32-TAP "SET-AND-FORGET" DIGITAL POT IDEAL FOR REPLACING MECHANICAL TRIM POTS IN ONE-TIME FACTORY CALIBRATION
Note to Editor: The MAX5427/MAX5428/MAX5429 are ideal for one-time factory calibration and for replacing mechanical potentiometers.
SUNNYVALE, CA-May 28, 2002-Maxim Integrated Products introduces the MAX5427/MAX5428/MAX5429 one-time programmable (OTP) digital potentiometers in 8-pin QFN (3mm x 3mm) and 8-pin µMAX (5mm x 3mm) packages. These new digital pots operate by setting the wiper through a simple up/down interface, locking the wiper's position, and disabling the interface. Once the wiper position has been programmed and locked, it maintains its position even when power is disconnected and reapplied. If the user chooses not to disable the interface, the device always powers up to the programmed wiper position; however, the user is still free to adjust the wiper. These features, combined with low cost and small size, make the MAX5427/MAX5428/MAX5429 ideal for applications that require a one-time factory calibration.
These new digital pots offer advantages over mechanical potentiometers and nonvolatile digital potentiometers. Mechanical pots have contacts that can drift over time and require manual adjustments. Nonvolatile digital pots containing EEPROM are more expensive, come in larger packages, and can have high temperature coefficients. The MAX5427/MAX5428/MAX5429 does not suffer from these problems. It does not drift over time, does not require mechanical adjustments, has a low temperature coefficient, and comes in a tiny QFN package. These new devices are less expensive than comparable multiturn mechanical potentiometers.
The MAX5427/MAX5428/MAX5429 has 32 taps and uses a single 2.7V to 5.5V supply voltage. After programming, the device requires as little as 1.5µA maximum supply current. These new digital potentiometers are available with end-to-end resistances of 10kΩ (MAX5429), 50kΩ (MAX5428), and 100kΩ (MAX5427). The resistor temperature drift is a low 35ppm/°C end-to-end and 5ppm/°C in a voltage-divider configuration.
An evaluation kit can be purchased directly from Maxim. Prices start at $0.32 (25,000-up, factory direct, FOB USA).
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