Complementary switches in current switching digital to analog converters
US9118346B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2013 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/745
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure provides embodiments of an improved current steering switching element for use in a digital to analog (DAC) converter. Typically, each current steering switching element in the DAC converter provides a varying set of currents for converting a digital input signal. Generally, the switches and drivers in the current steering switching elements are scaled down proportionally to the current being provided by the current steering switching element according to a ratio as less and less current is being driven by the switching element in order to overcome timing errors. However, device sizes are limited by the production process. When a switch is not scaled proportionally to the current, settling timing errors are present and affects the performance of the DAC. The improved current steering switching element alleviates this issue of timing errors by replacing the single switch with two complementary current steering switches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.