The CAT5251 is four digital POTs integrated with control logic and 16 bytes of NVRAM memory. Each digital POT consists of a series of resistive elements connected between two externally accessible end points. The tap points between each resistive element are connected to the wiper outputs with CMOS switches. A separate 8-bit control register (WCR) independently controls the wiper tap switches for each digital POT. Associated with each wiper control register are four 8-bit non-volatile memory data registers (DR) used for storing up to four wiper settings. Writing to the wiper control register or any of the non-volatile data registers is via a SPI serial bus. On power-up, the contents of the first data register (DR0) for each of the four potentiometers is automatically loaded into its respective wiper control register.
The CAT5251 can be used as a potentiometer or as a two terminal, variable resistor. It is intended for circuit level or system level adjustments in a wide variety of applications. It is available in the -40°C to 85°C industrial operating temperature range.

• Four linear-taper digital potentiometers
• 256 resistor taps per potentiometer
• End to end resistance 50 kΩ or 100 kΩ
• Potentiometer control and memory access via SPI interface
• Low wiper resistance, typically 100 Ω
• Nonvolatile memory storage for up to four wiper settings for each potentiometer
• Automatic recall of saved wiper settings at power up
• 2.5 to 6.0 volt operation
• Standby current less than 1 µA
• 1,000,000 nonvolatile WRITE cycles
• 100 year nonvolatile memory data retention
• Industrial temperature range