MCP4132-104E/MF

Digital Potentiometers, or digiPots, are potentiometers or rheostats with a digital interface. Inputs to the potentiometer are digital signals such as microcontrollers, digital patterns or pulse-width modulation (PWM). The MCP4132-104E/MF is a digital potentiometer that is widely used for a variety of applications. It is an digitally adjustable, two-terminal resistor device which provides a variable wiper voltage between end points of resistance range.

MCP4132-104E/MF’s application field is quite broad. It is a key component in Audio /Video equipment, automotive audio systems and other audio/visual products where an adjustable potentiometer is used. It is also used in data acquisition, for control of adjustable mechanical resistance and in switching voltage regulators.

MCP4132-104E/MF features a 10 kΩ linear taper, 255 tap points and a 2wns max settling time. It uses a 10KΩ linear taper with a logarithmic response that allows the device to recreate loudness curves with a linear relationship between resistance and audio output. It has an absolute maximum rating of 7V, can operate from –40˚C to +85˚C and is capable of operating at frequencies up to 100kHz.

The working principle of MCP4132-104E/MF is that it digitally sets the resistance through software, so that the potentiometer can be changed without affecting the output. It is controlled by a serial SPI interface, using the CS (chip select) pin to select the device, SCK (serial clock) to clock in data and SDI (serial data input) pin to send data to control the resistance. Two separate write-enable pins (WR and WRN) can be easily used to write different values to different resolution levels (10-bit or 8-bit).

This digital potentiometer has an active power-down feature that reduces the current consumption of the device by powering down both the digital and analog sections when not in operation. It has a power saving design which can save up to 90% of the power consumed by the usual linear potentiometer.

In conclusion, the MCP4132-104E/MF digital potentiometer is widely used for a variety of applications including data acquisition, audio/video equipment, automotive audio, mechanical resistance control and switching voltage regulators. It is controlled by a serial SPI interface and has an active power-saving feature which allows it to operate at frequencies up to 100kHz and save up to 90% of the power when not in operation.