Architectures, outputs & front-ends, interfaces & sync, precision & dynamic performance, application-focused DACs, surrounding reference/driver/filters, and design hooks for layout, clocking, and testing.
Architecture & Resolution/Speed
String DAC
Monotonic, low noise, high resolution (12–16+ bit) with lower speed; precise setpoints, biasing and temperature control.
R-2R Ladder DAC
Area-efficient with medium–high speed; offset/switch mismatch needs calibration; general-purpose waveform/control.
Segmented DAC (Thermometer + Binary)
Balances linearity and speed with low glitch; for mid/high-speed high-accuracy control and waveforms.
Current-Steering DAC (CS-DAC)
Ultra-high speed (hundreds of MSPS to GHz), differential outputs, RTZ/NRZ options; direct-RF and wideband synthesis.
Delta-Sigma DAC
Very low noise and high resolution with narrower bandwidth; audio, precise DC and low-frequency waveforms.
Hybrid / Multibit ΣΔ + CS
Combines high resolution with higher bandwidth; wideband hi-fi synthesis and communications DUC.
Output Forms & Front-End
Voltage-Output DAC
On-chip buffer/reference options with capacitive drive; setpoints and slow/medium waveforms.
Current-Output DAC
Requires external TIA or load; very wide bandwidth for RF synthesis and high-speed modulation.
Differential Output
Controlled common-mode and even-order distortion suppression; robust for comms/measurement.
DAC with Sample-and-Hold
Synchronous updates with low-glitch hold; phase-aligned multi-channel control.
Multi-Channel Synchronous DAC
Shared triggers/sync clocks with tight inter-channel matching; phased arrays and parallel power control.
Interfaces & Synchronization
SPI / I²C DAC
Low-pin, easy routing; great for biasing, calibration and slow control loops.
Parallel / LVDS DAC
Low-latency, high throughput; mid/high-speed arbitrary waveform generation.
JESD204B/C Interface DAC
High-speed multi-channel with subclass timing/alignment (SYSREF/LMFC) for comms and phased-array TX.
Clocking & Phase Noise
Jitter budgets, RTZ/NRZ selection and PLL/jitter-cleaning; critical for wideband SFDR/SNR.
Precision & Dynamic Performance
Linearity & Errors (INL/DNL & Gain/Offset)
Monotonicity assurance, temperature/long-term drift; precision setpoints and instrumentation.
Glitch Impulse & Overshoot
Code-dependent artifacts; deglitching/sample-hold/RTZ strategies to keep outputs clean.
Distortion & Dynamic Range (THD/SFDR/SNDR)
Spectrum purity, image/spur control for audio hi-fi and RF transmission.
Code-to-Code Consistency / Major Carry
Optimize large-step transients for disturbance-free power/bias switching.
Application-Focused
Precision Setpoint / Bias DAC
16–20+ bit with low noise/drift, optional buffers and remote sense for AFE/instrumentation.
Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG DAC)
Mid/high-speed with on-chip interpolation/filters and low glitch; test, instrumentation, radar simulation.
RF DAC / Direct-RF Synthesis
GSPS-class with on-chip NCO/DDC/DUC and optional RTZ; SDR, comms and phased-array TX.
Hi-Fi / Pro Audio DAC
Multibit ΣΔ, low phase noise, jitter suppression and channel matching for hi-fi/studio.
Process Control / PLC AO (±10V / 4–20mA)
Isolation/protection, low offset/drift, diagnostics and open-circuit detection.
Precision Current Source / Electrochemistry
Linearize current output with TIA feedback and ultra-low ripple; sensing and chemical analysis.
Bias/Tuning DAC (RF/Imager)
Low noise/low tempco, power-up sequencing and soft clamps; VCO/PA/imager bias.
Multi-Phase VR Trim DAC
Reference/load-line/current-limit trims, digital current sharing and PMBus linkage.
Reference / Driver / Filters
Reference & Buffering
Low-noise/low-drift refs; buffer stability with capacitive loads; thermal and line-loss compensation.
Reconstruction / Anti-Image Filter
LP/BP filters with matched group delay and amplitude/phase for clean reconstruction.
Matching & Calibration
Interleave multi-channel amplitude/phase correction, tempco/aging compensation and EEPROM/OTP storage.
Protection & IO
Output clamps/ESD, short/overload handling and isolated/high-voltage front-ends (±10V/±12V).
Design Hooks
Error Budgeting
Roll up reference, INL/DNL, gain/offset, temp/aging into end accuracy.
Clock & Sync
SYSREF/LMFC alignment (JESD), cross-board triggers, phase coherence and jitter isolation.
Supply & Grounding
Analog/digital partitioning, return paths, PSRR and post-amp stability.
Layout & Thermal
Shortest current loops, differential length matching and thermal-gradient/self-heating control.
Waveform & Spur Control
Code-jitter suppression, dithering/shape, jitter cleaning, RTZ and half-wave symmetry strategies.
Production Test & BIST
Built-in sine/step, loopback self-test, spectral/linearity sweeps and calibration hooks.
