MCP42050-E/P - 8-Bit 50k SPI Potentiometer | Microchip
Артикул: MCP42050-E/P ✓ АктивенMCP42050-E/P Обзор
A digital potentiometer is an active analog-input device that replaces a mechanical potentiometer with a resistor network, electronic switches, and a digitally controlled wiper. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, it is a programmable passive-interface component that belongs to the digital potentiometer, resistor-network, and analog-signal-conditioning categories. It allows a controller to adjust resistance, attenuation, gain, offset, or feedback without a mechanical control.
The principal features include 256 linearly selectable taps, 50 kΩ nominal resistance, SPI communication supporting modes 0,0 and 1,1, and maximum integral nonlinearity and differential nonlinearity of ±1 LSB. Low-power CMOS operation includes a maximum static supply current of 1 µA. These characteristics suit compact embedded systems that require software-adjustable analog behavior while preserving a conventional three-terminal potentiometer interface.
Each command selects one of 256 positions, making the wiper useful for coarse resistance adjustment or eight-bit control. The SPI interface reduces external GPIO requirements because the wiper position travels over a serial bus. Because the device contains active circuitry and is powered from the same rail as the controlled system, firmware, clocking, and signal-level sequencing must be coordinated with the surrounding analog circuit.
Typical uses include programmable sensor-conditioning networks, audio attenuation and gain controls, industrial control loops, laboratory equipment, and portable instrumentation. The 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range supports both 3.3 V and 5 V systems. The linear taper makes the wiper position predictable, while the 14-pin PDIP package supports conventional through-hole prototyping and repair.
When laying out the circuit, keep the wiper connection short and connect the SPI bus so the microcontroller can reinitialize the wiper after reset. Confirm the external circuit’s required resistance and signal swing before treating the nominal 50 kΩ value as a substitute for a mechanical potentiometer. Always observe the absolute maximum supply rating and use the manufacturer’s pin-description table when assigning PCB tracks.
This page combines the manufacturer’s device description with engineering guidance covering SPI integration, resistance selection, signal conditioning, layout, and genuine same-package alternatives. It is designed to support schematic design, firmware implementation, sourcing, and drop-in replacement assessment rather than merely repeat catalog parameters.
Аналоги без доработки для MCP42050-E/P — тот же корпус, pin-to-pin совместимость. Компоненты в других корпусах, требующие переработки PCB, исключены.
Варианты в этой серии
Модели той же серии, совместимые без доработки с MCP42050-E/P (тот же форм-фактор и посадочное место) — отличается по Control Interface, Device Type, Wiper Positions.
MCP42010-E/P
✅ Прямая замена ⚠️ Характеристики не провереныУточнить цену
Открыть даташит →MCP42020-E/P
✅ Прямая замена ⚠️ Характеристики не проверены📋 Справочный аналог (нет в каталоге)
MCP42100-E/P
✅ Прямая замена ⚠️ Характеристики не провереныУточнить цену
Открыть даташит →MCP42050-E/P Максимальные параметры и электрические характеристики
| Device Type | Single-channel digital potentiometer |
| Nominal End-to-End Resistance | 50 kΩ |
| Разрешение | 8 bit |
| Wiper Positions | 256 taps |
| Track Taper | Linear |
| Control Interface | SPI serial interface |
| Supported SPI Modes | Mode 0,0 and Mode 1,1 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum Static Supply Current | 1 µA |
| Integral Nonlinearity | ±1 LSB maximum |
| Differential Nonlinearity | ±1 LSB maximum |
| Корпус | 14-pin PDIP |
| Тип монтажа | Through-hole |
Руководство по цоколевке MCP42050-E/P в корпусе 14-pin pdip
Цоколевка для MCP42050-E/P (корпус 14-pin pdip). Нумерация выводов, функции и схемы подключения определены в техническом описании производителя. Обратитесь к нему для точного посадочного места и рекомендаций по пайке.
Нет подробных данных о распиновке для MCP42050-E/P.
Обратитесь к даташиту для полной конфигурации выводов.
Типичное применение
MCP42050-E/P подходит для 6 применениеs: Programmable Sensor Conditioning, Programmable Audio Attenuation, Industrial Control and Setpoint Adjustment, Portable Instrumentation, LED and Lighting Adjustment, Analog Signal-Chain Calibration.
Programmable Sensor Conditioning
The MCP42050-E/P is appropriate for MCU-controlled sensor networks requiring an adjustable attenuation, threshold, offset, or feedback element. Its 50 kΩ network provides 256 linear positions, allowing firmware to establish a starting point and then trim the signal presented to an amplifier or converter. The SPI interface avoids dedicating multiple GPIO lines to position control, while operation from 2.7 V to 5.5 V supports common embedded rails. Because the commanded position is digital but the signal path remains analog, the designer should evaluate wiper impedance, source loading, and noise filtering. A 1 µA maximum static supply current also supports low-power designs that retain the potentiometer while the primary measurement path is inactive.
Рекомендуется
Programmable Audio Attenuation
The MCP42050-E/P can implement a digitally controlled attenuation or level-adjustment element in a compact audio control system. Its 8-bit resolution provides 256 linear wiper positions, while the SPI interface lets an MCU change channel gain in response to user input, presets, or automatic leveling. The 50 kΩ nominal resistance is useful when the following stage presents a suitable input impedance, and the 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating range supports 3.3 V or 5 V audio-control hardware. Layout should keep the wiper trace short, place any required anti-alias or reconstruction filtering according to the signal bandwidth, and verify that the output amplifier tolerates the wiper’s effective impedance and any channel-to-channel mismatch.
Рекомендуется
Industrial Control and Setpoint Adjustment
The MCP42050-E/P suits industrial and instrumentation systems that need a digitally adjustable setpoint without a mechanical trim control. A controller can select one of 256 wiper positions to influence a limit, threshold, compensation network, or reference-divider output. The 14-pin PDIP package is convenient for equipment that uses through-hole modules, repairable controller boards, or hand-assembled industrial prototypes. SPI modes 0,0 and 1,1 provide flexibility in host-controller configuration. For dependable operation, define the wiper value at startup, prevent writes until the device supply is stable, and include calibration constants that map the commanded code to the required physical control range.
Рекомендуется
Portable Instrumentation
The MCP42050-E/P can add user-adjustable calibration or range selection to a portable test and measurement instrument. The 8-bit digital control removes a mechanical potentiometer from the front panel and enables software-controlled presets, while the 1 µA maximum static supply current supports battery-conscious operation when the instrument enters standby. Use the 50 kΩ resistance only when it suitably matches the measured source and input stages, because excessive loading can degrade accuracy. Firmware should restore the wiper after reset and apply stored calibration offsets. A low-noise reference and stable supply are important if the circuit uses the potentiometer to set a precision divider rather than merely controlling a coarse range.
Рекомендуется
LED and Lighting Adjustment
The MCP42050-E/P can serve as a programmable control element in LED-driver and lighting systems where an MCU adjusts brightness, current limit, or a feedback setpoint. The 256 linear positions allow smooth stepper-style control from a stored brightness curve, and SPI control simplifies coordination with color channels or lighting presets. The 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range supports low-voltage controller platforms. Designers should place the wiper within the appropriate feedback or drive path, observe current limits imposed by the surrounding transistors, and account for wiper impedance when driving the reference node. Firmware must avoid abrupt step changes that could produce visible flicker or disturb a regulated LED current loop.
Рекомендуется
Analog Signal-Chain Calibration
The MCP42050-E/P is useful in calibration and trim networks where a controller must compensate for component tolerance, sensor offset, or amplifier gain. The linear 50 kΩ element and 256 available codes give engineers a discrete adjustment range that can be searched during production calibration. SPI communication allows the calibration value to be stored in nonvolatile firmware or EEPROM and reapplied after power cycling. For high-accuracy measurements, minimize loading on the wiper and use a high-impedance sensing arrangement so the adjustment mechanism does not degrade source accuracy. The device’s maximum static supply current of 1 µA is beneficial in portable equipment, although dynamic system consumption and external resistor currents can dominate the overall power budget.
Рекомендуется
Сводка рекомендуемых товаров
Справочные инженерные данные для MCP42050-E/P — сравнение, рекомендации по проектированию и информация о соответствии.
Руководство по выбору
Сравнение с аналогами
| Параметр | Этот товар | MCP42010-E/P | MCP42020-E/P | MCP42100-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-pin PDIP | 14-pin PDIP - same package | 14-pin PDIP - same package | 14-pin PDIP - same package |
| Nominal End-to-End Resistance | 50 kΩ | 10 kΩ | 20 kΩ | 100 kΩ |
| Number of Channels | Single channel | Single channel | Single channel | Single channel |
| Resolution | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit |
| Wiper Positions | 256 taps | 256 taps | 256 taps | 256 taps |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Control Interface | SPI | SPI | SPI | SPI |
| Track Taper | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear |
Ключевые отличия
- Uses the 50 kΩ nominal resistance required by the target circuit (против MCP42100-E/P)
- Provides a practical middle resistance within the same package family (против MCP42020-E/P)
- Retains the same 14-pin PDIP footprint for migration (против MCP42010-E/P)
Заметки по проектированию
Route the MCP42050-E/P wiper as a short, quiet analog trace and connect it directly to the receiving amplifier or converter input. Avoid sharing the wiper path with SPI clocking, switching-node connections, or digital return currents. Place the device near the controlled analog node when practical, and use a ground reference that avoids voltage drops beneath the potentiometer. Long traces can add coupling and capacitance that are not represented by the nominal 50 kΩ resistance.
Do not treat MCP42010-E/P, MCP42020-E/P, or MCP42100-E/P as exact substitutes for the 50 kΩ MCP42050-E/P. Their shared 8-bit SPI control and package simplify replacement, but changing from 50 kΩ to 10 kΩ, 20 kΩ, or 100 kΩ alters output loading, available wiper current, attenuation range, and signal-to-noise performance. Recalculate the external circuit and revalidate the analog operating point after any resistance change.
Hold SPI writes until the MCP42050-E/P supply is within its 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating range. Restore the intended wiper code after every controller reset so the analog node cannot remain at an unintended position during startup. The 1 µA maximum static supply current is low, but it does not represent total system consumption; include pull-up resistors, external networks, and dynamic SPI activity when calculating a low-power design’s current budget.
Configure the host SPI peripheral for mode 0,0 or mode 1,1 and keep command timing within the device’s serial-interface limits. Decouple the supply close to the IC and use a quiet analog return path for the wiper node. When the wiper drives a high-impedance input, add capacitance only after considering the intended signal bandwidth; excessive filtering can slow control-loop response, while insufficient filtering can increase noise or instability.
Информация о соответствии
The manufacturer product page and distributor summaries do not state the requested compliance details. AEC-Q100 qualification is not identified for this ordering code.
