7/8/2003 Edited by PETech Staff Digital Potentiometer ICs Catalyst Semiconductor’s new quad and dual Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP) integrated
Catalyst Semiconductor’s new quad and dual Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP™) integrated circuits (ICs) are designed to replace mechanical potentiometers. The quad CAT5241 and dual CAT5221 digital potentiometer ICs have 64 wiper positions. In addition, the linear-taper, nonvolatile DPP ICs are controlled over a 400 kHz, 2-wire interface. Standby power is 5 µW maximum at 5V, ideal for battery powered equipment, and 500 times lower than competitive solutions.
The CAT5241 and CAT5221 operate from a single power supply voltage that can range from 2.5V to 6V. Their maximum wiper resistance is a low 150 Ω at 5V operation. A maximum wiper resistance of 300 Ω at 3V operation is also specified.
Target applications include fiber-optic transceiver modules, RF amplifier bias and protection circuits, digital and film cameras, LCD display brightness and contrast control, transducer calibration, and programmable power supplies. With multiple pots per package, DPP solutions are lower cost and easier to mount on printed circuit boards than mechanical potentiometers.
