MULTI-ZONE DATA CONVERTERS
First Claim
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1. A multi-zone digital-to-analog converter, comprisinga digital input configured to receive a digital input signal;
- an analog output configured to output an analog output signal representative of the digital input signal;
a first plurality of current sources associated with a first voltage range of the analog output signal;
a second plurality of current sources associated with a second voltage range of the analog output signal; and
a plurality of switches that selectively couple the first plurality of current sources and the second plurality of current sources to the analog output in order to provide the analog output with the analog output signal representative of the digital input signal;
wherein the first plurality of current sources provide the first voltage range with one or more performance characteristics;
wherein the second plurality of current sources provide the second voltage range with a corresponding one or more performance characteristics; and
wherein the one or more first performance characteristics provided by the first plurality of current sources are higher than the corresponding one or more second performance characteristics provided by the second plurality of current sources.
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Abstract
Aspects of a method and system for data converters having a transfer function with multiple operating zones. In some embodiments, an operating zone of the multiple operating zones is characterized by more stringent performance criteria than the other operating zones. Thus, such data converters may receive an input signal and generate an output signal from the input signal per the transfer function and the more stringent performance criteria in the appropriate operating zone.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A multi-zone digital-to-analog converter, comprising
a digital input configured to receive a digital input signal; -
an analog output configured to output an analog output signal representative of the digital input signal; a first plurality of current sources associated with a first voltage range of the analog output signal; a second plurality of current sources associated with a second voltage range of the analog output signal; and a plurality of switches that selectively couple the first plurality of current sources and the second plurality of current sources to the analog output in order to provide the analog output with the analog output signal representative of the digital input signal; wherein the first plurality of current sources provide the first voltage range with one or more performance characteristics; wherein the second plurality of current sources provide the second voltage range with a corresponding one or more performance characteristics; and wherein the one or more first performance characteristics provided by the first plurality of current sources are higher than the corresponding one or more second performance characteristics provided by the second plurality of current sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of a multi-zone digital-to-analog converter, the method comprising:
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receiving a digital input signal with a digital input of the multi-zone digital-to-analog converter; selectively closing switches from a plurality of switches of the multi-zone digital-to-analog converter based on the digital input signal received by the digital input to selectively couple current sources from a first plurality of current sources and a second plurality of current sources to an analog output of the multi-zone digital-to-analog converter; and outputting an analog output signal representative of the digital input signal based on the current sources from the first plurality of current sources and the second plurality of current sources coupled to the analog output, wherein the first plurality of current sources provide a first voltage range of the analog output with one or more performance characteristics, the second plurality of current sources provide a second voltage range of the analog output with a corresponding one or more performance characteristics; and
the one or more first performance characteristics provided by the first plurality of current sources are higher than the corresponding one or more second performance characteristics provided by the second plurality of current sources. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification