Digital potentiometer, also known as numerical control device, is a new type of CMOS integrated circuit for mixed digital and analog signal processing. The digital potentiometer is controlled by digital input and generates analog output.
According to different digital potentiometers, the maximum tap current can range from hundreds of microamps to several milliamps. The digital potentiometer adopts numerical control to adjust the resistance value, which has the remarkable advantages of flexibility, high adjustment accuracy, no contact, low noise, not easy to damage, anti vibration, anti-interference, small size, long service life and so on. It can replace the mechanical potentiometer in many fields.
Potentiometer is an adjustable electronic component. It is composed of a resistor and a rotating or sliding system. When a voltage is applied between the two fixed contacts of the resistance body, the position of the contact on the resistance body is changed by rotating or sliding system, and a voltage that is certain to the position of the moving contact can be obtained between the moving contact and the fixed contact.
Potentiometer is a resistance element with three leads, and the resistance value can be adjusted according to a certain change law. Potentiometers usually consist of resistors and movable brushes. When the brush moves along the resistance body, the resistance value or voltage that is related to the displacement is obtained at the output end.
The potentiometer can be used as either a three terminal element or a two terminal element. The latter can be regarded as a variable resistor. Because its function in the circuit is to obtain an output voltage that is related to the input voltage (applied voltage), it is called a potentiometer.
In terms of application scope, digital potentiometers are rapidly promoted at home and abroad, and are widely used in detection instruments, PCs, mobile phones, household appliances, modern office equipment, industrial control, medical equipment and other fields. For example: refrigerator, programmable computer, power supply, power meter, automatic detection equipment, optical fiber network, adjusting LCD display, voltage control, replacing mechanical potentiometer, matching linear impedance, adjusting VCOM settings.
