US 8,576,103 B2 · Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC)

Abstract

Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC). With respect to a codeword that is provided to a DAC, a processing module (e.g., a rollover processor) operates to compare the codeword to threshold(s) in accordance with adaptively partitioning the codeword into one or more sub-codewords when the codeword has a magnitude greater than at least one of the thresholds. In instances that the codeword is less than a threshold, the codeword may be provided directly to a DAC for use in generating a first analog signal. However, if the codeword is a larger than a threshold, then that portion of the codeword which is greater than the threshold may be provided to an alternative component such as one or more auxiliary or additional DACs, one or more other circuitry components, etc. in accordance with generating at least one additional analog signal to be combined with the first analog signal.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a rollover processor configured to process a codeword based on comparing the codeword to at least one threshold and adaptively to partition the codeword into a plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having a magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to process a first of the plurality of sub-codewords to generate a first analog signal;
at least one additional circuitry, including at least one of a capacitor and an inductor, configured to generate at least a second analog signal based on at least a second of the plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having the magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
and
a combiner configured to combine the first analog signal and the at least a second analog signal to generate a third analog signal, and wherein, the at least one threshold corresponding to a maximum input magnitude of the DAC.

2 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a rollover processor configured to process a codeword based on comparing the codeword to at least one threshold and adaptively to partition the codeword into a plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having a magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to process a first of the plurality of sub-codewords to generate a first analog signal;
at least one additional circuitry configured to generate at least a second analog signal based on at least a second of the plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having the magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
and
a combiner configured to combine the first analog signal and the at least a second analog signal to generate a third analog signal.

2 more elements

A method for execution by a device including a digital to analog converter (DAC), the method comprising:

processing a codeword based on comparing the codeword to at least one threshold and adaptively partitioning the codeword into a plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having a magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
operating a digital to analog converter (DAC) for processing a first of the plurality of sub-codewords thereby generating a first analog signal;
operating at least one additional circuitry for generating at least a second analog signal based on at least a second of the plurality of sub-codewords when the codeword having the magnitude greater than the at least one threshold;
and
combining the first analog signal and the at least a second analog signal thereby generating a third analog signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC)

Life of this patent

Rollover operative digital to analog converter (DAC)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23