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FEATURES
§ Six digitally controlled 64-position
potentiometers
§ 3-wire serial port provides for reading and
setting each potentiometer
§ Devices can be cascaded for single processor
multi-device control
§ Standard resistance values:
- DS1806-010 10 kΩ
- DS1806-050 50 kΩ
- DS1806-100 100 kΩ
§ Operating Temperature Range:
- Industrial temperature: -40°C to +85°C
PIN DESCIPTION
VCC - 3V or 5V Supply
RST - Serial Port Reset Input
DIN - Serial Port Data Input
CLK - Serial Port Clock Input
COUT - Cascade Data Output
H1 - H6 - High End terminal of Pot
W1 - W6 - Wiper Terminal of Pot
GND - Ground
L1-3 - Low Terminal Pots 1 through 3
L4-6 - Low Terminal Pots 4 through 6
PIN ASSIGNMENT
DESCRIPTION
The DS1806 Digital Sextet Potentiometer is a six-channel, digitally controlled, solid-state linear
potentiometer. Each potentiometer is comprised of 63 equiresistive sections as illustrated in the block
diagram of Figure 1. Each potentiometer has three terminals accessible to the user. These include the high
side terminals, HX, the wiper terminals, WX, and the low-end terminals, L1-3 and L4-6. Potentiometers 1
through 3 share the same low-end terminal L1-3; likewise, potentiometers 4 through 6 share the low-end
terminal L4-6.
Each wiper’s position is selected via an 8-bit register value. Communication and control of the device is
accomplished via a 3-wire serial port interface. This interface in conjunction with a cascade output allows
the value of the device wiper settings to be read.
DS1806
Digital Sextet Potentiometer
www.dalsemi.com
W1 1 20 VCC
W2 2 19 H1
L1-3 3 18 H2
W3 4 17 H3
W4 5 16 H4
L4-6 6 15 H5
W6 7 14 W5
RST 8 13 H6
CLK 9 12 DIN
GND 10 11 COUT
DS1806 20-Pin DIP (300-mil)
DS1806S 20-Pin SOIC (300-mil)
DS1806E 20-Pin TSSOP (173-mil)
See Mech. Drawings Section
DS1806
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For multiple device and single processor environments, the DS1806 can be cascaded or daisy-chained.
This feature allows a single processor to control multiple devices.
The DS1806 is available in 10, 50 and 100-kohm versions and is specified over the industrial temperature
range. Packages for the device include 20-lead DIPs, SOICs, and TSSOPs.
OPERATION
A block diagram of the device is provided in Figure 1. As shown, the DS1806 contains six 64-position
potentiometers whose wiper positions are set by an 8-bit value. The DS1806 contains a 48-bit I/O shift
register which is used to store the respective wiper position data for each of the six potentiometers.
Each potentiometer has three terminals accessible to the user. These include the high side terminals, HX,
the wiper terminals, WX, and the low-end terminals, L1-3 and L4-6. Potentiometers 1 through 3 share the
same low-end terminal L1-3. And likewise, potentiometers 4 through 6 share the low-end terminal L4-6.
Control of the DS1806 is accomplished via a 3-wire serial communication interface which allows the user
to set the wiper position value for each potentiometer. The 3-wire serial interface consists of the control
signals RST , DIN, and CLK. On power-up, the wiper positions of each potentiometer are set to the low-
end terminal LX (00000000).
The RST control signal is used to enable 3-wire serial port operation. The RST signal (3-wire serial port)
is active when in a high state. Any communication intended to change wiper settings must begin with the
transition of the RST from the low state to the high state.
The CLK signal input is used to provide timing synchronization for data input and output. Wiper position
data is loaded into the DS1806 through the DIN input terminal. This data is shifted one bit at a time into
the 48-bit I/O shift register of the part, LSB first. Figure 3 provides an illustration of the 48-bit shift
register.
Figure 4 provides 3-wire serial port protocol and timing diagrams. As shown, the 3-wire port is inactive
when the RST signal input is low. Once RST has transitioned from the low to the high state, the serial
port becomes active. When active, data is loaded into the I/O shift register on the low-to-high transition of
the CLK.
Data is transmitted in order of LSB first. Potentiometers are designated from 1 through 6 and the value
for potentiometer-1 will be the first data entered into the shift register, followed by that of potentiometer-
2 and so forth.
Each wiper has an 8-bit register which is used for setting the position of the wiper on the resistor array.
