AD5247
THEORY OF OPERATION
The AD5247 is a 128-position, digitally-controlled variable
resistor (VR) device. An internal power-on preset places the
wiper at midscale during power-on, which simplifies the
default condition recovery at power-up.
The general equation determining the digitally programmed
output resistance between W and B is
D
RWB(D) =
×RAB +2×RW
(1)
128
PROGRAMMING THE VARIABLE RESISTOR
where:
Rheostat Operation
D is the decimal equivalent of the binary code loaded in the
The nominal resistance (RAB) of the RDAC between Terminal A
and Terminal B is available in 5 kΩ, 10 kΩ, 50 kΩ, and 100 kΩ.
The final two or three digits of the part number determine the
nominal resistance value; for example, 10 kΩ = 10 and 50 kΩ =
50. The RAB of the VR has 128 contact points accessed by the
wiper terminal, plus the B terminal contact. The 7-bit data in
the RDAC latch is decoded to select one of the 128 possible
settings.
7-bit RDAC register.
R
AB is the end-to-end resistance.
R
W is the wiper resistance contributed by the on resistance of
the internal switch.
In summary, if RAB = 10 kΩ and the Terminal A is open-circuited,
the output resistance RWB, shown in Table 9, is set for the indicated
RDAC latch codes.
Table 9. Codes and Corresponding RWB Resistance
Assuming a 10 kΩ part is used, the wiper’s first connection starts
at the B terminal for Data 0x00. Because there is a 50 Ω wiper
contact resistance, such a connection yields a minimum of 100 Ω
(2 × 50 Ω) resistance between Terminal W and Terminal B. The
second connection is the first tap point, corresponding to 178 Ω
(RWB = RAB/128 + RW = 78 Ω + 2 × 50 Ω) for Data 0x01. The third
connection is the next tap point, representing 256 Ω (2 × 78 Ω
+ 2 × 50 Ω) for Data 0x02, and so on. Each LSB data value increase
moves the wiper up the resistor ladder until the last tap point is
reached at 10,100 Ω (RAB + 2 × RW).
D (Decimal)
RWB (Ω)
10,100
5100
1ꢀ8
Output State
12ꢀ
64
1
Full scale (RAB + 2 × RW)
Midscale
1 LSB
0
100
Zero scale (wiper contact resistance)
Note that in the zero-scale condition, a finite resistance of
100 Ω between Terminal W and Terminal B is present. Care
should be taken to limit the current flow between W and B in
this state to a maximum pulse current of no more than 20 mA.
Otherwise, degradation or possible destruction of the internal
switch contact can occur.
Figure 35 shows a simplified diagram of the equivalent RDAC
circuit where the last resistor string is not accessed.
Ax
Similar to the mechanical potentiometer, the resistance of
the RDAC between Wiper W and Terminal A also produces a
digitally controlled complementary resistance, RWA. When
these terminals are used, the Terminal B can be opened. Set the
resistance value for RWA to start at a maximum value of resistance
and to decrease the data loaded in the latch increases in value.
The general equation for this operation is
R
R
D6
D5
D4
D3
D2
D1
D0
S
S
Wx
Bx
128 − D
128
RWA(D) =
× RAB + 2×RW
(2)
RDAC
LATCH
AND
DECODER
R
If RAB = 10 kΩ and the B terminal is open-circuited, the output
resistance, RWA, shown in Table 10, is set for the indicated RDAC
latch codes.
S
Table 10. Codes and Corresponding RWA Resistance
Figure 35. AD5247 Equivalent RDAC Circuit
D (Decimal)
RWA (Ω)
Output State
Full scale
Midscale
1 LSB
12ꢀ
64
1
1ꢀ8
5100
9961
0
10,100
Zero scale
Rev. B | Page 14 of 20