A Programmable potentiometer is a component-level controlling device in which the resistance between two externally accessible terminals can be varied as programed by the master/host device.
The Digital potentiometer actually consists of a number of resistive elements connected in a series combination between the two terminals. The taps to these resistive elements are controlled by CMOS switches. These resistive elements are composed of polycrystalline silicon and are insulated from other parts of the circuit through the oxide layer coating. Only one of the CMOS switches is closed at a time leading to a certain resistance between the terminals.
There are special control registers which store the switching instructions for every wiper taps. The number of bits in the control registers depends on the number of resistive elements and the greater the number of resistive elements inside the digital pot, the greater the number of resistance values can be obtained. The CAT5241 programmable digital potentiometer IC, for example, has four independent digital pots on the same chip. Each of these four potentiometers has 63 resistive elements and need a 6-bit control resister to control their tapping.
The control registers can be programmed by a computer through I2C transmission. The wiper settings stored in these control registers are non-volatile, which means that the instructions are not erased from its memory even if the power is turned OFF.
A programmable potentiometer may be used as a three-terminal device or as a two-terminal device. These applications are briefly explained with the help of the following examples:
The digital pot can be used as a potential divider to get a certain voltage output anywhere between the voltages of the two terminals as the wiper voltage. This can be used to make a simple digital to analog converter which can give continuous varying voltage output by connecting the wiper to the input of an op-amp. The digital signal sent by the host device will be converted to an analog signal at the output of the op-amp. The greater the number of resistive elements in the potentiometer, the greater the resolution can be attained for the output signal.
The digital potentiometer can also be used as a programmable resister in circuits where the circuit parameters depend on a certain resistor. For example, we can use the programmable pot to vary the voltage gain in an op-amp by using it as the feedback element. Or we can vary the cutoff frequency of a high-pass or low-pass filter by using it as the biasing resistance.
Data Acquisition - Digital Potentiometers
Image |
Part Number |
Manufacturer |
Description |
Package |
Stock |
Quantity |
Configuration | Number of Circuits | Number of Taps | Resistance (Ohms) | Interface | Memory Type | Voltage - Supply | Features | Tolerance | Temperature Coefficient (Typ) | Resistance - Wiper (Ohms) (Typ) | Operating Temperature | Package / Case | Supplier Device Package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Intersil |
IC DGTL POT 10K 1CH 16SOIC
|
Package: 16-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) |
Stock2,016 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 64 | 10k | SPI | Non-Volatile | ±5V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 40 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 16-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) | 16-SOIC |
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|
Intersil |
IC DGTL POT 2CH 50K 16UTQFN
|
Package: 16-UFQFN |
Stock2,656 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 128 | 50k | SPI | Volatile | 1.2 V ~ 5.5 V, 1.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | 65 ppm/°C | 70 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 16-UFQFN | 16-UTQFN (2.6x1.8) |
|
|
Intersil |
IC POT DGTL 256TP LN LP 14-TSSOP
|
Package: 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock3,440 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 100k | SPI | Non-Volatile | ±2.25 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | ±45 ppm/°C | 70 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 14-TSSOP |
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|
Maxim Integrated |
IC VOLTAGE DIVIDER DGLT 10MSOP
|
Package: 10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock2,272 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 4 | 15k | Parallel | Volatile | 5V, ±5V | - | - | - | 500 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 10-uMAX |
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP SGL 100TAP 1K 8-SOIC
|
Package: 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) |
Stock6,256 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 100 | 1k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 5V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 200 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) | 8-SOIC |
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP 32-TAP 10K 3WIRE 8-DIP
|
Package: 8-DIP (0.300", 7.62mm) |
Stock4,496 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 32 | 10k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 400 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-DIP (0.300", 7.62mm) | 8-PDIP |
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP 32-TAP 10K 3-WIRE 8-MSOP
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock7,408 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 32 | 10k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 3 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 40 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-MSOP |
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP DUAL 256TAP 100K 24TSSOP
|
Package: 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock7,552 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 100k | SPI | Non-Volatile | 5V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 150 (Max) | 0°C ~ 70°C | 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 24-TSSOP |
|
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP SGL 32-TAP 50K 8-SOIC
|
Package: 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) |
Stock4,752 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 32 | 50k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Volatile | 5V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 200 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) | 8-SOIC |
|
|
Maxim Integrated |
IC POT NV TRIPLE 128POS 20-TSSOP
|
Package: 20-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock3,600 |
|
Potentiometer | 3 | 128 | 10k, 90k | I2C | Non-Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 250 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 20-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 20-TSSOP |
