coefficient in most cases can be
ignored.
Note:
To avoid damage to the internal wiper
circuitry in this configuration, care should
be taken to insure the current flow never
exceeds 2.5 mA.
A
B
W
Resistor
RAW
RBW
or
Note:
To avoid damage to the internal wiper
circuitry in this configuration, care should
be taken to insure the current flow never
exceeds 2.5 mA.
A
B
W
V1
V3
V2