Because the DS1806 is a 64-position potentiometer, only six bits of information are needed to set wiper
position. The remaining two bits of information are used to provide a “don’t change” feature. Wiper
position is controlled by bit positions 0 through 5 of each register. The “don’t change” feature is
controlled by bits 6 and 7 of each register. When bits 6 and 7 have value “11 xxxxxx,” wiper position will
not change regardless of the states of bits 0 through 5. If bits 6 and 7 are set to any other value, bits 0
through 5 will be used as the new wiper position. The “don’t change” feature allows the user to change
the value of any potentiometer of the DS1806 without affecting or having to remember the remaining
positions of the potentiometer wipers. Figure 2 provides the format for a wiper’s register.
DS1806
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Wiper placement for each potentiometer is such that position-63 corresponds to the HX terminal of the de-
vice while position-0 corresponds to the ground terminal. For example, to set a potentiometer’s wiper
position to 15 (decimal), the binary value shifted into the wiper register should be 00001111. This will
place the wiper tap at the 15th step above the low-end terminal, LX.
All communication transactions should provide the total 48 bits of information when writing or reading
from the part. This is especially true for applications using all six potentiometers. If a complete set of 48
bits is not transmitted to the part, undesired wiper position settings may occur.
DS1806 BLOCK DIAGRAM Figure 1
WIPER REGISTER CONFIGURATION Figure 2
48-BIT I/O SHIFT REGISTER Figure 3
DS1806
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3-WIRE SERIAL PORT TIMING Figure 4
CASCADE OPERATION
A feature of the DS1806 is the ability to control multiple devices from a single processor. Multiple
DS1806s can be linked or daisy chained as shown in Figure 5. As a data bit is entered into the I/O shift
register of the DS1806, a bit will appear at the COUT terminal before a maximum delay of 50 nanoseconds.
The LSB of potentiometer-1 will always be the first out of the part at the beginning of a transaction.
Additionally, the COUT terminal is always active regardless of the state RST . However, DIN and CLK
inputs are ignored when RST is in the low state.
The COUT output of the DS1806 can be used to drive the DIN input of another DS1806. When cascading
multiple devices, the total number of bits transmitted is always 48 multiplied by the total number of
DS1806s being cascaded.
An optional feedback resistor can be placed between the COUT terminal of the last device and the first
DS1806 DIN input, which allows the controlling processor to read as well as write data or circularly clock
data through the daisy chain. The value of the feedback or isolation resistor should be in the range from 1
kΩ to 10 kΩ.
To read data, the reading device configures itself as an input and monitors the state of the DIN line, which
is driven by COUT through the isolation resistor. When RST is driven high, bit 48 is present on the COUT
pin, which is fed back to the input DIN pin through the isolation resistor. When the CLK input transitions
low to high, bit 48 is loaded into the first position of the I/O shift register and bit 47 becomes present on
COUT and DIN of the next device. After 48 bits (or 48 times the number of the DS1806s in the daisy
chain), the data has shifted completely around and back to its original position. When RST transitions to
the low state to end data transfer, the value (the same as before the read occurred) is loaded in the shift
register.
ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE LINEARITY
Absolute linearity is defined as the difference between the actual measured output voltage and the
expected output voltage. Absolute linearity is given in terms of a minimum increment or expected output
when the wiper is moved one position. The DS1806 is specified to have an absolute linearity of ±0.50
LSB.
Relative linearity is a measure of error between two adjacent wiper position points. The DS1806 is
specified to have a relative linearity of ±0.25 LSB.
DS1806
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TYPICAL APPLICATION CONFIGURATIONS
Figure 6 shows the typical application configuration of the DS1806 as a fixed gain attenuator. In this
configuration, the DS1806 adjusts the attenuation level of the incoming signal. Variations in wiper
resistance are minimized by connecting the wiper terminal of the part to a high impedance load.
Depending on voltage across the wiper, its resistance may vary from 400 ohms to 1000 ohms. Note that
the resistance R1 in Figure 6 should be chosen to be much greater than the wiper resistance RW .
CASCADING MULTIPLE DEVICES Figure 5
FIXED GAIN ATTENUATOR Figure 6
DS1806
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ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS*
Voltage on Any Pin Relative to Ground -0.5V to +7.0V
Operating Temperature -40°C to +85°C; industrial
Storage Temperature -55°C to +125°C
Soldering Temperature 260°C for 10 seconds
* This is a stress rating only and functional operation of the device at these or any other conditions above
those indicated in the operation sections of this specification is not implied. Exposure to absolute
maximum rating conditions for extended periods of time may affect reliability.
