Catalyst Semiconductor’s CAT5126 offers one-time wiper programmability via a simple two-wire serial interface, which enables system designers to set the wiper’s value after power-on and also disable the interface to prevent further adjustments. The device also offers the flexibility of not disabling the interface, in which case the system will always “power-on” to the programmed wiper position. In this mode, users can change the wiper position as necessary for the specific session and the modified value will not be stored. The device features 32 resistor taps.

Article Tools

• 

The CAT5126 digital programmable potentiometer offers end-to-end resistance values of 10 kÙ, 50 kÙ and 100 kÙ, and is suited for line-impedance matching and mechanical potentiometer replacement in handheld and other space-constrained applications. The digital potentiometer comes in 8-lead TDFN (2 mm x 3 mm) and 8-lead MSOP packages and is a pin-for-pin replacement for Maxim’s MAX5427 (100 kÙ), MAX5428 (50 kÙ) and MAX5429 (10 kÙ) digital potentiometers.

The CAT5126 digital potentiometer is priced at $0.53 each in 10,000-piece quantities. Samples are now available.