News & Events
Xicor, Inc. Announces a New Low Cost 16-Tap Nonvolatile Digitally Controlled Potentiometer
Milpitas, California, June 29, 1999 - Xicor today announced a new 16-tap nonvolatile digitally controlled potentiometer (DCP) to replace sealed mechanical trimming potentiometers. The X9116 utilizes Xicor's EEPROM technology to implement a low cost nonvolatile variable resistance. When combined with a serial digital interface, these products can be directly controlled by a microcontroller to program the wiper position and retain that position information when power to the device is disconnected.
"The X9116 is a cost effective solution for traditional trimmer applications with the benefit of no moving parts and is ideal for applications such as LCD display contrast or volume control," said Paul Standish, director of analog products.
The X9116 consists of 15 equal resistor segments that connect to the wiper through CMOS switches from each node in the resistor string. The wiper connection point is determined by a digital code that is transmitted to the device through the 3-wire up/down serial port. A simple increment command causes the wiper position to move one position up or down based on the level of the up/down pin. The ability to program the wiper position automatically on a production line can significantly reduce production costs by eliminating hand adjustments and human error.
The device utilizes Xicor's EEPROM technology to maintain non-volatility while consuming very little power. The active current for the device is 50µA making it one of the lowest powered digitally controlled potentiometers available. The X9116 is capable of being put into a standby mode through the serial port; the standby current is rated at < 1µA.
Availability and Price
The X9116 comes in 8-pin SOIC and MSOP packages with a total end-to-end resistance of 10kW. High volume price in the SOIC package is $.35. The parts are sampling now, and production quantities will be available in October 1999.
Reader Contact
Paul Standish, director, analog products, Xicor, Inc., 1511 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. Telephone: (408) 546-3492. E-mail: pstandis@xicor.com Web site: www.xicor.com.
Company Background
Xicor, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and sells nonvolatile in-the-system programmable products which retain information even when the system is turned off or power is inadvertently lost. Xicor's product line includes digitally controlled potentiometers (XDCPs), system management ICs, and standard and secure memory ICs.
Xicor product, corporate and financial information is readily accessible on the worldwide web at http://www.xicor.com
