Note the following details of the code protection feature on Microchip devices:
•Microchip products meet the specification contained in their particular Microchip Data Sheet.
•Microchip believes that its family of products is one of the most secure families of its kind on the market today, when used in the
intended manner and under normal conditions.
•There are dishonest and possibly illegal methods used to breach the code protection feature. All of these methods, to our
knowledge, require using the Microchip products in a manner outside the operating specifications contained in Microchip’s Data
Sheets. Most likely, the person doing so is engaged in theft of intellectual property.
•Microchip is willing to work with the customer who is concerned about the integrity of their code.
•Neither Microchip nor any other semiconductor manufacturer can guarantee the security of their code. Code protection does not
mean that we are guaranteeing the product as “unbreakable.”
Code protection is constantly evolving. We at Microchip are committed to continuously improving the code protection features of our
products. Attempts to break Microchip’s code protection feature may be a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If such acts
allow unauthorized access to your software or other copyrighted work, you may have a right to sue for relief under that Act.
Information contained in this publication regarding device
applications and t he lik e is provided only for your convenience
and may be su perseded by upda t es . It is y our responsibility to
ensure that your application meets with your specifications.
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K
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are for its PIC
devices, Serial EEPROMs, microperipherals, nonvolatile memory and
analog products. In addition, Microchip’s quality system for the design
and manufacture of development systems is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
All documentation becomes dated, and this manual is no exception. Microchip tools and
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and/or tool descriptions may differ from those in this document. Please refer to our web site
(www.microchip.com) to obtain the latest documentation available.
Documents are identified with a “DS” number. This number is located on the bottom of each
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For the most up-to-date information on development tools, see the MPLAB
Select the Help menu, and then Topics to open a list of available on-line help files.
®
IDE on-line help.
INTRODUCTION
This chapter contains general information that will be useful to know before using the
MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board. Items discussed in this chapter include:
• Document Layout
• Conventions Used in this Guide
• The Microchip Web Site
• Customer Support
• Document Revision History
DOCUMENT LAYOUT
This document describes how to use the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board as a
development tool to emulate and debug firmware on a target board. The manual layout
is as follows:
• Chapter 1. “Product Overview” – Important information about the MCP46XXEV
Evaluation Board.
• Chapter 2. “Installation and Operation” – Includes instructions on how to get
started with this evaluation board.
• Appendix A. “Schematic and Layouts” – Shows the schematic and layout
diagrams for the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board.
• Appendix B. “Bill of Materials (BOM)” – Lists the parts used to build the
MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board.
This user’s guide desc r ib es how to use the MC P 46X XEV Ev al uati on Boa r d. Other
useful documents are listed below. The following Microchip documents are available
and recommended as supplemental reference resources.
AN1080 Application Note, “Understanding Digital Potentiometer Resistor
Variations”, DS01080
AN1316 Application Note, “Using Digital Potentiometers for Programmable
Amplifier Gain”, DS01316A
These data sheets provide detailed information regarding the MCP46XX product
family:
MCP463X/5X Data Sheet, “7/8-Bit Quad I
DS22096
MCP464X/6X Data Sheet, “7/8-Bit Quad IMemory”, DS22107
THE MICROCHIP WEB SITE
Microchip provides online support via our web site at www.microchip.com. This web
site is used as a means to make files and information easily available to customers.
Accessible by using your favorite Internet browser, the web site contains the following
information:
• Product Support – Data sheets and errata, application notes and sample
programs, design resources, user’s guides and hardware support documents,
latest software releases and archived software
• General Technical Support – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), technical
support requests, online discussion groups, Microchip consultant program
member listing
• Business of Microchip – Product selector and ordering guides, latest Microchip
press releases, listing of seminars and events, listings of Microchip sales offices,
distributors and factory representatives
Preface
2
C Digital POT with Volatile Memory”,
2
C Digital POT with Non-Volatile
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Users of Microchip products can receive assistance through several channels:
• Distributor or Representative
• Local Sales Office
• Field Application Engineer (FAE)
• Technical Support
• Development Systems Information Line
Customers should contact their distributor, representative or field application engineer
(FAE) for support. Local sales offices are also available to help customers. A listing of
sales offices and locations is included in the back of this document.
