Competitive Comparisons
Choose an item below to learn more...
Analog pots (Manual Mechanical Trimpots)
Analog pots Limitations
- Cost (0.10$ to several dollars per unit in volume depending on adjustment resolution)
- Large form factors
- Limited adjustment accuracy (5-1%) and poor matching
- Prone to drift under vibration and temperature
- Require manual adjustment
- Limited high-frequency range (inevitable inductance)
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Analog pots
- Competitive cost for dual Rejustors in volume
- Small form factors (SO & QFN packages)
- Superior adjustment accuracy and matching (0.1% or better)
- Improve precision and reliability under vibrating conditions (<0.01% change with vibration)
- Temperature compensation possible
- Eliminate manual or mechanical operation
- Higher frequencies (~1GHz or higher)
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Digital pots (Configurable Resistor Arrays)
Limitations of Digital pots (Configurable Resistor Arrays)
- Cost (0.50-3.00$ per unit in volume depending on # of bits of resolution)
- Adjustment accuracy depends on # of bits of resolution (7bits=~0.8%, 10bits=~0.1%) - discrete adjustment
- Not passive components
- Limited resistance values (typically 10Kohm or higher) due to wiper resistance
- Limited high-frequency range (~1MHz)
- Dissipates power (needed for normal operation)
- Requires non-volatile technology to maintain settings (e.g. E2PROM) with potential associated reliability issues
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Digital pots
- Competitive cost for dual Rejustors in volume
- Superior adjustment accuracy (0.1% or better)
- True passive operation
- Wide range of resistance values possible (no 'wiper' Resistance)
- Higher frequencies (~1GHz or higher)
- Low power (no power required during operation, only 2-5V, 2-5mA during trimming)
- Rejustors are a non-volatile device
- Smaller layout footprint versus DPOT when integrated on chip
- Potential for multi-order temperature compensation
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Digital Conditioning
Limitations of Sensor/Signal Conditioning
- Cost (0.50-3.00$ per unit in volume depending on accuracy)
- Adjustment accuracy depends on # of bits of resolution used - discrete compensation fit
- Not passive components
- Complex configuration by users required
- Dissipates power (needed for normal operation)
- Requires non-volatile technology to maintain settings (e.g. E2PROM) with potential associated reliability issues
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Sensor/Signal Conditioning
- Competitive cost for dual Rejustors in volume
- Offers precision offset and gain adjustment and temperature compensation as part of pre-conditioning solution
- Potential for multi-order temperature compensation
- Can compensate for sensor aging and drift at the source
- Low power (no power required during operation, only 2-5V, 2-5mA during trimming)
- Rejustors are a non-volatile device
- Smaller layout footprint when integrated with semiconductor sensor
- Complementary with and can be added to current sensor/signal conditioning to improve performance and yield
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Laser Trimming (Thick Film - Hybrid)
Limitations of Laser Trimming (Thick Film - Hybrid)
- Trimmed in one direction only
- One time adjustment, typically before final assembly
- Limited trim adjustment accuracy (1-0.5%)
- Technology experience required
- Manually intensive setup
- Expensive capital investment ($200K/laser)
- Can only trim one resistor at a time
- Resistor must be large enough for laser alignment and trim to desired tolerance
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Laser Trimming (Thick Film - Hybrid)
- Offers adjustability in both directions
- Multiple adjustments before or after assembly
- Superior adjustment accuracy (0.1% or better)
- Networks of resistors and Rejustors possible
- Temperature compensation possible
- Possibility of user-initiated adjustment
- Automated adjustment with standard test equipment, no lasers
- Can trim multiple devices simultaneously
- Trim at temperature as part of production test
- Low TCR material (0±100ppm/oK)
- Small form factor (die SO & SOT packages) suitable for hybrid assembly
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Laser Trimming (Thin Film – integrated circuit)
Limitations of Laser Trimming (Thin Film – integrated circuit)
- Trimmed in one direction
- One time adjustment before packaging
- May change during final packaging
- Technology experience required
- Manually intensive setup of wafers
- Expensive capital investment ($0.5-1M/laser)
- Can only trim one resistor at a time
- Resistor must be large enough for laser alignment and trim to desired tolerance
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Laser Trimming (Thin Film – integrated circuit)
- Offers adjustability in both directions
- Multiple adjustments before or after packaging
- Superior adjustment accuracy (0.1% or better)
- Temperature compensation possible
- Possibility of user-initiated adjustment
- Automated adjustment with standard IC test equipment, no lasers
- Can trim multiple devices simultaneously
- Different TCR materials possible (+, -, zero)
- Similar in size to laser trimmable resistor
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Fusible Passive Resistor Arrays
Limitations of Fusible Passive Resistor Arrays
- Not used for precision
- Trim adjustment accuracy depends on # of resistors and fuses - discrete adjustment
- Generally trim only in one direction
- One time adjustment
- High power to ‘blow' fuse
- Potential reliability issues
- Potential large unused layout footprint
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Microbridge Rejustors vs. Fusible Passive Resistor Arrays
- Superior adjustment accuracy (0.1% or better)
- Bi-directional adjustability with chip level voltage and current (2-5V, 2-5mA to adjust)
- Multiple adjustments before or after packaging
- Possibility of user-initiated adjustment
- Small form factor (similar in size to poly or thin film micro-resistor)
- Temperature compensation possible
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