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DIGITAL SYSTEM DESIGN I

DAC

Computer Engineering Department

College of Engineering
Al- Iraqia University
Level 2. First Semester
Object:
A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) is a device that transforms digital data
a binary values (0s and 1s) to a set of continuous analog voltages.

The block diagram of DAC is shown in the following figure.

Figure 1.1 block diagram of DAC

Theory:
The first DACs were board level designs, built from discrete components,
including vacuum tubes as the switching elements. Monolithic DACs began to
appear in the early ’70s. These early examples were actually sub-blocks of the
DAC. An example of this would be the AD550, which was a 4 bit binarily weighted
current source. This current source block would be mated to a separate part, such
as the AD850, which contained a resistor array and CMOS switches. Together
these would form the basic DAC. As we moved on in time these functions were
integrated on the same die, additional digital circuitry, specifically latches to store
the digital input, were added. Then a second rank of latches was often added. The
purpose of the second rank was to allow the microprocessor or microcontroller to
write to many DACs in a system and the updated them all at the same time. The
input rank of latches could also be a shift register, which would allow a serial
interface.

The purpose using of DACs:

DACs are commonly used in music players to convert digital data streams
into analog audio signals. They are also used in televisions and mobile
phones to convert digital video data into analog video signals which
connect to the screen drivers to display monochrome or color images

Types of DACs:

1. Binary Weighted Resistor DAC

In the weighted resistor type DAC, each digital level is converted

into an equivalent analog voltage or current.

The circuit diagram of a binary weighted resistor DAC is shown in the

following figure below −
 Figure 1.2 Circuit diagram of binary weighted resistor DAC

It consists of parallel binary weighted resistor bank and a

feedback resistor Rf.
The switch positions decide the binary word (i.e. B1 B2B3…Bn).
In the circuit op-amp is used as current to voltage converted.
Analysis of Binary Weighted Resistor DAC:
When the switches are closed the respective currents are flowing
through resistors as shown in the circuit diagram above.
Since input current to the op-amp is zero, the addition current
flows through feedback resistor.
∴I=I1+I2+I3+ …………+In
The inverting terminal of op-amp is virtually at ground potential.

Binary Weighted Resistor

Advantages:
• Simple analysis.
• Fast conversion.
Disadvantages:
• This setup requires a wide range of accurate values of resistors.
• A 10-bit DAC needs resistors ranging from R to R/1024.
• Requires low switch resistances in transistors.
• Usually limited to 8-bit resolution.
2. R/2R Ladder DAC
An alternative to the binary-weighted-input DAC is the so-called R/2R DAC, which
uses fewer unique resistor values. A disadvantage of the former DAC design was
its requirement of several different precise input resistor values: one unique value
per binary input bit. Manufacture may be simplified if there are fewer different
resistor values to purchase, stock, and sort prior to assembly.

Analysis of R/2R Ladder DAC:

This type of DAC utilizes Thevenin’s theorem in arriving at the
desired output voltages. The R-2R network consists of resistors
with only two values - R and 2xR. If each input is supplied either
0 volts or reference voltage, the output voltage will be an analog
equivalent of the binary value of the three bits. VS2 corresponds
to the most significant bit (MSB) while VS0 corresponds to the
least significant bit (LSB).

Vout = - (VMSB + Vn + VLSB) = - (VRef + VRef/2 + VRef/ 4)p

R/2R Ladder DAC
Advantages:
• Easier to build accurately as only two precision metal film resistors
are required.
• Number of bits can be expanded by adding more sections of same
R/2R values.
• In inverted R/2R ladder DAC, node voltages remain constant with
changing input binary words.

Disadvantages:
• Each R-2R block also has parasitic capacitances, creating an RC low-pass
filter. The chain of RC filters slows down the response of the circuit as the
number of bits increases
Applications of DAC
Digital to analog converters are used in various applications to convert a
digitally processed signal into an analog signal. Some of the various
applications of a DAC are given below;
Audio:
The audio signal is analog in nature but it is converted using ADC (analog to
digital converter) into digital format to edit & store in storage devices in
various digital formats such as mp3, wav etc. The audio amplifier or the
sound card in a system contains DAC that converts the audio signal stored
in digital device into an analog signal. The signal can be modified by the
amplifier by varying its gain (volume), bass, treble etc. & then converted into
analog signal because the speaker cannot support a digital signal.
Video:
Digital video players utilize DAC to play any digital video using an analog
monitor. These video players convert the digital signal from the digital source
file into an analog signal.
A digital video player has digital video ports such as DVI or HDMI. But if it
has any analog output ports (composite port of yellow color), it contains a
DAC whose job is to convert the video file into analog signal.
Motor Control:
One of the most important components in controlling a motor using a digital
device such as a microcontroller is a DAC.
In various electronics projects, motor is embedded with a microcontroller.
The microcontroller generates a digital signal to vary the speed of the motor
which is converted into an analog signal using a DAC (Digital to Analog
Converter
 Sources
1. http://www.onmyphd.com/?p=digital.analog.converter

2. https://components101.com/articles/digital-to-analog-
converters-dac

3. https://www.tek.com/blog/tutorial-digital-analog-conversion-r-2r-
dac#:~:text=The%20R%2D2R%20resistor%20ladder%20based%2
0digital%2Dto%2Danalog,incorporate%20them%20into%20your
%20designs.

4. https://ece.umaine.edu/wp-
content/uploads/sites/203/2012/05/ECE547_RaghuTumati.pdf