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arduino-mcp4xxx

Arduino library for controlling Microchip's MCP4XXX range of SPI controlled digital potentiometers.

Supported Devices

The supported chips are designated as follows:

MCP 4 X Y Z
      │ │ │
      │ │ └── (Z) Wiper Configuration
      │ │         1 = Potentiometer, 2 = Rheostat
      │ │
      │ └──── (Y) Memory Type / Resolution
      │           3 = 7-bit RAM, 4 = 7-bit EEPROM, 5 = 8-bit RAM, 6 = 8-bit EEPROM
      │
      └────── (X) Number of pots
                  1 or 2

This encompasses: MCP4131, MCP4151, MCP4231, MCP4251, MCP4132, MCP4152, MCP4232 and MCP4252.

SPI connection on MCP4X1X

Note that the MCP41X1 chips multiplex SDI and SDO on a single pin. To use these chips with a standard SPI interface as on the Arduino you will need to connect the shared SDI/SDO pin on the pot to the Arduino's MISO pin, then bridge the MISO pin to the MOSI pin with a resistor (3k9 resistor seems to work well).

Installation

• Download the library (a list of available versions is here)
• Exit the Arduino IDE
• Copy mcp4xxx.h and mcp4xxx.cpp files to a folder named mcp4xxx in your Arduino libraries folder
• Restart the Arduino IDE, the library should now be available by including mcp4xxx.h as per the example below

More information is available under the section titled "Manual Installation" on the libraries page of the official Arduino website.

Example

#include <SPI.h>
#include <mcp4xxx.h>

using namespace icecave::arduino;

MCP4XXX* pot;

void setup()
{
    // Construct an instance of the MCP4XXX to manage the digipot.
    // The first parameter is the pin number to use for 'chip select' (CS), if you are
    // using the default SPI CS pin for your Arduino you can simply omit this parameter.
    pot = new MCP4XXX(49);
}

void loop()
{
    // Move the wiper to the lowest value
    pot->set(0);

    // Move the wiper to the highest value
    pot->set(pot->max_value());

    // Increment the wiper position by one
    pot->increment();

    // Decrement the wiper position by one
    pot->decrement();
}

The MCP4XXX class supports the full range of commands available on the MCP4XXX range of devices, for more information please see the API documentation in the header file.

Known Issues / Caveats

• Does not support entire 4XXX range, notably absent is support for I2C and quad-pot devices.
• Only tested with MCP4151, which does not have a hardware shutdown pin.