Digital-to-analog converter

• US 7,474,245 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Himax Technologies Ltd. (Himax Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Himax Technologies Ltd. (Himax Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yen, Chen-Song, Wang, Hui-Min, Lee, Chuan-Che, Chang, Chin-Tien
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, HOWARD L
• Application Number:
  US11/898,538
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 341/145
• US Class Current: 341/145
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/682 both converters being of the unary decoded type
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/765 using a single level of switches which are controlled by unary decoded digital signals

Abstract

A digital-to-analog converter outputting an output analog voltage according to an N-bit digital signal is provided. The digital-to-analog converter includes a first and a second resistor strings, a first and a second select units. The first resistor string is connected between a first and a second power supply voltages to generate a first group of reference voltages. The first select unit selects two reference voltages out of the first group according to M most significant bits of the N-bit digital signal. The second resistor string is connected between the selected reference voltages to generate a second group of reference voltages between the selected reference voltages. The second select unit selects one reference voltage out of the second group as the output analog voltage according to the N-M least significant bits of the N-bit digital signal.

Claims

1. A digital-to-analog converter outputting an output analog voltage according to an N-bit digital signal, the digital-to-analog converter comprising:

a first resistor string connected between a first and a second power supply voltages to generate a first group of reference voltages between the first and second power supply voltages;

a first select unit selecting two reference voltages out of the first group according to M most significant bits of the N-bit digital signal;

a plurality of buffer amplifiers configured to receive the first group of reference voltages and output said first group to the first select unit;

a second resistor string connected between the selected reference voltages to generate a second group of reference voltages between the selected reference voltages; and

a second select unit selecting one reference voltage out of the second group as the output analog voltage according to the N-M least significant bits of the N-bit digital signal.

2. The digital-to-analog converter according to claim 1, wherein the first select unit comprises two switches for receiving the first group of reference voltages and selecting the two reference voltages according to the M most significant bits of the N-bit digital signal.

3. The digital-to-analog converter according to claim 1, further comprising an output buffer for receiving the output analog voltage and outputting a buffered output analog voltage.

4. The digital-to-analog converter according to claim 1, wherein the second select unit is a switch.