Digital to Analog Converters

Andrew Gardner
Muhammad Salman
David Fernandes
Jevawn Roberts

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Outline
What is a DAC?
Different Types of DACs
Binary Weighted Resistor
R-2R Ladder
Specifications
Commonly used DACs
Application

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Introduction

A DAC is a Digital to Analog converter.

It converts a binary digital number into
an analog representation, most
commonly voltage though current is
also used sometimes.
1 0 0 0 1 1 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 0
0 0 1 1 0 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 DAC
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Introduction
Each binary number sampled by the DAC
corresponds to a different output level.
Analog Output Signal

0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0110 0111 1000 1001 1010 1011
Digital Input Signal

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Typical Output
DACs capture and hold a number, convert it
to a physical signal, and hold that value for a
given sample interval. This is known as a
zero-order hold and results in a piecewise
constant output.

DAC

Ideally Sampled Signal Output typical of a real, practical

Introduction to MechatronicsDAC due to sample & hold
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Binary Weighted Resistor DAC
• 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)

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Summing OP-Amps
• Inverting summer circuit used in Binary
Weighted Resistor DAC.
• V(out) is 180° out of phase from V(in)

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Binary Weighted Input DAC
Vref
• Ideal Op-amp V1 R
• No current into V2 2R I Rf
V3
op-amp 4R
- Vout
• Virtual ground at Vn
+
2n-1R
inverting input
MSB
• Vout= -IRf
LSB
 V1 V2 V Vn 
Vout   IRf   Rf    3
  n -1 
 R 2R 4R 2 R
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Calculation

bn 1 bn  2 b0
VOUT  Vref  R(   ...  n
2R 4R 2 R

 Vref
VOUT  n
(2n 1  bn 1  2n2  bn 2  ...  2  b1  b0
2
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Example:
Cont’d
n4
 Vref
Vout  (2 n 1 bn 1  2 n  2 bn  2  ...  2b1  b0 )
2n
 Vref
Vout  (8b3  4b2  2b1  b0 )
16
 Vref 3
Vout  (8(0)  4(0)  2(1)  1(1))  Vref
16 16
V fs  Vref  RES
RES  1 / 2 n
n = totalbits
 24  1 
V fs  Vref 
 24    0.9375 Vref
Introduction to Mechatronics
  Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantage
– Easy principle/construction
– Fast conversion
Disadvantages
– Requirement of several different precise input
resistor values: Requires large range of resistors
(2048:1 for 12-bit DAC) with necessary high
precision for low resistors one unique value per
binary input bit. (High bit DACs)
– Larger resistors ~ more error.
– Precise large resistors – expensive.
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
R-2R Resistor Ladder DAC
Vref

MSB LSB
Bit: 0 0 0 0

4-Bit Converter Vout

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 R-2R DAC Example
Vref V2 V1 V0

• Convert 0001 to analog

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 R-2R DAC Example (cont.)

V1 V0 V1 V0
=
V1  V0 V0
 V1  2 V0
R R

1
Nodal Analysis
Req  R
2 R 
1
 2 R 
1

Likewise,
R 1 R 1
Voltage Divider V1  V2  V2 V2  V3  V3
RR 2 RR 2
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Conversion Equation
 1 1 1 1
Vout  Vref  b3  b2  b1  b0 
 2 4 8 16 
For a 4-Bit R-2R Ladder

For general n-Bit n

1
R-2R Ladder
Binary Weighted Vout  Vref  bni i
Resister DAC
i 1 2
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 R-2R DAC Summary
• Advantages
– Only two resistor values
– Does not need as precision resistors as Binary weighted
DACs
– Cheap and Easy to manufacture

• Disadvantages
– Slower conversion rate

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 DAC Specification
• Resolution
• Reference Voltage
• Speed
• Settling Time
• Linearity

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Resolution
• The change in output voltage for a change of the LSB.
• Related to the size of the binary representation of the
voltage. (8-bit)
• Higher resolution results in smaller steps between
voltage values

Vref
Resolution  n
2

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Reference Voltage
• Multiplier DAC
– Reference voltage is a constant set by the
manufacturer

• Non-Multiplier DAC
– Reference voltage is variable

• Full scale Voltage

– Slightly less than the reference voltage (Vref-VLSB)

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Speed
• Also called the conversion rate or sampling rate
– rate at which the register value is updated

• For sampling rates of over 1 MHz a DAC is designated

as high speed.

• Speed is limited by the clock speed of the microcontroller

and the settling time of the DAC

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Settling Time
• Time in which the DAC output settles at the desired
value ± ½ VLSB.
• Faster DACs decrease the settling time

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Linearity
• Represents the relationship between digital values and
analog outputs.

• Should be related by a single proportionality constant.

(constant slope)

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 DAC Error
• Non-Linearity
– Differential
– Integral
• Gain Error
• Offset Error
• Monotonicity
• Resolution

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Non-linearity
• Deviation from a linear relationship between digital input
and analog output.
Analog Output Voltage

Desired Output

Digital Input
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Non-Linearity
• Differential
– Worst case deviation from the ideal VLSB step for an
increment of LSB
• Integral
– Worst case deviation from the line between the
endpoint (zero and full scale) voltages
Analog Output Voltage

Analog Output Voltage

Integral
Non-linearity
2VLSB

VLSB

Digital Input Digital Input

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Gain Error
• Also called Full-Scale Error
• Deviation from the ideal full scale voltage due to a higher
or lower gain than expected.
High Gain

Desired/Ideal Output
Analog Output Voltage

Low Gain

Introduction to Mechatronics
Digital Input
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Offset Error
• Also called Zero Error

• Difference between ideal voltage output and actual

voltage output for a digital input of zero.

Output Voltage

Ideal Output

Digital Input
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Monotonicity
• Increases or decreases of the digital value must
correspond to increases or decreases of the
voltage output.
Analog Output Voltage

Desired Output

Non-monotonic
behavior

Digital Input
Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Resolution Error
• For matching curves over time or simply outputting
accurate values a proper resolution must be selected

• Resolution must be high enough for the desired

precision (½ VLSB)
Vout Desired Analog
signal

11

10

01

00
Introduction to Mechatronics
Time
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Applications – Audio
Many audio signals are stored as binary
numbers (on media such as CDs and in
computer files such as MP3s). Therefore
computer sound cards, stereo systems,
digital cell phones, and portable music
players contain DAC to convert the digital
representation to an analog signal.

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
 Example DAC
• AD 7224 –
– Manufactured by Analog Devices
– Type: R-2R Voltage Output
– Reference voltage: Non-Multiplier
– 2 – 12.5 Volts
– 8-bit Input
– Settling Time: 7 μs
– Cost: about $4.00

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Example DAC
18 Pin integrated circuit
including output amplifier

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Applications – Video
Video signals from digital sources, such as a
computer or DVD must be converted to
analog signals before being displayed on an
analog monitor. Beginning on February 18th,
2009 all television broadcasts in the United
States will be in a digital format, requiring
ATSC tuners (either internal or set-top box)
to convert the signal to analog.

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
References
Previous Student Lectures
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://allaboutcircuits.com

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06
Questions

Introduction to Mechatronics
Student Lecture – 10/23/06