AD5204/AD5206
OPERATION
data 00H. This B terminal connection has a wiper contact resis-
tance of 45 Ω. The second connection (10 kΩ part) is the first
tap point located at 84 Ω [= RBA (nominal resistance)/256 + RW
= 84 Ω + 45 Ω] for data 01H. The third connection is the next
tap point representing 78 + 45 = 123 Ω for data 02H. Each LSB
data value increase moves the wiper up the resistor ladder until
the last tap point is reached at 10006 Ω. The wiper does not
directly connect to the A terminal. See Figure 16 for a simplified
diagram of the equivalent RDAC circuit.
The AD5204/AD5206 provides a four-/six-channel, 256-position
digitally-controlled variable resistor (VR) device. Changing the
programmed VR settings is accomplished by clocking in a 11-
bit serial data word into the SDI (Serial Data Input) pin. The
format of this data word is three address bits, MSB first, fol-
lowed by eight data bits, MSB first. Table I provides the serial
register data word format.
Table I. Serial-Data Word Format
The general transfer equation determining the digitally pro-
grammed output resistance between Wx and Bx is:
ADDR
DATA
B10 B9 B8
B7 B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1 B0
R
WB (Dx) = (Dx)/256 × RBA + RW
(1)
where Dx is the data contained in the 8-bit RDACx latch, and
RBA is the nominal end-to-end resistance.
A2 A1 A0
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0
MSB
LSB MSB
LSB
210
28 27
20
For example, when VB = 0 V and A terminal is open-circuit, the
following output resistance values will be set for the following
RDAC latch codes (applies to the 10K potentiometer):
See Table IV for the AD5204/AD5206 address assignments to
decode the location of VR latch receiving the serial register data
in Bits B7 through B0. VR outputs can be changed one at a
time in random sequence. The AD5204 presets to a midscale by
asserting the PR pin, simplifying fault condition recovery at
power up. Both parts have an internal power ON preset that
places the wiper in a preset midscale condition at power ON. In
addition, the AD5204 contains a power shutdown SHDN pin
which places the RDAC in a zero power consumption state
where Terminals Ax are open circuited and the wiper Wx is
connected to Bx resulting in only leakage currents being con-
sumed in the VR structure. In shutdown mode the VR latch
settings are maintained, so that, returning to operational mode
from power shutdown, the VR settings return to their previous
resistance values.
Table II.
D
(DEC)
RWB-⍀
Output State
255
128
1
10006
5045
84
Full Scale
Midscale (PR = 0 Condition)
1 LSB
0
45
Zero Scale (Wiper Contact Resistance)
Note that in the zero-scale condition a finite wiper resistance of
45 Ω is present. Care should be taken to limit the current flow
between W and B in this state to a maximum value of 20 mA to
avoid degradation or possible destruction of the internal switch
contact.
Ax
R
S
Like the mechanical potentiometer the RDAC replaces, it is
totally symmetrical. The resistance between the Wiper W and
SHDN
R
Terminal A produces a digitally controlled resistance RWA
.
S
D7
D6
D5
D4
D3
D2
D1
D0
When these terminals are used the B terminal should be tied to
the wiper. Setting the resistance value for RWA starts at a maxi-
mum value of resistance and decreases as the data loaded in the
latch is increased in value. The general transfer equation for this
operation is:
R
S
Wx
RDAC
LATCH
&
R
WA (Dx) = (256–Dx)/256 × RBA + RW
(2)
where Dx is the data contained in the 8-bit RDACx latch, and
RBA is the nominal end-to-end resistance. For example, when
VA = 0 V and B terminal is tied to the Wiper W the following
output resistance values will be set for the following RDAC
latch codes:
DECODER
R
S
Bx
Table III.
Figure 16. AD5204/AD5206 Equivalent RDAC Circuit
D
(DEC)
PROGRAMMING THE VARIABLE RESISTOR
Rheostat Operation
RWA-⍀
Output State
The nominal resistance of the RDAC between Terminals A and
B are available with values of 10 kΩ, 50 kΩ and 100 kΩ. The
last digits of the part number determine the nominal resistance
value, e.g., 10 kΩ = 10; 100 kΩ = 100. The nominal resistance
(RAB) of the VR has 256 contact points accessed by the wiper
terminal, plus the B terminal contact. The eight-bit data word
in the RDAC latch is decoded to select one of the 256 possible
settings. The wiper’s first connection starts at the B terminal for
255
128
1
84
Full Scale
Midscale (PR = 0 Condition)
1 LSB
5045
10006
10045
0
Zero Scale
–8–
REV. 0