MCP42050-E/ST

Digital Potentiometers Overview

The MCP42050-E/ST is a dual-channel digital potentiometer manufactured by Microchip Technology. It features two independent 50 kΩ potentiometers, each with 256 linear taps controlled via an SPI serial interface. The device operates on a single supply voltage ranging from 2.7V to 5.5V and supports industrial temperature ranges of -40°C to +85°C or extended ranges up to +125°C. Key electrical characteristics include a maximum INL and DNL of ±1 LSB, a typical wiper resistance of 175 Ω at 5.5V, and a static supply current of less than 1 µA. The TSSOP-14 package includes dedicated hardware shutdown (SHDN) and reset (RS) pins for power management and state initialization.

Digital Potentiometers Feature Summary

• Dual-channel architecture with two independent 50 kΩ potentiometers
• 256-tap resolution with linear taper and ±1 LSB max INL/DNL
• SPI serial interface supporting daisy-chaining via SO pin
• Hardware shutdown (SHDN) and reset (RS) pins for power control

Digital Potentiometers Applications

• Voltage level shifting and bias adjustment in analog circuits
• Programmable gain amplifier configurations
• Digital volume control in audio signal processing
• Calibration of sensor reference voltages

Digital Potentiometers Procurement Notes

Verify the specific suffix '-E' against official datasheets to confirm if it denotes an extended temperature range variant compared to the standard '-I' grade. Confirm the 'ST' suffix corresponds to the TSSOP-14 package type as specified in the device documentation. Ensure compatibility with system voltage requirements within the 2.7V to 5.5V operating range.

Digital Potentiometers Selection Notes

Select this component when dual-channel digital control is required with precise linearity. The 50 kΩ resistance value offers a balance between noise performance and drive capability. Consider the TSSOP-14 package for space-constrained PCB layouts. Verify that the host microcontroller supports the required SPI modes (0,0 or 1,1) and can handle the maximum clock frequency of 10 MHz.

Digital Potentiometers Part Context

This device belongs to the MCP42XXX family of dual digital potentiometers from Microchip Technology. It shares architectural similarities with the MCP41XXX (single channel) and MCP42XXX series variants differing primarily in resistance values (10 kΩ, 50 kΩ, 100 kΩ). The MCP42050 specifically provides the 50 kΩ option within the dual-channel lineup.

Digital Potentiometers Replacement Considerations

Direct replacements within the same package and functionality include other MCP42050 variants with different temperature grades (e.g., MCP42050-I/ST). For single-channel applications, the MCP41050 may be considered if only one potentiometer is needed. Cross-family substitutes like the MCP44XXX series offer I2C interfaces instead of SPI.