High-density MOS-decoded unary DAC
First Claim
1. An apparatus for converting a digital input signal to an output current at an output terminal, the apparatus comprising:
- a first transistor circuit that is arranged to operate as a first current source that is selectively enabled via a first control terminal, wherein;
the first transistor circuit is comprised of a single transistor type, and a first current from the first transistor circuit is coupled to the output terminal when the first transistor circuit is enabled;
a second transistor circuit that is arranged to operate as a second current source that is selectively enabled via a second control terminal, wherein;
the second transistor circuit is comprised of the single transistor type, a second current from the second transistor circuit is coupled to the output terminal when the second transistor circuit is enabled, and a magnitude associated with the first current is substantially matched to a magnitude associated with the second current;
a first switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple a first input terminal to the first control terminal in response to a first control signal, wherein the first switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type;
a second switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple a second input terminal to the first control terminal in response to a second control signal that is an inverse of the first control signal, wherein the second switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type; and
a third switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the first input terminal to the second input terminal in response to a third control signal, wherein;
the second input terminal is coupled to the second control terminal, and the third switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple switching circuits and current source circuits are arranged to operate as part of a compact unary DAC cell. The compact unary DAC cell can be combined with additional compact unary DAC cells to provide a scalable unary DAC system that may be segmented, non-segmented, single-ended, differential, or some other DAC topology that may employ one or more unary DAC cells. Each unary DAC cell is preferably comprised of transistors of a single type such that the maximum circuit density can be achieved. The current source circuits may each have equal current magnitudes. The total output current from the unary DAC cell corresponds to the combined currents from each of the current sources that are enabled.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for converting a digital input signal to an output current at an output terminal, the apparatus comprising:
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a first transistor circuit that is arranged to operate as a first current source that is selectively enabled via a first control terminal, wherein;
the first transistor circuit is comprised of a single transistor type, and a first current from the first transistor circuit is coupled to the output terminal when the first transistor circuit is enabled;a second transistor circuit that is arranged to operate as a second current source that is selectively enabled via a second control terminal, wherein;
the second transistor circuit is comprised of the single transistor type, a second current from the second transistor circuit is coupled to the output terminal when the second transistor circuit is enabled, and a magnitude associated with the first current is substantially matched to a magnitude associated with the second current;a first switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple a first input terminal to the first control terminal in response to a first control signal, wherein the first switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type; a second switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple a second input terminal to the first control terminal in response to a second control signal that is an inverse of the first control signal, wherein the second switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type; and a third switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the first input terminal to the second input terminal in response to a third control signal, wherein;
the second input terminal is coupled to the second control terminal, and the third switching circuit is comprised of the single transistor type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for converting a digital input signal to an output current at an output terminal, comprising:
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a first unary DAC cell that includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a first control terminal, wherein the first unary DAC cell is arranged to provide a first current in response to a control signal that is received at the first control terminal; a second unary DAC cell that includes a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, and a second control terminal, wherein the second unary DAC cell is arranged to provide a second current in response to the control signal that is received at the second control terminal; a third unary DAC cell that includes a fifth input terminal, a sixth input terminal, and a third control terminal, wherein the third unary DAC cell is arranged to provide a third current in response to the control signal that is received at the third control terminal; a fourth unary DAC cell that includes a seventh input terminal, an eighth input terminal, and a fourth control terminal, wherein the third unary DAC cell is arranged to provide a fourth current in response to the control signal that is received at the fourth control terminal, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth currents are combined to provide at least a portion of the output current at the output terminal; a first input signal that is coupled to the first input terminal; a second input signal that is coupled to the eighth input terminal; a first switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the first input signal to the second and third input terminals in response to a second control signal; a second switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the second and third input terminals to the fourth and fifth input terminals in response to an inverse of the second control signal; a third switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the fourth and fifth input terminals to the sixth and seventh input terminals in response to the second control signal; a fourth switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the sixth and seventh input terminals to the eighth input terminal in response to the inverse of the second control signal; a fifth switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the first input signal to the fourth and fifth input terminals in response to a third control signal; a sixth switching circuit that is arranged to selectively couple the second input signal to the fourth and fifth input terminals in response to an inverse of the third control signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for converting a digital input signal to an output current at an output terminal, comprising:
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a first current source means that includes a first control terminal, wherein the first current source means is arranged to provide a first current when enabled via the first control terminal; a second current source means that includes a second control terminal, wherein the second current source means is arranged to provide a second current when enabled via the second control terminal; a third current source means that includes a third control terminal, wherein the third current source means is arranged to provide a third current when enabled via the third control terminal; a means for combining the first, second, and third currents to provide at least a portion of the output current; a first switching means that is arranged to selectively couple a first input terminal to the first control terminal in response to a first control signal; a second switching means that is arranged to selectively couple the first control terminal to the second control terminal in response to an inverse of the first control signal; a third switching means that is arranged to selectively couple the second control terminal to the third control terminal in response to the first control signal; a fourth switching means that is arranged to selectively couple a second input terminal to the third control terminal in response to the inverse of the first control signal; a fifth switching means that is arranged to selectively couple the first input terminal to the second control terminal in response to a second control signal; and a sixth switching means that is arranged to selectively couple the second input terminal to the second control terminal in response to an inverse of the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification