12-bit quad DAC with I²C — what the specs mean for your BOM
The Microchip MCP47CMB24T-20E/ST is a 12-bit, 4-channel digital-to-analog converter with a buffered voltage output and an I²C serial interface. It integrates four independent DACs in a single 20-TSSOP package, each capable of converting a digital code to an analog voltage with 12-bit resolution (4096 steps). The R-2R architecture delivers monotonic performance, and the output is rail-to-rail buffered, so it can swing from near ground to the supply rail without an external op-amp. Typical applications include industrial process control, automotive sensor calibration, programmable voltage references, and multi-channel set-point generation where a compact, low-pin-count DAC array is needed. The supply voltage spans 1.8V to 5.5V on both the analog and digital rails, so it can run from a single 3.3V or 5V supply without a separate regulator — a BOM simplification that matters when board space is tight.
16 µs settling — update rate and loop bandwidth
The settling time is 16 µs typical to within ±1 LSB for a full-scale step. That translates to a maximum update rate around 62.5 kHz per channel if you alternate writes. For control loops — say a PID output in a motor drive or a laser diode bias — this settling is fast enough for sub-100 µs response. If your application needs simultaneous updates across all four channels, the I²C bus overhead will be the bottleneck, not the DAC itself.
I²C interface and address flexibility
The data interface is I²C, which uses only two wires (SCL, SDA) and supports multiple devices on the same bus. The MCP47CMB24T family typically allows the device address to be configured via address-select pins, so you can place up to eight of these on a single I²C bus without conflict — useful for systems with many analog outputs. The exact address map is in the datasheet, but the key point is that the I²C interface keeps the PCB routing simple and frees up GPIOs on the host MCU.
Package and mounting — 20-TSSOP footprint
The part is surface-mount only, so it is not suited for through-hole prototyping without an adapter board.