Technical support is available through the web site at: http://support.microchip.com
In addition, there is a Development Systems Information Line which lists the latest
versions of Microchip's development systems software products. This line also
provides information on how customers can receive currently available upgrade kits.
The Development Systems Information Line numbers are:
1-800-755-2345 – United States and most of Canada
1-480-792-7302 – Other Interna tio nal Loca tio ns
This chapter provides an overview of the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board and covers
the following topics:
• What is the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board?
• What the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board kit includes
1.2WHAT IS THE MCP46XXEV EVALUATION BOARD?
The MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board allows the system designer to quickly evaluate the
operation of Microchip Technology’s MCP4661 Digital Potentiometer device. This
device is similar to the following devices:
• MCP4531
• MCP4532
• MCP4541
• MCP4542
• MCP4551
• MCP4552
• MCP4562
• MCP4631
• MCP4632
• MCP4641
• MCP4642
• MCP4651
• MCP4652
• MCP4661
• MCP4662
The board uses the TSSOP20EV generic PCB and has been populated for the
MCP4661. The 6-pin header (PICkit™ serial) has been jumpered to the MCP4661’s
appropriate pins. This allows the PICkit serial to communicate with the device.
Additional blank PCBs may be ordered by using the order number: TSSOP20EV. Each
TSSOP20EV kit contains 5 PCBs.
Figure 1-1 shows the top view of the populated TSSOP20EV PCB which creates the
MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board.
The MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board allows the system designer to quickly evaluate the
operation of the MCP4661 10 kΩ (-103) digital potentiometer device using the PICkit
Serial Analyzer. The PICkit Serial Analyzer is available separately (order number:
DV164122).
This board is a minimum configuration for the device. As well as the device, other
desired passive components (resistors and capacitors) and connection posts may be
installed.
The board can also be very easily jumpered into a customer’s existing circuit. This
gives an indication of the MCP4661 device performance, but is affected by the jumper
lead length and the EM noise that the jumpers pick up.
The MCP4661 has two resistor networks. The device’s Resistor Network 0 has been
configured in a Potentiometer mode with the A terminal connected to V
resistor and the B terminal connected to V
be evaluated for rheostat operation.
The MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board uses the generic TSSOP20EV Evaluation Board
PCB. The kit includes a second PCB which is blank for the user to populate as desired.
Additional PCBs may be ordered (order number: TSSOP20EV). The TSSOP20EV kit
includes 5 blank PCBs.
Other boards can easily be built up using the TSSOP20EV PCB to allow evaluation of
other resistance options (5 kΩ, 50 kΩ, or 100 kΩ) or any of the other digital
potentiometer devices in the following packages:
The board also has a 6-pin interface (PICkit serial, ICSP™, etc.) whose signals can
easily be jumpered to any of the device’s pins.
Additional information on using the TSSOP20EV Evaluation Board PCB or for
modifying the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board is available in the TSSOP20EV User’s
Guide (DS51875). Appendix A. “Schematic and Layouts” has information on the
PCB schematic and layout while Figure 2-2 shows components that are installed on the
PCB.
The MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board has the following features:
• MCP4661-103E/ST is installed
•0Ω resistors connect MCP4661 V
ground plane (see Figure 2-2)
•0Ω resistors connect MCP4661’s Resistor Network 0 A terminal signal to power
plane, resistor network is in a voltage divider configuration
(see Figure 2-2)
•0Ω resistors connect MCP4661’s Resistor Network 0 B terminal signal to ground
plane, resistor network is in a voltage divider configuration
(see Figure 2-2)
• Through-hole connection terminal (orange) for all wiper pins
• Connection terminal points for all device pins
(either through-hole or surface-mount)
• Footprints for optional passive components (SMT 805 footprint) for:
- Power supply filtering (C
and C2 footprints)
1
- Device bypass capacitor (RxD footprint for device pin connected to V
• Silk-screen area to write specifics of implemented circuit (on back of PCB), such
as MCP4661 10 kΩ
• PICkit Serial Analyzer Header
The included TSSOP20EV Board has the following features:
• Connection terminals may be either through-hole or surface-mount
• Three package type footprints supported:
-TSSOP-20
-TSSOP-14
-TSSOP-8
-SSOP-20
- DIP-20 (600 mil body)
• Footprints for optional passive components (SMT 805 footprint) for:
- Power supply filtering (C
and C2 footprints)
1
- Device bypass capacitor (RxD footprint for device pin connected to V
- Output filtering (RxD footprint)
- Output pull-up resistor (RxU footprint)
- Output pull-down resistor (RxD footprint)
- Output loading resistor (RxD footprint)
• Silk-screen area to write specifics of implemented circuit (on back of PCB), such
as MCP4661 10 kΩ
• PICkit Serial Analyzer / PICkit 2 Programming (ICSP™) Header
The MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board allows quick evaluation of the MCP4661-103E/ST
device. The understanding of the device characteristics (such as the resistor network)
is applicable to any of the devices in the MCP46XX family. The MCP4661-103 device
has a typically R
• Using the PICkit Serial Analyzer for interface communication
• Jumpering the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board into your application circuit to
control the MCP4661-103 device
This user guide will discuss the steps needed to evaluate the MCP4661-103E/ST
device using the PICkit Serial Analyzer (order number: DV164122).
Section 2.5 “Configuring The PICkit™ Serial Analyzer” shows the steps to
configure the PICkit Serial Analyzer as well as create User Script files which are used
to communicate with the MCP4661, based on the devices SPI communication protocol
format.
2.4MCP46XXEV EVALUATION BOARD DESCRIPTION
The MCP46XXEV Eval uati on Boa rd uses the flexibl e TSSO P 20E V Ev aluati on Boa rd
PCB. This simple evaluation board allows the system designer to quickly evaluate the
operation of the MCP4661-103 device (R
Analyzer or by jumpering the board into their application system. The PICkit Serial
Analyzer is available separately (order number: DV164122).
resistance of 10 kΩ. Evaluation can be done by:
AB
AB(TYP)
= 10 k Ω) using the PICkit Serial
2.4.1The Hardware
Figure 2-2 shows the component layout of the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board. This is
a small four-layer board (3.9" x 2.1" (99.06 mm x 53.34 mm)). There are twenty-two
connection points/pads that can use either through-hole or surface-mount connector
posts.
The pad labeled V
is connected to the PCB ground plane. All the passive components that are connected
to V
or VSS are connected to either the power plane or ground plane.
DD
The twenty remaining PCB pads correspond to the device pins (i.e.; pad 1 connects to
pin 1).
Each pad has two passive components associated with them: a pull-up resistor and a
pull-down resistor. The pull-up resistor is always RXU and the pull-down resistor is
RXD. The “X” is a numeric value that corresponds to a particular pad (1 to 8). As an
example, Pad 5’s pull-up resistor is R5U. Capacitor C1 and C2 are the power supply
filtering capacitors. For whichever pin is the device’s V
can be used for the device’s bypass capacitor. Table 2-2 describes the components.
A 6-pin header interface is available to support the PICkit Serial or the PIC
In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™) interface.
The MCP4661 is bottom aligned in the U3 footprint so that the interface signals are on
the same U3 package pins as future device. This is planned to be similar to the footprint
compatibility between the MCP42X1 and MCP43X1 devices.
is connected to the PCB power plane, while the pad labeled VSS
T o make variations to the commands sent to the MCP4661 device (from the commands
shown in the demo section), one must know the device memory map (see Table 2-3)
and the command formats (see Figure 2-3 through Figure 2-5). For additional device
operational information, refer to the MCP4661 device data sheet (DS22107).
Note 1: When an EEPROM write is active, these are invalid commands and will generate
an error condition. The u ser shoul d use a rea d of the STATUS register to de termine
when the write cycle ha s co mpleted. To exit the error condition, the user must t ak e
pin to the VIH level and then back to the active state (VIL or V
the CS
2: This command on this address will generate an error condition. To exit the error
condition, the user must t ake the C S
state (V
IL
or V
IHH
Disallowed
Commands
—
—
(1)
Increment, Decrement
(1)
Increment, Decrement
Decrement
(1)
Increment, Decrement
).
IHH
(2)
Fixed
Address
Control Byte
Variable
Write bit
Address
1010SA2A1A000
Device
Memory
Address
ADADADAD
A0xD8AD3D7 D6 D5 D4D2 D1 D0 A P
Command
0123
WRITE CommandWrite Data bits
FIGURE 2-3:MCP46XX I2C Single Write Command Format.
Example 2-1 shows the User Scripts that need to be added to the PICkit serial’s
CommScripts.txt file. The default install location of this file is:
C:\Program Files\Microchip\PICkit Serial Analyzer
Once these are saved in the CommScripts.txt file and the Master SPI mode is
selected as the communication mode, these User Scripts will be available to select
from.
NOTICE
Note 1:It is recommended that you make a backup of your CommScripts.txt
file before making any edits with a text editor.
2:It has been observed that copying the text from this PDF and pasting into
the PICkit serial’ s CommScripts.txt file will cause errors due to the
blank spacing used in the PDF file. Please copy from the MCP46XX
CommScript.txt file available from the Microchip web site
(MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board Product Page).
EXAMPLE 2-1: MCP46XX SCRIPT FILE (COMMSCRIPTS.TXT)
Figure 2-6 shows the PICkit Serial Window after the program has started. The
Transaction window indicates if the PICkit Serial GUI located the PICkit Serial Analyzer
hardware. When starting the PICkit Serial Analyzer for the first time, some setup
questions may be asked. If you have any questions, please refer to the PICkit Serial
Analyzer documentation, available at www.Microchip.com/PICkitSerial
We need to select the PICkit Serial Analyzer GUI to be in I2C Master mode. Figure 2-7
shows how to select the proper mode. Select PICkit Serial Analyzer -> Select Communications Mode -> I2C Master menu item (make sure the I2C Master item is
checked).
FIGURE 2-7:PICkit™ Serial Selecting Communications Mode.
Now we need to configure the mode that we selected. Figure 2-8 shows how to open
the Communications Mode window. Select PICkit Serial Analyzer -> Configure Communications Mode menu item. This will open a new window:
FIGURE 2-8:PICkit™ Serial - Opening the Communications Mode Window.
Figure 2-9 shows the Configure Communications Mode window in Basic view while
Figure 2-10 shows the Configure Communications Mode window in Advanced view.
Ensure that your window options and settings are the same as this window, and then
select the Save Changes button. The Configure Communications Mode window may
now be closed. Ensure that the pull-ups are enabled, the board is powered if necessary,
and the desired I2CM bit rate has been selected.
FIGURE 2-9:PICkit™ Serial Configure Communications Mode window - Basic View.
The Script Builder window is shown in Figure 2-12. In this window we see the User
I2CM Scripts including the ones that were added to the CommScripts.txt file.
Double clicking on the MCP4661W0WR User I2CM Script will load the script details.
Figure 2-13 shows what the values mean in the Script Details. These values are hex
numbers.
The first value (03h), is the number of bytes that will be written. The second byte (5Eh)
is the MCP4661 I2C Slave Address with the R/W bit indicating a write (‘0’). The third
byte (00h) is a data byte and contains the Device Register Address, the Device
Command, and the two Most Significant bits (MSb) of the write data. The fourth byte
(7Fh) is the 2nd data byte and contains the remaining 8 bits of the write data.
Data Byte #1
(Device Slave Address + R/W bit)
Data Byte #2 Data Byte #3
(Device Register Address + (Write Data “D7:D0”)
Command + Data bit “D8”)
Double clicking on the MCP4661W0RD User I2CM Script will load the script details.
Figure 2-14 shows what the values mean in the Script Details. These values are hex
numbers.
The first value (02h), is the number of bytes that will be written. The second byte (5Eh)
is the MCP4661 I2C Slave Address with the R/W bit indicating a write (0). The third byte
(0Ch) a data byte and contains the Device Register Address, the Device Command,
and the two Most Significant bits (MSb) of the write data.
