Apparatus for reduced glitch energy in digital-to-analog converter
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorAndrew M. Volk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A current mode digital to analog converter (DAC) that can provide an output signal having reduced glitch energy over a wide range of manufacturing tolerances and operating conditions includes a cross-over voltage controller with feedback, disposed between the current switch and the input data source. In a further aspect of the present invention, circuitry operable to generate a synchronized differential pair of digital signals as input to the cross-over voltage controller is included. In a still further aspect of the present invention, load matching circuitry is coupled to the cross-over voltage controller output terminals to reduce timing differences between various stages of the DAC.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an output node;
- and
- a plurality of digital-to-analog stages, each comprising:
- a current source;
- a current switch to route current from the current source to the output node;
- and
- an RS-type flip-flop to receive a pair of generally complementary input signals, to output a pair of generally complementary control signals to the current switch, and to control a cross-over voltage level, at which the control signals cross during a transition between voltage levels.
An apparatus comprising:
- an output node;
- and
- a plurality of digital-to-analog stages, each comprising:
- a current source;
- a current switch to route current from the current source to the output node;
- an RS-type flip-flop to receive a pair of generally complementary input signals, to output a pair of generally complementary control signals to the current switch, and to control a cross-over voltage level, at which the control signals cross during a transition between voltage levels;
- and
- a circuit to generate the pair of generally complementary input signals as a function of a data signal, synchronized to a clock signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.