|
|
Analog Devices Inc. |
IC POT DIG DUAL 50K 8BIT 14TSSOP
|
Package: 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock7,744 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 50k | SPI | Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±30% | 500 ppm/°C | 200 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 14-TSSOP |
|
|
|
Intersil |
IC DIGITAL POT 50K 100TP 8MSOP
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock3,600 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 100 | 50k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 5V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 200 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-MSOP |
|
|
|
Intersil |
IC DIGITAL POT 10K 32TP 8MSOP
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock7,312 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 32 | 10k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 5V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 200 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-MSOP |
|
|
Intersil |
IC POT DGTL 10K OHM 8-SOIC
|
Package: 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) |
Stock19,560 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 100 | 10k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 400 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) | 8-SOIC |
|
|
|
Intersil |
IC XDCP 32-TAP 10K 3-WIRE 8-MSOP
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock2,144 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 32 | 10k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 5V | - | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 40 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-MSOP |
|
|
Maxim Integrated |
IC POT TRIMMER NV 50K 8-USOP
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock4,672 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 100 | 50k | Up/Down (U/D, INC, CS) | Non-Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | 750 ppm/°C | 400 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-uMAX |
|
|
|
Intersil |
IC DGTL POT 256POS 10K 14TSSOP
|
Package: 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock7,472 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 10k | SPI | Volatile | 1.2 V ~ 5.5 V, 1.7 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | 125 ppm/°C | 70 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 14-TSSOP |
|
|
Microchip Technology |
IC DGTL POT 100K 129TAPS 10-MSOP
|
Package: 10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock12,468 |
|
Rheostat | 2 | 129 | 100k | I2C | Non-Volatile | 1.8 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | 150 ppm/°C | 75 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 10-MSOP |
|
|
Microchip Technology |
IC POT DGTL DUAL 50K RHEO 10DFN
|
Package: 10-VFDFN Exposed Pad |
Stock7,856 |
|
Rheostat | 2 | 257 | 50k | SPI | Volatile | 1.8 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | 150 ppm/°C | 75 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 10-VFDFN Exposed Pad | 10-DFN (3x3) |
|
|
Microchip Technology |
IC POT DGTL SNGL 10K RHEO 8SOIC
|
Package: 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) |
Stock6,516 |
|
Rheostat | 1 | 257 | 10k | SPI | Volatile | 1.8 V ~ 5.5 V | - | ±20% | 150 ppm/°C | 75 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width) | 8-SOIC |
|
|
Analog Devices Inc. |
IC POT DGTL 1K 64POS SOT23
|
Package: SOT-23-8 |
Stock27,582 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 64 | 100k | I2C | OTP | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±30% | 300 ppm/°C | 60 | -40°C ~ 105°C | SOT-23-8 | SOT-23-8 |
|
|
|
Maxim Integrated |
IC VOLTAGE DIVIDER DGLT 8-UMAX
|
Package: 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) |
Stock17,640 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 4 | 15k | Parallel | Volatile | 5V, ±5V | - | - | - | 500 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width) | 8-uMAX |
|
|
Microchip Technology |
IC DGTL POT 5K 257TAPS 8-DFN
|
Package: 8-VDFN Exposed Pad |
Stock24,270 |
|
Rheostat | 1 | 257 | 5k | I2C | Non-Volatile | 1.8 V ~ 5.5 V | Mute, Selectable Address | ±20% | 150 ppm/°C | 75 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 8-VDFN Exposed Pad | 8-DFN-EP (3x3) |
|
|
|
Microchip Technology |
IC DGTL POT 10K 129TAPS 8-DFN
|
Package: 8-VDFN Exposed Pad |
Stock60,240 |
|
Rheostat | 1 | 129 | 10k | I2C | Non-Volatile | 1.8 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | 150 ppm/°C | 75 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 8-VDFN Exposed Pad | 8-DFN-EP (3x3) |
|
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC DCP DUAL 2.8K 256TAP 24-TSSOP
|
Package: 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock2,528 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 2.8k | I²C, Up/Down (U/D, CS) | Non-Volatile | 2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 50 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 24-TSSOP |
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC XDCP QUAD 256TP 50K 24-SOIC
|
Package: 24-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) |
Stock4,480 |
|
Potentiometer | 4 | 256 | 50k | SPI | Non-Volatile | ±2.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 150 | -40°C ~ 85°C | 24-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) | 24-SOIC |
|
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC DGTL POT 256POS 10K 14TSSOP
|
Package: 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock7,824 |
|
Potentiometer | 2 | 256 | 10k | I²C | Volatile | 1.2 V ~ 5.5 V, 1.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | 125 ppm/°C | 70 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 14-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 14-TSSOP |
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC DGTL POT 256POS 50K 10TQFN
|
Package: 10-UFQFN |
Stock4,176 |
|
Potentiometer | 1 | 256 | 50k | I²C | Volatile | 1.2 V ~ 5.5 V, 1.7 V ~ 5.5 V | Selectable Address | ±20% | 85 ppm/°C | 70 | -40°C ~ 125°C | 10-UFQFN | 10-UTQFN (2.1x1.6) |
|
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC XDCP QUAD 64-TAP 2.5K 24TSSOP
|
Package: 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) |
Stock4,400 |
|
Potentiometer | 4 | 64 | 2.5k | SPI | Non-Volatile | ±5V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 40 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width) | 24-TSSOP |
|
|
Renesas Electronics America |
IC XDCP QUAD 4X50K EE 20-SOIC
|
Package: 20-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) |
Stock6,416 |
|
Potentiometer | 4 | 64 | 50k | I²C | Non-Volatile | 5V | Selectable Address | ±20% | ±300 ppm/°C | 40 | 0°C ~ 70°C | 20-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width) | 20-SOIC |
