Microchip Technology MCP42010T-I/ST

Overview

MCP42010T-I/ST from Microchip Technology is a dual-channel, 256-tap, 10 kΩ digital potentiometer with SPI interface, ±1 LSB INL/DNL accuracy, 2.7–5.5V single-supply operation, and hardware shutdown/reset pins - used for precision gain/offset trimming in analog front-ends and programmable bias networks.

For engineers reviewing the MCP42010T-I/ST datasheet, MCP42010T-I/ST pinout, MCP42010T-I/ST application, or MCP42010T-I/ST equivalent, this page delivers verified electrical specs, dual-channel wiper control timing, industrial temperature support (–40°C to +85°C), and real-world design context for embedded sensor conditioning and power supply feedback loops.

Technical Context

The MCP42010T-I/ST implements two independent 8-bit resistor arrays (10 kΩ nominal) with linear taper, each controlled via a standard SPI interface (Mode 0,0 and 1,1). Wiper position is stored in volatile registers reset to 0x80 at power-up.

It features dedicated hardware pins: SHDN disconnects terminal A and shorts wiper to B across both channels; RS forces both wipers to mid-scale (0x80) on a 150 ns pulse. Channel-to-channel resistance matching is <1% at +25°C.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

14-pin TSSOP package (3.0 mm × 4.4 mm, 0.65 mm pitch), RoHS-compliant, surface-mount.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual digital potentiometer applications.

Compared with AD5232BRUZ10 and MCP42050T-I/ST, the MCP42010T-I/ST uniquely combines volatile 10 kΩ dual-channel operation with dedicated hardware SHDN/RS pins - enabling deterministic power-down and factory-reset behavior critical in industrial control and medical diagnostics equipment.

Availability

MCP42010T-I/ST is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for programmable gain amplifiers, DC bias networks, power supply feedback dividers, and calibration reference trimming requiring stable component supply and guaranteed industrial temperature performance.

Supply support for MCP42010T-I/ST includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology is a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, and interface ICs for embedded control applications.

The MCP42XXX product line delivers dual-channel digital potentiometers designed for precision analog tuning in industrial, automotive, and medical systems where hardware-reliable reset and shutdown are mandatory.

FAQ

What is the maximum clock frequency supported by the MCP42010T-I/ST SPI interface?

The MCP42010T-I/ST supports up to 10 MHz SPI clock frequency at VDD = 5 V. In daisy-chain configurations, the effective maximum clock rate drops to ~5.8 MHz due to propagation delay (tDO = 80 ns) and setup time (tSU = 40 ns) constraints. All timing parameters are specified across the full industrial temperature range (–40°C to +85°C).

Does the MCP42010T-I/ST retain wiper settings after power cycling?

No, the MCP42010T-I/ST uses volatile wiper registers. Upon power-up, both channels reset to mid-scale (0x80). To preserve settings across power cycles, external non-volatile storage and MCU-initiated restore logic are required. This differs from Microchip's MCP42XXNV series, which embed EEPROM.

Can the MCP42010T-I/ST operate from a 3.3 V supply?

Yes, the MCP42010T-I/ST is fully specified for 2.7 V to 5.5 V operation. At 3.3 V, it maintains ±1 LSB INL/DNL, 10 kΩ nominal resistance (±20%), and full functionality of SHDN/RS pins. Input thresholds (VIH/VIL) scale with VDD, ensuring reliable SPI communication with 3.3 V microcontrollers.

How does hardware shutdown affect the wiper position in the MCP42010T-I/ST?

In hardware shutdown (SHDN = low), the MCP42010T-I/ST opens all terminal A connections and shorts each wiper (PW0/PW1) to its corresponding terminal B (PB0/PB1). The wiper register values remain unchanged and are restored immediately upon SHDN deassertion - enabling seamless resume of prior analog settings.

Is the MCP42010T-I/ST pin-compatible with other MCP42XXX variants?

Yes, all MCP42XXX devices in the TSSOP-14 package (including MCP42050T-I/ST and MCP42100T-I/ST) share identical pinouts and SPI protocol. Only the nominal resistance differs (10 kΩ / 50 kΩ / 100 kΩ); all electrical timing, shutdown behavior, and register mapping are identical - enabling drop-in replacement for impedance scaling.