6
Digital Potentiometer Design Guide
This inhibits accidental modification of the wiper setting,
as long as the high voltage is not present to the digital
potentiometer during normal operation.
Many of the non-volatile devices also have some bytes of
general purpose EEPROM memory available. This could be
used to store system information, such as calibration codes,
manufacture date, serial number or user information.
Non-Volatile Applications
Non-volatile devices allow the desired wiper position to be
saved through a device power down or brown-out condition.
When the device power is restored, the wiper value is loaded
with the wiper value stored in the non-volatile register.
This is useful for both applications where the wiper value is
programmed once and never changed (system calibration) as
well as applications where the last user setting is saved on
system powerdown (such as a volume setting).
Mechanical trim pots have been used for device calibration
to optimize the system performance. Digital potentiometers
can now be a better solution due to reliability and total cost.
Non-volatile memory versions allow the device to power on to
the desired wiper setting. Non-volatile devices have a feature
which can be used to ensure that this wiper value is not
changed in the system.
WiperLock Technology is the method that allows Microchips
non-volatile devices to ensure that once the non-volatile
wiper is “l(fā)ocked” the wiper setting (volatile and non-volatile)
can not be modified except with “High Voltage” commands.
WiperLock Technology Operation Example (Up/Down Interface)
Digital Potentiometer Solutions
Devices with Non-Volatile Memory
Device
Serial
Interface
V
olatile
(V
ol)
Non-V
olatile
(NV)
#
RS
Resistor
s
Rs
Ω
(typ.)
Zero-Scale/
Full-Scale
(3)
#
of
Channels
WiperLock
Technolog
y/
HV
Commands
General
Pur
pose
EEPR
OM
(b
ytes)
Shutdown
Mode
Configuration
V
oltage
Range
#
of
Pins
P
ackages
IDD
max
(μA)
(5)
MCP4021(1)
U/D
NV
63
33.3/79.4/158.7/793.7
Y/Y
1
Y
–
N
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
8
SOIC, MSOP, DFN
1
MCP4022(1)
U/D
NV
63
33.3/79.4/158.7/793.7
Y/Y
1
Y
–
N
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
6
SOT-23
1
MCP4023(1)
U/D
NV
63
33.3/79.4/158.7/793.7
Y/Y
1
Y
–
N
Pot(7)
2.7V to 5.5V
6
SOT-23
1
MCP4024(1)
U/D
NV
63
33.3/79.4/158.7/793.7
Y/Y
1
Y
–
N
Rheo(7)
2.7V to 5.5V
5
SOT-23
1
MCP4141(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
8
PDIP, SOIC, MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4142(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
8
PDIP, SOIC, MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4161(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
8
PDIP, SOIC, MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4162(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
8
PDIP, SOIC, MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4241(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
14, 16
PDIP, SOIC, TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4242(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
10
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4261(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
14, 16
PDIP, SOIC, TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4262(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
10
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4341(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
20
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4342(2)
SPI
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
14
TSSOP
5
MCP4361(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
20
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4362(2)
SPI
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
14
TSSOP
5
MCP4441(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
20
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4442(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
14
TSSOP
5
MCP4461(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
20
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4462(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
4
Y
5
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
14
TSSOP
5
MCP4541(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
8
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4542(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
8
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4561(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
8
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4562(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
1
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
8
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4641(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
14, 16
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4642(2)
I2C
NV
128
39.1/78.1/390.6/781.3
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
10
MSOP, DFN
5
MCP4661(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Pot
2.7V to 5.5V
14, 16
TSSOP, QFN
5
MCP4662(2)
I2C
NV
256
19.5/39.1/195.3/390.6
Y/Y
2
Y
10
Y(8)
Rheo
2.7V to 5.5V
10
MSOP, DFN
5
1. Resistor options are: -202 (2.1 kΩ), -502 (5.0 kΩ), -103 (10.0 kΩ), and -503 (50.0 kΩ).
2. Resistor options are: -502 (5.0 kΩ), -103 (10.0 kΩ), 503 (50.0 kΩ), and -104 (100.0 kΩ).
3. Zero-scale allows the wiper to “directly” connect to Terminal B, while full-scale allows the wiper to “directly” connect to Terminal A.
4. There is one RS resistor between the maximum wiper value and Terminal A.
5. This current is with the serial interface inactive, and not during an EEPROM write cycle (for non-volatile devices).
6. The serial interface has been tested to 1.8V, the device’s analog characteristics (resistor) have been tested from 2.7V to 5.5V. Review the device’s characterization graphs for information on analog performance between
1.8Vand 2.7V.
7. One of the terminal pins (A or B) is internally connected to ground, due to the limitation of the number of pins on the package.
8. Shutdown support via software (TCON register(s)). If device has SHDN pin, software shutdown also fuctions.
9. High voltage command support is for compatibility with the corresponding non-volatile version of the device.