Digital-to-analog converter including current sources operable in a predetermined sequence and associated methods
US6118398A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/747
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a plurality of current sources on a substrate operable in a predetermined sequence of use for generating an output current based upon a digital input, and a connection network for establishing the predetermined sequence of use for the current sources based upon the actual current values and to increase performance of the DAC. For example, the predetermined sequence of use can be set to reduce integral non-linearity error of the DAC. The connection network may be provided by a plurality of fusible links selectively connected to set the predetermined sequence of use. The current sources may include a first group of most significant bit (MSB) current sources for a predetermined number of MSBs. In addition, the plurality of current sources may include a second group of mid-most significant bit (mid MSBs) current sources for a predetermined number of mid MSBs. The plurality of current sources have actual values sortable from lowest to highest, and each actual current value will define an error value with both a magnitude and polarity relative to the desired value. One embodiment for sorting the order of use of the current sources is based upo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.