Digital-to-analog converter
AssigneeAnalog Devices International Unlimited Company
InventorsRoderick McLachlan, Ayan Das, Hrishikesh Ravi Mathukkarumukku
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, system. The DAC system includes a plurality of DAC cores connected in parallel with the outputs of the DAC cores coupled so as to provide a combined analog output. Each DAC core receives a digital signal which is a modified version of a digital input provided to the DAC system. By providing modified digital signals to the DAC cores and using a plurality of DAC cores, the monotonicity of the DAC system may be improved.
Claims20
A method of digital-to-analog conversion, the method comprising:
- receiving a digital input at an input of a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, system, the DAC system configured to provide P bits of monotonicity;
- and
- converting the digital input to an analog output, wherein converting the digital input to the analog output comprises:
- providing to each respective DAC core of a plurality of DAC cores a respective digital signal based on the digital input, wherein each DAC core of the plurality of DAC cores is an N bit DAC core and has M bits of monotonicity, wherein the plurality of DAC cores comprises 2P-M DAC cores, and wherein when the respective digital signal has more than N bits, configuring a respective DAC core to receive an input with more than N bits;
- converting, using each of the plurality of DAC cores, the respective digital signal to a respective analog signal;
- and
- combining the respective analog signals output by each of the plurality of DAC cores to provide the analog output.
A method of digital-to-analog conversion, the method comprising:
- receiving a digital input at an input of a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, system, the DAC system configured to provide P bits of monotonicity;
- and
- converting the digital input to an analog output, wherein converting the digital input to the analog output comprises:
- providing to each respective DAC core of a plurality of DAC cores a respective digital signal based on the digital input, wherein each DAC core of the plurality of DAC cores is an N bit DAC core and has M bits of monotonicity, wherein the plurality of DAC cores comprises 2P-M DAC cores, and wherein all the DAC cores of the plurality of DAC cores is configured to support an overrange, wherein supporting an overrange comprises receiving an input with more bits than the DAC core is configured to accept;
- converting, using each of the plurality of DAC cores, the respective digital signal to a respective analog signal;
- and
- combining the respective analog signals output by each of the plurality of DAC cores to provide the analog output.
A method of digital-to-analog conversion, the method comprising:
- receiving a digital input at an input of a digital-to-analog converter, DAC, system, the DAC system configured to provide P bits of monotonicity;
- and
- converting the digital input to an analog output, wherein converting the digital input to the analog output comprises:
- providing to each respective DAC core of a plurality of DAC cores a respective digital signal based on the digital input, wherein each DAC core of the plurality of DAC cores is an N bit DAC core and has M bits of monotonicity, wherein the plurality of DAC cores comprises 2P-M DAC cores;
- converting, using each of the plurality of DAC cores, the respective digital signal to a respective analog signal;
- combining the respective analog signals output by each of the plurality of DAC cores to provide the analog output;
- and
- if the respective DAC core would overflow when supplied with the respective digital signal, changing a connection of a termination leg of the respective DAC core from a first reference voltage to a second reference voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.