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US 5,870,044 AGranted
Digital analog converter with self-calibration current sources
AssigneeSGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
InventorsFrancis Dell'ova, Nathalie Dubois, Olivier Scouarnec
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Abstract
An digital-analog converter uses at least 2.sup.N -1 identical current sources capable of being calibrated to convert a number encoded on N bits and an additional current source designed to replace one of the 2.sup.N -1 current sources during the calibration of one of said sources. The additional current source is connected to the output by means of a sole additional commutator.
Claims28
An digital to analog converter comprising:
- N digital inputs each receiving a binary signal, the inputs representing a whole number ranging from 0 to 2.sup.N- 1;
- an analog output;
- 2.sup.N -1 identical current sources capable of being calibrated, each of the current sources being connected to the analog output by means of a commutator associated with each current source in such a way that there is a number of current sources connected to the analog output that is equal to the whole number present at the N inputs;
- an additional current source designed to replace one of the 2.sup.N -1 current sources during the calibration of one of said sources;
- and
- a selection circuit that selects one of said identical current sources in order to calibrate it, wherein the additional current source is connected to the output by means of a sole additional commutator.
3 more elements
A digital to analog converter having a digital input and an analog output, comprising:
- a plurality of substantially identical current sources;
- a plurality of commutators respectively associated with said current sources, and coupled to the analog output;
- an additional current source for replacing one of said current sources when one of said current sources is being calibrated;
- a circuit for selecting one of said current sources for calibration;
- and
- a sole additional commutator for coupling the additional current source to the analog output.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.