LAB 7

Nyquist-Rate DAC Design and Simulation

Name: Mudassir Ali
Roll No.: 21i-2425
Section: IC Design
Date: April 18,2022
Subject: Mixed Signal IC Design
Submitted to: Google Classroom
 Lab Tasks
1. Resistor String DAC:

Figure 1: Schematic for Resistor String DAC

Figure 2: Testbench for Resistor String DAC

 Figure 3: Output waveforms Resistor String DAC

2. Folded Resistor-String DAC

Figure 4: Schematic for Folded Resistor String DAC

 Figure 5: Schematic for 2 to 4 bit decoder

Figure 6: Testbench for folded resistor string DAC

 Figure 7: Results for folded resistor string DAC

3. Multiple Resistor-String DAC

Figure 8: Schematic for Multiple Resistor-String DAC

Figure 9: Schematic of decoder for Multiple String-DAC

Figure 10: Testbench for Multiple Resistor-String DAC

 Figure 11: output and input waveforms of Multiple Resistor-String DAC

4. Charge Redistribution DAC

Figure 12: Schematic for charge redistribution DAC

 Figure 13: Testbench for charge redistribution DAC

Figure 14: Output waveforms of charge redistribution DAC

 Assignments:
1. Design and Simulate 4-bit Binary-weighted Resistor DAC.

Figure 15: Schematic of 4-bit Binary-weighted Resistor DAC

The Transmission gates used in above schematic has different sizes because the current flowing in each branch is
different due to different size of resistors used. This is one of the major drawback of this kind of DAC.

Figure 16: Testbench of 4-bit Binary-weighted Resistor DAC

 Figure 17: Output waveforms of 4-bit Binary Weighted Resistor DAC

In the above results the monotonicity id a bit compromised due the use of the different size transmission gate for
each branch. The reason for using different transmission gates is discussed earlier.

2. Design and Simulate 3-bit Thermometer Code DAC

Figure 18: Schematic for 3-bit Thermometer Code DAC

In contrast to binary weighted DAC designed in the assignment 1 here same size of transmission gates are used. The
same size of transmission gates is used due to flow of same current in each branch. This is one of the major
advantages of thermometer code decoder over binary weighted DAC.

Figure 19: Testbench for 3-bit Thermometer Code DAC

Figure 20: output waveforms for the 3-bit Thermometer Code DAC

The above output waveform shows that the DAC has a monotonic behavior. This is due to flow of same current in
each branch.
 Conclusion:
In this lab we started with the design of resistor string ADC which is one of the basic forms of ADC. Then a folded
string DAC is designed. The folded string DAC has multiple advantages over the resistor string ADC. i.e., low power
consumption, low output capacitance and has an array like structure which helps in making efficient layout. Then a
multiple string DAC was designed which significantly reduces the silicon area. Then charge registration DAC was
designed. In the assignment part 1, a 4-bit Binary weighted DAC was designed. In assignment part 2 a 3-bit
thermometer code DAC is designed. A thermometer code DAC has monotonic behavior as compared to binary
weighted DAC.