Renesas X9250US24

Overview

X9250US24 from Intersil is a quad digitally controlled potentiometer (XDCP™) with 256-tap resolution per channel, SPI serial interface, and dual ±2.7V to ±5.5V analog supplies (V+/V−), operating across 0°C to +70°C in 24-lead SOIC. It delivers 50kΩ end-to-end resistance, <5µA standby current, and nonvolatile wiper position storage for precision analog trimming in mixed-signal systems.

For engineers reviewing the X9250US24 datasheet, X9250US24 pinout, X9250US24 application, or X9250US24 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 4-channel independent control, 0.4% resistor tap resolution, hardware write-protect (WP) pin, HOLD function for SPI pause/resume, and compatibility with 2.7V–5.5V VCC and dual-rail analog supplies.

Technical Context

The X9250US24 implements four independent 255-segment CMOS resistor arrays, each controlled by an 8-bit volatile Wiper Counter Register (WCR) and backed by four 8-bit nonvolatile Data Registers (DR0–DR3). Wiper position is updated via SPI instructions including direct WCR load, DR-to-WCR transfer, and real-time increment/decrement.

Its SPI interface supports full-duplex communication with CS, SCK, SI, and SO pins, plus device addressing via A0/A1 (enabling up to four devices on one bus). The HOLD pin allows pausing active transfers without resetting the sequence, while WP disables nonvolatile writes when asserted low.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 24-lead SOIC (300 mil), RoHS-compliant Pb-free option available (X9250US24Z-2.7* marking).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar digitally controlled potentiometer applications.

Compared with AD5204BRUZ10 and MCP42050-I/P, the X9250US24 uniquely supports ±2.7V to ±5.5V analog rails and retains wiper positions for 100 years-making it the only option among the three qualified for precision bipolar signal conditioning with zero-maintenance calibration.

Availability

X9250US24 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for audio signal conditioning, programmable power supply feedback, industrial sensor calibration, and precision instrumentation requiring stable component supply across commercial temperature range (0°C to +70°C).

Supply support for X9250US24 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

Intersil (now part of Renesas Electronics) is a semiconductor company specializing in precision analog, power management, and interface ICs for industrial, communications, and computing markets.

The X9250 product line was designed to replace mechanical potentiometers in automated test equipment, medical instruments, and telecom infrastructure-delivering high-reliability, software-configurable analog trimming with nonvolatile memory and SPI simplicity.

FAQ

What is the maximum SPI clock frequency supported by the X9250US24?

The X9250US24 supports a maximum SPI clock frequency of 2.0 MHz, as specified in the AC timing section of the FN8165 datasheet. This allows fast wiper updates and register reads/writes while maintaining robust noise immunity. At this rate, a full 3-byte write instruction completes in under 1.5 µs, enabling responsive real-time adjustments in the X9250US24's control loop applications.

Does the X9250US24 require power supply sequencing between VCC, V+, and V−?

No, the X9250US24 does not require strict sequencing of VCC, V+, and V−. Per the datasheet, all three supplies must reach their final values within 1 ms of each other, but no specific ramp order is mandated. However, wiper position recall from nonvolatile memory only occurs after all supplies stabilize-so the X9250US24 will hold its last-known state until full bias is established.

How many nonvolatile write cycles can the X9250US24 Data Registers endure?

The X9250US24 Data Registers are rated for 100,000 data changes per bit per register, with guaranteed 100-year data retention. Each nonvolatile write (e.g., Write Data Register or XFR to DR) takes up to 10 ms to complete, during which the WIP bit remains high. This endurance specification ensures reliable field recalibration across decades of service life in the X9250US24's target applications.

Can the X9250US24 operate with only a single positive supply (e.g., V+ = 5V, V− = 0V)?

Yes-the X9250US24 supports unipolar analog operation: V+ may be set to +5.5V and V− tied to VSS (0V), provided all potentiometer terminal voltages remain within V− ≤ V_VLx/V_VHx ≤ V+. In this configuration, the X9250US24 functions as a standard 0–5V-referenced quad potentiometer, retaining full 256-tap resolution and nonvolatile storage-but loses true bipolar signal capability.

What happens to the wiper position of the X9250US24 during power-down?

Upon power-down, the volatile Wiper Counter Register (WCR) contents are lost-but the X9250US24 automatically reloads DR0 into the WCR at power-up, restoring the last-saved wiper position. This behavior is guaranteed across the full 0°C to +70°C operating range and requires no host initialization, making the X9250US24 ideal for "set-and-forget" analog calibration tasks where consistent startup behavior is essential.