Digital Potentiometers Function Like Mechanical Ones

A family of 15-V, 8-bit digital potentiometers performs the same electronic adjustment functions as mechanical potentiometers, trimmers or variable resistors. The four new products include the single- and dual- channel SPI-compatible AD5260 and AD5262 and the single- and dual-channel I2C-compatible AD5280 and AD5282. The family operates from a single 5V to 15V power supply (or dual ±5V supplies) and typically consumes less than 1 µA. Each has a 35 ppm/ °C temperature coefficient for improved accuracy over the -40°C to +85°C operating temperature range. The potentiometers suit applications such as barcode scanners, security tagging systems, vending machines, drug detection instrumentation and wireless communications. Terminal resistance options include values of 20, 50 and 200 kilohms. Pricing is $1.85 each/1,000 for the AD5260 and AD5280 in TSSOP-14 packages and $2.60/1,000 for the AD5262 and AD5282 in TSSOP-16 packages. ANALOG DEVICES INC., Norwood, MA. (800) 262-5643.