5 kOhm Digital Potentiometers Operate At 36 V

Microchip Technology Inc. expanded its 36V digital potentiometer (digipot) portfolio with two new volatile, I2C™ devices-the MCP45HV31 and MCP45HV51 (MCP45HV31-51).  These are the industry's first digipots to offer a 5 kΩ resistance with a specified operating voltage of 36V.  Additionally, they provide 10V to 36V analog operation and 1.8V to 5.5V digital operation, for systems requiring wide signal swings or high power-supply voltages.  The MCP45HV31-51 digipots support both 7-bit and 8-bit resistor configurations, and a high terminal/wiper current, including the ability to sink/source up to 25 mA on all terminal pins for driving larger loads.  These features, combined with an extended temperature range of -40°C to +125°C, make the MCP45HV31-51 well suited for a broad range of high-voltage and high-temperature applications, including those in the industrial, automotive and audio markets.

The MCP45HV31's 7-bit resistor network resolution enables 127 resistors and 128 taps, while the MCP45HV51's 8-bit configuration supports 255 resistors and 256 taps.  Additionally, both digipots provide RAB resistance options of 5, 10, 50 and 100 kΩ. Both devices also feature a 1 µA typical serial-interface inactive current, and a 2 MHz typical bandwidth operation (-3 dB) at the 5 kΩ resistance level.

Microchip's 20-Pin TSSOP and SSOP Evaluation Board (part # TSSOP20EV) allows system designers to quickly evaluate the operation of these new MCP45HV31-51 digipots, in their 14-pin TSSOP package option.

 Both digital potentiometers are available today for samples and volume production, in 14-pin TSSOP and 20-pin, 5x5 mm QFN packages.  The MCP45HV31 is $0.99 each and the MCP45HV51 is $1.09 each, in 5,000-unit quantities.