Digital-to-analog converter
US4404546A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1981 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/82
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrating digital-to-analog converter circuit includes an operational-amplifier based integrator, a plurality of constant current sources each providing constant current at a respective different level, and a plurality of switches each associated with a respective current source for coupling the same to the integrator. A plurality of digital counters are arranged to hold a predetermined portion of an n-bit digital word loaded therein and to count clock pulses until their contents reach a predetermined count. At those times, a carry pulse is generated in each such digital counter and the associated switch is opened to cut off the associated current source. Such a digital-to-analog converter circuit can convert data words of relatively high bit length without the need for an excessively high frequency clocking signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.