Digital-to-analog converter system
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an output segment comprising a first plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect a plurality of conductive paths to an output;
a main branch comprising a plurality of unit resistance elements, wherein each of the plurality of unit resistance elements comprises a respective resistor and a respective switch;
a first edge segment comprising a second plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect at least one conductive path of the plurality of conductive paths to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements;
a second edge segment comprising a third plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect at least one conductive path of the plurality of conductive paths to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements; and
a sub-segment comprising;
a plurality of terminal resistors, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive paths is connected to at least one of the plurality of terminal resistors; and
a plurality of main switches configured to selectively connect at least one terminal resistor to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements,wherein a single switch design is used in common for the plurality of main switches and the respective switches of the plurality of unit resistance elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) system includes an output segment, a main branch, first and second edge segments, and a sub-segment. The output segment includes secondary switches that selectively connect conductive paths to an output. The main branch includes unit resistance elements, each including a resistor and a switch. The first and second edge segments each include a respective group of secondary switches that selectively connect a respective conductive path to a unit resistance element. The sub-segment includes terminal resistors connected to at least one conductive path and includes main switches that selectively connect respective terminal resistors to the unit resistance element. The main switches and the unit resistance element switches use a single switch design. The DAC system may have an improved differential non-linearity (DNL), as compared to a DAC system that does not include the unit resistance element switches or the first and second edge segments.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an output segment comprising a first plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect a plurality of conductive paths to an output; a main branch comprising a plurality of unit resistance elements, wherein each of the plurality of unit resistance elements comprises a respective resistor and a respective switch; a first edge segment comprising a second plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect at least one conductive path of the plurality of conductive paths to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements; a second edge segment comprising a third plurality of secondary switches configured to selectively connect at least one conductive path of the plurality of conductive paths to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements; and a sub-segment comprising; a plurality of terminal resistors, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive paths is connected to at least one of the plurality of terminal resistors; and a plurality of main switches configured to selectively connect at least one terminal resistor to at least one unit resistance element of the plurality of unit resistance elements, wherein a single switch design is used in common for the plurality of main switches and the respective switches of the plurality of unit resistance elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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generating, by a control signal generator, a first group of control signals for a plurality of main switches of a sub-segment and for one or more secondary switches of one or more edge segments; electrically connecting, by the plurality of main switches in response to the first group of control signals, the sub-segment to a pair of connection points of a main branch, wherein the pair of connection points are connected by a unit resistance element of the main branch, wherein the unit resistance element includes a resistor and a switch, wherein a single switch design is used in common for the plurality of main switches and the switch of the unit resistance element, and wherein the sub-segment is connected to a first set of one or more conductive paths of an output segment; electrically connecting, by the one or more secondary switches of the one or more edge segments in response to the first group of control signals, the pair of connection points of the main branch to a second set of one or more conductive paths of the output segment; generating, by the control signal generator, a second group of control signals for one or more secondary switches of the output segment; and electrically connecting, by the one or more secondary switches of the output segment in response to the second group of control signals, an output to at least one of the first set of one or more conductive paths or the second set of one or more conductive paths. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system, comprising:
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a processing unit configured to generate one or more control signals; and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), comprising; a main branch comprising a plurality of unit resistance elements connected in series, wherein connections of the plurality of unit resistance elements form a plurality of connection points of the main branch, and wherein each of the plurality of unit resistance elements comprises a respective resistor and a respective switch; a sub-segment comprising; a first terminal resistor; a second terminal resistor; at least one unit resistance element comprising a respective resistor and a respective switch, wherein the first terminal resistor, the second terminal resistor, and the at least one unit resistance element are connected in series, and wherein connections of the first terminal resistor, the second terminal resistor, and the at least one unit resistance element form a plurality of connection points of the sub-segment; a first plurality of main switches configured to, responsive to the one or more control signals from the processing unit, selectively connect the first terminal resistor to two or more of the plurality of connection points of the main branch; and a second plurality of main switches configured to, responsive to the one or more control signals from the processing unit, selectively connect the second terminal resistor to two or more of the plurality of connection points of the main branch, wherein a single switch design is used in common for the respective switches of the plurality of unit resistance elements, the respective switches of the at least one unit resistance element, the first plurality of main switches, and the second plurality of main switches; and an output segment comprising; a first plurality of secondary switches configured to, responsive to the one or more control signals from the processing unit, selectively connect an output to at least one of the plurality of connection points of the main branch; and a second plurality of secondary switches configured to, responsive to the one or more control signals from the processing unit, selectively connect the output to at least one of the plurality of connection points of the sub-segment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification