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Digital Potentiometers (DPP™)

For decades, mechanical potentiometers have been universally employed in electronic circuitry. They are used in millions of electronic products, for every conceivable application. Yet, until quite recently, electronic potentiometers were not sufficiently cost-competitive to be considered a viable alternative.

However, with improved productivity and yields from Catalyst`s sub-micron CMOS manufacturing processes, electronic potentiometers are now cost-competitive with mechanical potentiometers and, for many applications, actually provide a lower total system cost.

Digitally programmable potentiometers (DPPs), offer many benefits for both the design and manufacturing engineer. They have better settability, drift specifications and cycle-life specifications than mechanical potentiometers. They fit into smaller spaces with multiple potentiometers possible in a single package. They provide superior tracking between multiple potentiometers. It is easier to change a setting with electronic potentiometers and accurately change it back.

Using industry standard IC packages, they are machine-insertable and offer far better resilience to contaminants encountered in a manufacturing environment. Single, dual and quad versions are available.

DPP Applications

Applications include optical networking, telecommunications, instrumentation, white goods, power supplies, power meters, temperature controllers, smart instruments, personal communication devices, office equipment, automatic test equipment, Internet appliances, cell phones, industrial process controllers and communication systems.

Digital Potentiometers (DPP™)
Part No.	Description	Links
Single
CAT5110	32-Tap, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5111	100-Tap DPP with INC/DEC, Up/Down Interface and Buffered Wiper
CAT5112	32-Tap DPP with INC/DEC, Up/Down Interface and Buffered Wiper
CAT5113	100-Tap DPP with INC/DEC, Up/Down Interface
CAT5114	32-Tap DPP with INC/DEC, Up/Down Interface
CAT5115	32-Tap, Volatile DPP with INC/DEC, Up/Down Interface
CAT5116	100-Tap, Log-Taper DPP
CAT5118	32-Tap, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5119	32-Tap, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5120	16-Tap MiniPot, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5121	16-Tap MiniPot, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5122	16-Tap MiniPot, Volatile MiniPot, Up/Down Interface
CAT5123	32-Tap MiniPot with 2-Wire Interface
CAT5124	32-Tap MiniPot with 2-Wire Interface
CAT5125	32-Tap MiniPot with 2-Wire Interface
CAT5126	32-Tap One-Time Digitally Programmable Potentiometer
CAT5127	32-Tap MiniPot with Increment Up/Down serial interface
CAT5129	32-Tap MiniPot with Increment Up/Down serial interface
CAT5132	16 Volt Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP™) with 128 Taps and 2-wire Interface
CAT5133	16 Volt Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP™) with 128 Taps and Inc/Dec Interface
CAT521	8-Bit DPP, Buffered Wiper and 3-Wire Serial Interface for Programmable Voltage Applications
Dual
CAT522	Dual 8-Bit DPP, Buffered Wiper and 3-Wire Serial Interface, Independent Pot Terminals for Programmable Voltage Applications
CAT523	Dual Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP™) with 256 Taps and Microwire Interface
CAT5221	Dual 64-Tap DPP, 2-Wire Interface
CAT5261	Dual 256-Tap DPP, SPI Interface
CAT5269	Dual 256-Tap DPP, 2-wire Interface
CAT5411	64-Tap Dual DPP, SPI Interface
CAT5419	64-Tap Dual DPP, 2-wire Interface
Quad
CAT5241	64-Tap Quad DPP, 2-wire Serial Interface
CAT524	Quad Digitally Programmable Potentiometer (DPP™) with 256 Taps and Microwire Interface
CAT525	Quad 8-Bit DPP, Buffered Wiper and 3-Wire Serial Interface, Independent Pot Terminals for Programmable Voltage Applications
CAT5251	Quad 256-Tap DPP with SPI Interface
CAT5259	Quad 256-Tap DPP with 2-wire Interface
CAT5401	64-Tap Quad DPP with SPI Interface
CAT5409	64-Tap Quad DPP with 2-wire Interface