Patent · US Expired

Low-current digital-to-analog converter

US5361068A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
7References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 1993
Grant dateNov 1, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/745
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current-multiplying digital-to-analog converter (DAC) produces a low-current output which has significantly reduced current spikes or "glitches" resulting from the inherent capacitances of the switching transistors. A transistor connected in what would normally be the output line of the DAC establishes a voltage which varies in proportion to the current in that line. This voltage is applied to the control terminal of a transistor in a second current line to regulate an output current which can be made very low without experiencing significant glitches. A DAC having differential outputs (actual and complementary values) is described.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.