RECOMMENDED DC OPERATING CONDITIONS (-40°C to +85°C)
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS NOTES
Supply Voltage VCC +2.7 5.5 V 1
DC ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS (-40°C to +85°C; VCC=2.7 to 5.5V)
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS NOTES
Supply Current Active ICC 1.3 2 mA
Input Leakage IIL -1 +1 µA
Wiper Resistance RW400 1000 Ω
Wiper Current IW1mA
Input Logic 1 VIH 2.0 VCC+0.5 V 1
Input Logic 0 VIL -0.5 +0.8
+0.6
V 1,6
Logic 1 Output @ 2.4 volts IOH -1 mA
Logic 0 Output @ 0.4 Volts IOL 4mA 6
Standby Current 3 Volts
5 Volts
ISTBY 12
20 40
µA
µA
9
Resistor Inputs HX, LX, WXGND-0.5 VCC+0.5 µA 2
DS1806
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ANALOG RESISTOR CHARACTERISTICS (-40°C to +85°C;VCC=2.7 to 5.5V)
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS NOTES
End-to-End Resistor Tolerance -20 +20 % 10
Absolute Linearity -0.5 +0.5 LSB 7
Relative Linearity -0.25 +0.25 LSB 8
-3 dB Cutoff Frequency ICUTOFF Hz 4
Temperature Coefficient 750 ppm/°C
CAPACITANCE (tA =25°C)
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS NOTES
Input Capacitance CIN 5 pF 3
Output Capacitance COUT 7 pF 3
AC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (-40°C to +85°C;VCC=2.7 to 5.5V)
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS NOTES
Clock Frequency fCLK DC 10 MHz 5
Width of CLK Pulse tCH 50 ns 5
Data Setup Time tDC 30 ns 5
Data Hold Time tCDH 0 ns 5
Propagation Delay Time Low
to High Level Clock to
Output
tPLH 50 ns 5
RST High to Clock Input
High tCC 50 ns 5
RST Low to Clock Input
High tHLT 50 ns 5
RST Inactive tRLT 125 ns 5
CLK Rise Time, CLK Fall
Time tCR 50 ns 5
NOTES:
1. All voltages are referenced to ground.
2. Resistor inputs cannot go below GND by more than 0.5 volts or above VCC by 0.5 volts in the positive
direction.
3. Capacitance values apply at 25°C.
DS1806
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4. -3 dB cutoff frequency characteristics for the DS1806 depend on potentiometer total resistance:
DS1806-010; 1 MHz; DS1806-050; 200 kHz, DS1806-100; 100 kHz.
5. See Figure 4.
6. For VCC = 5V ± 10% maximum VIL = +0.8V. For VCC = 3.0 ± 10% VIL = +0.6V.
7. Absolute linearity is to used measure expected wiper voltage versus measured wiper voltage as
determined by wiper position. The DS1806 is specified to provide an absolute linearity of +0.5 LSB.
8. Relative linearity is used to determine the change in wiper voltage between two adjacent wiper
positions. The DS1806 is specified to provide a relative linearity of +0.25 LSB.
9. Standby current levels apply when all inputs are driven to appropriate supply levels.
10. Valid at 25°C only.
DS1806 ORDERING INFORMATION
ORDERING
NUMBER PACKAGE OPERATING
TEMPERATURE VERSION
DS1806-010 20L DIP -40°C TO +85°C 10 kΩ
DS1806-050 20L DIP -40°C TO +85°C 50 kΩ
DS1806-100 20L DIP -40°C TO +85°C 100 kΩ
DS1806E-010 20L TSSOP (173-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 10 kΩ
DS1806E-050 20L TSSOP (173-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 50 kΩ
DS1806E-100 20L TSSOP (173-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 100 kΩ
DS1806S-010 20L SOIC (300-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 10 kΩ
DS1806S-050 20L SOIC (300-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 50 kΩ
DS1806S-100 20L SOIC (300-mil) -40°C TO +85°C 100 kΩ
Mouser Electronics
Authorized Distributor
Click to View Pricing, Inventory, Delivery & Lifecycle Information:
Maxim Integrated:
DS1806E-010+ DS1806E-050+ DS1806-010+ DS1806-050+ DS1806-100+ DS1806E-010+T&R DS1806E-
050+T&R DS1806E-100+ DS1806E-100+T&R DS1806S-010+ DS1806S-010+T&R DS1806S-050+ DS1806S-
050+T&R DS1806S-100+ DS1806S-100+T&R DS1806E-W50+T&R