2
The I
C protocol now has a restart bit. So the first value (01h) is the number of bytes
that will be written. The second byte (5Fh) is the MCP4661 I2C Slave Address with the
R/W bit indicating a read (1). The last byte (02h) is the number of bytes that will be read.
Data Byte #1
(Device Slave Address + R/W bit)
# of Bytes that
will be written
Data Byte #3
(Device Slave Address + R/W bit)
# of Bytes that
will be written
Data Byte #2
(Device Address +
Command + Data bit “D8”)
This demo assumes that you know how to configure the PICkit Serial Analyzer for
Master I
2
C operation. See Section 2.5 “Configuring The PICkit™ Seria l Analyzer”
or the “PICkit Serial Analyzer User’s Guide” (DS51647) for additional information.
1. Plug the PICkit serial device into the PC’s USB port.
2. Plug the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board into the PICkit serial.
3. Add the User Scripts (see Example 2-1) to the CommScripts.TXT file.
4. Start the PICkit serial GUI.
5. Ensure the GUI is in Master I
6. Ensure that the Master I
2
C communication mode (see Figure 2-7).
2
C configuration is appropriately configured (see
Figure 2-9).
7. Measure the Wiper 0 voltage on the MCP46XXEV Evaluation Board (see
Figure 2-2) using an oscilloscope or digital multimeter. Measure voltage from the
ground plane (GND) to the wiper (P12). The voltage on the wiper should be ~
V
/2 (~2.5V).
DD
8. Open the Script Builder window (see Figure 2-11).
9. Double click on the “MCP4661W0WR” script in the “Example I2CM Scripts
column. This loads the Script Detail column (see Figure 2-13).
10. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column, which will update the wiper value to 7Fh. The wiper voltage will
now be ~V
/2 (~2.5V).
DD
11. Select the “MCP4661W0RD” script in the User I2CM Scripts column. It should
look like Figure 2-14.
12. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column. The Transaction window (see Figure 2-17) will be updated to
indicate the execution of the script.
13. Double click on the “MCP4661W0WR” script in the Example I2CM Scripts
column. This loads the Script Detail column (see Figure 2-13). Modify the fourth
byte to FF (see Figur e2-15).
14. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column, which will update the wiper value to FFh. The wiper voltage will
now be ~V
(~5.0V).
DD
15. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column . It should
look like Figure 2-14.
16. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column. The Transaction window (see Figure 2-17) will be updated to
indicate the execution of the script.
17. Double click on the “MCP4661W0WR” script in the Example I2CM Scripts
column. This loads the Script Detail column (see Figure 2-13). Modify the fourth
byte to 3F (see Figure 2-15).
18. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column, which will update the wiper value to 3Fh. The wiper voltage will
now be ~V
/4 (~1.25V).
DD
19. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column . It should
look like Figure 2-14.
20. Click on the Execute Script button. This executes the script shown in the Script
Detail column. The Transaction window (see Figure 2-17) will be updated to
indicate the execution of the script.
21. In the Transaction window, click the Clear button.
22. On the PICkit Serial Analyzer command bar, click the Reset button.
23. Select the “MCP4661W0WR” script in the User I2CM Scripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button.
24. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button.
25. Select the “MCP4661W0DEC” script in the User I2CM Scripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button three times.
26. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button. The Transaction window shows the scripts
that were executed and the current value of the Wiper 0 (see Figure 2-18).
27. In the Transaction window, click the Clear button.
28. On the PICkit Serial Analyzer command bar, click the Reset button.
29. Select the “MCP4661W0WR” script in the User I2CM Scripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button.
30. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button.
31. Select the “MCP4661W0INC” script in the User I2CM Scripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button three times.
32. Select the “MCP4661W0RD ” script in the Use r I2CM Sc ripts column and then
click on the Execute Script button. The Transaction window shows the scripts
that were executed and the current value of the Wiper 0 (see Figure 2-19).
33. Y ou can repeat the sequence of writing values to the wiper register or writing then
reading the values back.
NOTICE
If at any time during script execution, an error message is generated in the transaction
window, it is good practice to reset the PICkit™ Serial Analyzer (PKSA). The PKSA can
be reset using the “Reset” toolbar icon. Verify that subsequent script operations do not
generate errors.