Digital to Analog

Converters (DAC)
What is a DAC?
 A digital to analog converter (DAC) converts
a digital signal to an analog voltage or
current output.

100101… DAC
What is a DAC?
Analog Output Signal

0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0110 0111 1000 1001 1010 1011
Digital Input Signal
Types of DACs
 Many types of DACs available.
 Usually switches, resistors, and op-
amps used to implement conversion
 Two Types:
 Binary Weighted Resistor
 R-2R Ladder
Binary Weighted Resistor
 Utilizes a summing op-amp circuit
 Weighted resistors are used to
distinguish each bit from the most
significant to the least significant
 Transistors are used to switch
between Vref and ground (bit high or
low)
 Binary Weighted Resistor
 Assume Ideal Op-
Vref
amp
 No current into op- R

amp 2R I Rf

 Virtual ground at 4R
- Vout
inverting input
+
 Vout= -IRf 2n R
 Binary Weighted Resistor
Voltages V1 through Vn are
Vref
either Vref if corresponding bit V1 R
is high or ground if
corresponding bit is low V2 2R I Rf
V3 4R
V1 is most significant bit
- Vout
+
Vn is least significant bit
Vn 2n-1R

MSB

LSB
 V1 V2 V3 Vn 
Vout  IRf  Rf      n -1 
 R 2R 4R 2 R
Binary Weighted Resistor

If Rf=R/2
 V1 V2 V3 Vn 
Vout  IRf       n 
2 4 8 2 
For example, a 4-Bit converter yields

 1 1 1 1
Vout  Vref  b3  b2  b1  b0 
 2 4 8 16 
Where b3 corresponds to Bit-3, b2 to Bit-2, etc.
Binary Weighted Resistor
 Advantages
 Simple Construction/Analysis
 Fast Conversion
 Disadvantages
 Requires large range of resistors (2000:1 for
12-bit DAC) with necessary high precision
for low resistors
 Requires low switch resistances in
transistors
 Can be expensive. Therefore, usually
limited to 8-bit resolution.
R-2R Ladder
Each bit corresponds
Vref to a switch:

If the bit is high,

the corresponding
switch is connected to
the inverting input of
the op-amp.

If the bit is low, the

corresponding switch
Bit: 0 0 0 0
Vout is connected to ground.
4-Bit Converter
R-2R Ladder
V3
Vref V1 V2 V3
Ideal Op-amp

2R 2R

Req 
2 R 2 R 
R
2 R  2 R 
R-2R Ladder
Vref V1 V2 V3 V2 V3

R R

 R  1
V3  V2  V2
 RR 2
I
Likewise,
1
V2  V1
Vout 2
1
V1  Vref
2
Vout  IR
R-2R Ladder
Results:
Vref V1 V2 V3 1 1 1
V3  Vref , V2  Vref , V1  Vref
8 4 2

 Vref Vref Vref Vref 

Vout  R b3  b2  b1  b0 
 2R 4R 8R 16 R 

Where b3 corresponds to bit 3,

b2 to bit 2, etc.
Vout
If bit n is set, bn=1

If bit n is clear, bn=0

R-2R Ladder
For a 4-Bit R-2R Ladder

 1 1 1 1
Vout  Vref  b3  b2  b1  b0 
 2 4 8 16 
For general n-Bit R-2R Ladder or Binary Weighted Resister DAC

n
1
Vout  Vref  bn  i i
i 1 2
R-2R Ladder
 Advantages
 Only two resistor values (R and 2R)
 Does not require high precision resistors
 Disadvantage
 Lower conversion speed than binary
weighted DAC
Specifications of DACs
• Resolution
• Speed
• Linearity
• Settling Time
• Reference Voltages
• Errors
Resolution
 Smallest analog increment
corresponding to 1 LSB change
 An N-bit resolution can resolve 2N
distinct analog levels
 Common DAC has a 8-16 bit
resolution
Vref
Resolution VLSB  N
2
where N number of bits
Speed
 Rate of conversion of a single digital
input to its analog equivalent
 Conversion rate depends on
 clock speed of input signal
 settling time of converter
 When the input changes rapidly, the
DAC conversion speed must be high.
Linearity
 The difference between the desired analog
output and the actual output over the full
range of expected values
Analog Output Signal

0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101

Digital Input Signal
 Linearity
 Ideally, a DAC should produce a linear
relationship between the digital input and
analog output

Linearity (Ideal) Non-Linearity

Analog Output Signal

Analog Output Signal

0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101
Digital Input Signal Digital Input Signal
Settling Time
 Time required for the output signal to settle within
+/- ½ LSB of its final value after a given change in
input scale
 Limited by slew rate of output amplifier
 Ideally, an instantaneous change in analog voltage
would occur when a new binary word enters into
DAC
Reference Voltages
 Used to determine how each digital
input will be assigned to each voltage
division
 Types:
 Non-multiplier DAC: Vref is fixed
 Multiplier DAC: Vref provided by external
source
Applications
 Digital Motor Control
 Computer Printers
 Sound Equipment (e.g. CD/MP3
Players, etc.)
 Electronic Cruise Control
 Digital Thermostat
THANKS