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This section provides an overview for digital potentiometers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 digital potentiometer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked digital potentiometer companies as of December, 2024: 1.Shenzhen Shinzo Technology Co., Ltd, 2.Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., 3.Elab Engineering Equipments.
Table of Contents
A digital potentiometer is an integrated circuit that digitally controls the sliding element (wiper) of a variable resistor, simulating the function of an analog potentiometer.
Unlike analog variable resistors, digital potentiometers do not have mechanically-moving sliding parts, making them structurally robust, resistant to failure, and highly reliable for long-term use. When combined with a microcontroller or other device and mounted in an analog circuit, the amperage can be automatically adjusted while freely controlling the resistance value.
Digital potentiometers are used in audio equipment and digitized home appliances, such as AI speakers and LED dimmers. Since they can be described as digitized variable resistors, they are used as an alternative to analog circuits with sliding parts.
For example, they can be used to digitally control the volume adjustment of audio equipment or the brightness and contrast adjustment of displays, which used to be controlled by physical dials. As smart home appliance technology has progressed in recent years, there is a growing demand for digital control of analog values, driven in part by compatibility with AI speakers.
The principle function of digital potentiometers lies in the operation of a variable resistor. The resistor's sliding wiper, once mechanically-operated, is now controlled by a Once mechanically-operated by a sliding wiper is now switched and controlled by a combination of a digital circuit and a resistance.
The analog circuit consists of a series of fixed resistors, and the connection points are switched by COMS transistors. This allows the variable resistor to switch resistance values in response to signals from the digital circuit part.
The digital circuit consists of an up-down counter, a nonvolatile memory such as EFPROM, and a decoder. When the desired resistance value is input, it is written to the counter and written to the nonvolatile memory.
This information is read out by the decoder, and the CMOS transistor corresponding to that value is switched on. The value of the variable resistor can be set quasi-statically by digital input. External inputs are stored in nonvolatile memory, so the information is preserved even after the circuit is turned off.
Nowadays, as typified by digital home appliances and IoT electronic devices, analog mechanical adjustment is being replaced by programming-based digital control. In the case of analog adjustment, the final step in the production line is manual adjustment before shipment, but by using digital potentiometers, automatic adjustment is possible through microcomputer control and other means.
Automatic calibration is also possible, increasing equipment precision. Unlike mechanical analog adjustment trimmers, adjustment by outside parties unfamiliar with the digital control code is impossible, providing significant security benefits.
Because of this high level of reliability, digital potentiometers have recently been widely used in entertainment equipment, where volume and LED contrast are important.
The control interfaces for digital potentiometers usually include the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface, I2C interface, and UP/DOWN interface. Furthermore, in applications where a digital potentiometer requires continuous variation similar to a D/A converter, attention should also be paid to the clock frequency during digital control.
The maximum frequency is typically about 3 MHz, but it is important to check the product specifications in advance. Application software for these controls is usually available from the manufacturer, and technical support is also provided if necessary.
In some cases, a development support kit including a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is also available for users who wish to develop their own programming software.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Dart Controls was founded in 1963 and is now headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. The company is a designer and manufacturer of drives, controls, and accessories for electric motors to customers across North America and certain overseas countries. The company implements lean manufacturing with tools and concepts such as Kanban, Kaizen, just-in-time, and Poka-Yoke to improve reliability and reduce costs for customers. The company’s product offerings include digital potentiometers, low-voltage DC, encoders, and multiple types of drives. The company offers packaged total solutions of sensors and drives.
OMEGA Engineering Inc., founded in Norwalk, CT, in 1962 is a manufacturer of products used to measure temperature and humidity, flow and level, and pressure. The company's product portfolio includes thermocouple probes and assemblies, pressure gauges and switches, and air velocity measurement systems, wireless systems and portable optic sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., established in 1959, and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors and electronic components. The company specializes in producing integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, which caters to industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, ensuring quality in their products which are used for various applications, including wireless communication, automotive systems, and industrial automation, providing crucial electronic components for advanced technologies in various industrial and commercial sectors.
GNS Components Limited, founded in 2008 and located in Shenzhen, China, is a manufacturer of electronic components. The company’s broad range of products includes transistors, diodes, capacitors, resistors, and IGBT modules. These products are used for amplifiers and digital logic circuits, rectification and voltage regulation, energy storage and filtering roles, controlling current and voltage in various circuits, and enabling high-power switching applications. These components are vital building blocks in electronic devices and systems, spanning industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation.
Shenzhen Shinzo Technology Co., Ltd, is an exporter of electronic components since 2014 headquartered in Futian District, Shenzhen, China. The company's product portfolio comprises industrial automation & controls, audio products, optoelectronics, switches, integrated circuits (ICs), and computer equipment from various manufacturers including Alliance Memory, Inc., ROHM Semiconductor, Sharp Microelectronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Wintec Industries. These The company also offers professional OEM and ODM electronic manufacturing services to customers in the global electronics industry.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Elab Engineering Equipments, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Ambala, India, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in educational laboratory equipment. The company's main effort is on designing and producing a comprehensive range of scientific instruments, laboratory setups, and training kits, crucial for practical learning in educational institutions. As a key player in the education sector, Elab Engineering Equipments' products cover fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. With an assurance to hands-on learning and quality, the company empowers educators and students globally, solidifying its status as a principal provider of advanced laboratory solutions.
LSI Computer Systems, Inc., founded in 1969 and based in New York, United States, is a manufacturer of semiconductors. The company designs and produces custom and standard integrated circuits. It offers a wide range of products including digital potentiometers, LED Drivers, Incremental Encoder Interface, Timers, and Lighting Controls among others. The company also manufactures development kits such as LS9200 application board with dual strings of LEDs & dual dimming modes, LS7190 and LS9200 development kit for Arduino, and 6 channels LS7366R shield for Arduino among others.
NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS was established in Japan in April, 1967 as a specialty manufacturer of electronic components. NIDEC’s offerings have increased to serve the automotive, construction, medical equipment, FA equipment, analytical measuring equipment, and residential security industries. Among the offerings are components for LiDAR, railway pressure sensors, CPAP, dialysis, MRI, and ultrasonography machines, wireless base stations, and power tools. These components include switches, sensors, mirrors, motors, and fans.
Tense Elektronik is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic products and technologies in industrial automation solutions established in Turkey since 2006. The company specializes in automatic control sensors, controllers, energy analyzers, multimeters, frequency meters, ammeters, timers, among others. It serves industrial sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, construction, food and aerospace. The company's products improve operational efficiency, fluid processes in industries and the optimization of production lines and quality control processes. The company has certification in the Iso 9001:2015 Quality Management System, TSE Certificate and RoHS.
One-Core Technology Co. Ltd, based in Hong Kong, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of electronic components with a production workshop in Hong Kong and a sales branch in Shenzhen. The company's product catalog includes semiconductors, integrated circuits and electromagnetic components used in computers, mobile phones, automobiles and aerospace. The products undergo different tests like HD visual inspection, final function testing, open/short test and programming function testing to ensure meet the required standards. The company also has several distribution brands like Infineon, Analog Devices, Bisham, Microchip and Maxim Integrated.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenzhen Shinzo Technology Co., Ltd |
16.1%
|
| 2 | Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. |
16.1%
|
| 3 | Elab Engineering Equipments |
9.7%
|
| 4 | Omega Engineering, Inc. |
9.7%
|
| 5 | Dart Controls, Inc. |
9.7%
|
| 6 | Microchip Technology Inc. |
9.7%
|
| 7 | Tense Elektronik |
6.5%
|
| 8 | One-Core Technology Co., Limited. |
6.5%
|
| 9 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
6.5%
|
| 10 | Renesas Electronics Corporation. |
6.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the digital potentiometer page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 33.3% |
|
China
|
4 | 33.3% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 25.0% |
|
Turkey
|
1 | 8.3% |
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