MCP4441-503E/ST - 50kΩ Quad 7-bit I2C Nonvolatile Digital POT
MPN: MCP4441-503E/ST ✓ NakahandaMCP4441-503E/ST Ulas
A digital potentiometer (also called a digital POT or digiPOT) is a solid-state variable resistor controlled by a digital bus (I2C, SPI, or increment/decrement pulses) rather than by mechanical motion. It replaces mechanical trimmers and potentiometers in calibration, gain control, and bias-setting circuits, removing drift caused by vibration, contamination, and aging. The MCP4441 belongs to the broader hierarchy: digiPOT -> digitally controlled resistor -> programmable analog building block -> data-acquisition / signal-conditioning IC -> mixed-signal semiconductor.
Key features of the MCP4441-503E/ST include 2.7 V to 5.5 V single-supply operation, an I2C interface supporting standard (100 kHz), fast (400 kHz), and high-speed (3.4 MHz) modes, an A0 address-select pin for stacking two devices on one bus, and Microchip's WiperLocks technology that freezes the wiper in place on command. Four independent channels can be configured as potentiometers or rheostats, with separate volatile and nonvolatile registers per channel.
Technically, the device uses a CMOS resistor-ladder architecture with EEPROM shadowing. Wiper resistance is typically 75 Ω, and the −3 dB terminal bandwidth at mid-scale approaches 1 MHz at RAB = 50 kΩ, making the part suitable for audio and instrumentation trim networks that do not require kilovolt isolation.
Typical applications include programmable gain amplifiers, LCD contrast adjustment, sensor-bridge excitation trim, white-LED bias control, and volume control in portable audio. The TSSOP-20 footprint (4.4 mm body width) keeps board space low while keeping each wiper pin accessible for printed-circuit layout.
When designing with this part, remember that the device pin-complements the bus to 5.5 V only; using it above 5.5 V damages the I2C pins. Place the A0 pin at logic high or low before the first I2C transaction to set the slave address, and use the nonvolatile write command (WRITE-EEPROM) sparingly because the EEPROM endurance is around 1 million cycles per tap.
Mga alternatibo na pwedeng ilagay na MCP4441-503E/ST — parehas na package, pin-to-pin na katugmang. Hindi kasama ang mga bahagi ng iba't-ibang package na nangangailangan ng pagpapaayos ng PCB.
Variante sa Seri na ito
Katulad na modelo sa serye na katugma sa pagpasok MCP4441-503E/ST (parehas na form factor at footprint) — pagkakaiba sa Package, Configuration, MSL Level, Operating Temperature, Resistance Tolerance.
MCP4441T-503E/ST
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternatibo na Reference (hindi sa katalogo)
MCP4441-103E/ST
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternatibo na Reference (hindi sa katalogo)
MCP4441-104E/ST
✅ Drop-InMagkontak para sa presyo
Tingnan ang Datasheet →MCP4441-502E/ST
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Mga Talaan Hindi Naiwerikmo📋 Alternatibo na Reference (hindi sa katalogo)
MCP4451-503E/ST
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternatibo na Reference (hindi sa katalogo)
MCP4361-503E/ST
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Mga Talaan Hindi NaiwerikmoMagkontak para sa presyo
Tingnan ang Datasheet →MCP4441-503E/ST Mga Pinakamataas na Rating at Electrical Characteristics
| Number of Channels | 4 (quad) |
| End-to-End Resistance (RAB) | 50 kΩ nominal |
| Resistance Tolerance | ±20% |
| Taps / Wiper Positions | 129 (7-bit) |
| Control Interface | I2C (Standard, Fast, High-Speed) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Uri ng Memory | Nonvolatile EEPROM (wiper position retained) |
| Wiper Resistance (typical) | 75 Ω |
| Address Select Pin | Yes (A0 - two addresses) |
| WiperLock Feature | Yes (freezes wiper register) |
| Configuration | Potentiometer or Rheostat per channel |
| Temperature na Operasyon | -40 °C to +125 °C (extended) |
| Packhaging | TSSOP-20 (ST) 4.4 mm |
| Uri ng Pagpapasok | Surface Mount |
| Level ng MSL | 1 |
| Tindminan RoHS | Compliant |
Pin Configuration ng MCP4441-503E/ST
| Pin 1 | P0A — Channel 0 terminal A |
| Pin 2 | P0W — Channel 0 wiper |
| Pin 3 | P0B — Channel 0 terminal B |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 5 | P1A — Channel 1 terminal A |
| Pin 6 | P1W — Channel 1 wiper |
| Pin 7 | P1B — Channel 1 terminal B |
| Pin 8 | P2A — Channel 2 terminal A |
| Pin 9 | P2W — Channel 2 wiper |
| Pin 10 | P2B — Channel 2 terminal B |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply (2.7 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | SCL — I2C serial clock |
| Pin 13 | SDA — I2C serial data |
| Pin 14 | A0 — I2C slave address select (high or low) |
| Pin 15 | P3A — Channel 3 terminal A |
| Pin 16 | P3W — Channel 3 wiper |
| Pin 17 | P3B — Channel 3 terminal B |
| Pin 18 | WP — EEPROM write-protect (active high) |
| Pin 19 | HVC — High-voltage command input (factory programming) |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Tipikal na mga Gamit
MCP4441-503E/ST ay nararapat para sa 6 aplikasyons: Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA), LCD Contrast / Bias Adjustment, Sensor Bridge Excitation Trim, White-LED Bias Control, Digital Volume Control for Audio, Programmable Voltage Reference / Threshold.
Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA)
The MCP4441-503E/ST is a strong fit for programmable gain stages around low-noise op-amps because its 50 kΩ nominal RAB combined with 129 taps yields approximately 391 Ω of LSB resistance, giving 1.5% (1/128) gain step resolution. Used as the feedback or input resistor of an op-amp inverting or non-inverting topology, the I2C bus lets firmware calibrate gain in production or at runtime, replacing mechanical trimmers that drift under vibration and thermal cycling. With 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply and I2C high-speed mode (3.4 MHz), the part can update gain faster than 1 kHz while consuming well under 1 mA quiescent current. The nonvolatile EEPROM means the calibration value persists across power cycles without MCU overhead.
Inirekomenda
LCD Contrast / Bias Adjustment
TFT and character LCD modules require an adjustable contrast voltage between VDD and VSS that drifts with temperature and panel batch; the MCP4441-503E/ST lets the host MCU trim this voltage at boot via the I2C bus. With a 50 kΩ RAB and 129 taps, the contrast voltage can be set to within roughly 39 mV of the desired value from a 5 V rail, which is enough headroom to compensate panel aging across the -40 °C to +125 °C operating range. The four independent channels also let one MCP4441 trim contrast, backlight current, and a touch-screen reference in a single device, saving PCB area. Its WiperLocks feature prevents accidental contrast changes from bus noise during display updates.
Inirekomenda
Sensor Bridge Excitation Trim
Wheatstone bridge sensors (load cells, strain gauges, pressure sensors) require a precise excitation voltage for repeatable output, and the MCP4441-503E/ST can set that excitation between 2.7 V and 5.5 V with 391 Ω steps. By trimming the bridge excitation digitally, the offset and span errors caused by sensor-to-sensor tolerance are eliminated in firmware, removing the need for a factory laser-trim step. The 75 Ω typical wiper resistance adds only modest series loss and can be calibrated out at end-of-line. Nonvolatile wiper storage means the calibration value is retained after power-down, enabling zero-touch recalibration at next power-up.
Inirekomenda
White-LED Bias Control
Backlight LED strings need a constant-current bias that depends on forward voltage, which itself varies with temperature and bin; the MCP4441-503E/ST can drive the gate of a current-setting MOSFET in series with the LED chain. The 50 kΩ RAB and 129 taps allow bias current to be tuned in steps of approximately 78 µA when paired with a 5 kΩ sense resistor, covering a typical 0-20 mA LED bias range across 256 levels. Because the device operates from 2.7 V to 5.5 V, it can run from a single Li-ion cell or a 5 V USB rail, simplifying power architecture. Nonvolatile storage lets the brightness preference persist across power cycles.
Inirekomenda
Digital Volume Control for Audio
The MCP4441-503E/ST can replace a mechanical audio taper potentiometer in low-cost portable audio paths, with the host MCU adjusting volume over I2C at every user input event. With 50 kΩ RAB and a 7-bit (129-step) taper, the wiper can realize a logarithmic attenuation curve when paired with an external resistor network, giving roughly 0.5 dB per step over a 60 dB control range. Its low terminal capacitance (typically 7.5 pF) keeps the -3 dB bandwidth above 1 MHz at mid-scale, well above the audio band. The nonvolatile EEPROM lets the device remember the last volume level set by the user, even after the battery is removed.
Inirekomenda
Programmable Voltage Reference / Threshold
The MCP4441-503E/ST can act as a digitally programmable threshold reference by driving a comparator input or an ADC reference node, with the I2C bus allowing firmware to set the trip point in 391 Ω steps from the 50 kΩ string. This is useful for battery-management cutoff thresholds, configurable alarm-trip comparators, and adaptive over-current limits. Because the part stores the threshold in nonvolatile EEPROM, the trip value survives power cycles without an external EEPROM or MCU flash entry. Its 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range lets it pull directly from a 3.3 V or 5 V system rail, simplifying BOM cost.
Inirekomenda
Buod ng mga Inirekomendang Produkto
Impormasyon ng Talumpati sa Engineering for MCP4441-503E/ST — ikabit, gabay sa disenyo, at impormasyon ng pagsunod sa kautusan.
Paunawang Hanapin
Ikabit sa Mga Alternatibo
| Parametro | Ito ang Producto | MCP4441T-503E/ST | MCP4441-103E/ST | MCP4441-104E/ST | MCP4451-503E/ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TSSOP-20 (ST) | TSSOP-20 (ST) - same | TSSOP-20 (ST) - same | TSSOP-20 (ST) - same | TSSOP-20 (ST) - same |
| End-to-End Resistance (RAB) | 50 kΩ | 50 kΩ | 10 kΩ | 100 kΩ | 50 kΩ |
| Number of Taps | 129 (7-bit) | 129 (7-bit) | 129 (7-bit) | 129 (7-bit) | 257 (8-bit) |
| Interface | I2C | I2C | I2C | I2C | I2C |
| Supply Voltage | 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 | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Wiper Resistance (typ.) | 75 Ω | 75 Ω | 75 Ω | 75 Ω | 75 Ω |
| Nonvolatile Memory | Yes (EEPROM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Approx. Unit Price (qty 1) | USD 2.74 | USD 2.74 | USD 2.74 | USD 2.74 | USD 3.05 |
Pangunahing mga Pagkakaiba
- Nonvolatile wiper memory without external EEPROM (kumpara saMCP4441T-503E/ST (same die, different carrier))
- 50 kΩ nominal RAB offers the best balance of resolution and current (kumpara saMCP4441-103E/ST (10 kΩ RAB) and MCP4441-104E/ST (100 kΩ RAB))
- WiperLock prevents accidental wiper changes (kumpara saMCP4451-503E/ST (8-bit, same family))
Talaan ng Disenyo
Place 0.1 µF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to the VDD (pin 11) and VSS (pin 4) pins, with a short, wide ground return. Keep the SCL and SDA traces short and route them away from the wiper traces (P0W-P3W) to avoid digital switching noise coupling into the analog wiper node. A 4-layer PCB with a dedicated ground plane is recommended for noise-sensitive trim networks. If using both channels of an I2C bus, place a 2.2 kΩ pull-up resistor on each of SCL and SDA - even if the bus is internal.
The wiper resistance of 75 Ω typical means the output impedance of the MCP4441-503E/ST wiper node is not zero, so any high-impedance buffer following it should have input bias current below 1 nA to avoid introducing offset. For op-amp follower circuits, choose an input stage with low bias current (CMOS or JFET). At audio frequencies above 20 kHz, the terminal-to-terminal capacitance (typically 7.5 pF) becomes significant and the −3 dB bandwidth drops to roughly 1 MHz at mid-scale, so attenuate the input bandwidth with a small RC if you need flat response into the MHz range.
Estimated: wiper endurance is approximately 1 million EEPROM write cycles per tap, so firmware that writes the wiper on every ADC sample will exhaust the EEPROM in minutes. Use the volatile register (write through wiper without EEPROM) for fast updates and only invoke the EEPROM-write command when the value needs to persist across power cycles. Also note that the HVC pin (pin 19) is for factory high-voltage programming only - it should be tied to VSS in normal application circuits, never left floating or driven to logic high.
Impormasyon ng Pagsunod sa Kautusan
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Microchip product page. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data. AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose an automotive-grade variant for vehicular applications.
