Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Gary G Fang

David Castaneda

Chowdhury F Rahim

Operating range of R-2R ladders for digital to analog converters (DACs) is improved by increasing resistance in series with a termination switch in a termination leg to avoid transistor saturation for increasing DAC resolution, increasing reference voltage range, or other application. The switched R-2R ladder circuit is modified to compensate for increasing resistance to maintain proper resistor matching for generation of the appropriate range of analog output voltages for a digital input signal.

Method and apparatus for digital to analog converters with improved switched R-2R ladders

Asynchronous and synchronous deglitch controllers controlling switches of sample and hold circuits for deglitching digital to analog converters. Asynchronous and synchronous deglitch controllers detect transitions in the state of the digital input code to trigger or allow a one shot pulse to cause sample and hold circuits to go into hold mode for the period of the one shot pulse. Secondary glitch cancellation circuitry models the environment of the sample and hold circuit to emulate secondary glitch impulse generation. A differential amplifier substantially cancels secondary glitches related to the parasitic charges generated by the switching of the sample and hold circuit.

Method and apparatus for deglitching digital to analog converters

A varying power supply range, that can exceed the breakdown voltage of switches within a DAC, is used to generate positive and negative generated OFF voltages substantially fixed and less than the breakdown voltage to accommodate a wide range of analog reference voltages and power supply voltages. The digital input signal having digital input levels is received by a TTL/CMOS input receiver and level shifted to logic levels having the positive and negative generate voltage levels. A circuit matches switch resistance and forms positive and negative switch ON voltage levels from the voltage levels of the input positive and negative analog reference levels. Switch drivers properly drive control terminals of the switches with appropriate voltage levels avoiding switch breakdown in response to the digital input signal.

Method and apparatus for switching low voltage CMOS switches in high voltage digital to analog converters

Buffers having an output pull-up transistor controlled by the input signal, an output pull-down transistor and a pull-down transistor control circuit. A current source provides a current that is divided between the pull-up transistor and the pull-down transistor control circuit to maintain the desired output voltage. A boost capacitor is coupled between the output and the pull-down transistor control circuit to provide good dynamic response to the circuit even in the presence of substantial capacitive loads on the output. In addition a second capacitor is coupled between the pull-down transistor control circuit and a fixed voltage to provide a low frequency pole internal to the circuit. The connection of the boost capacitor to the pull-down transistor control circuit and the connection of the second capacitor to the pull-down transistor control circuit are separated by a substantial resistance, allowing the effect of each capacitor to be substantially independent of each other. Exemplary circuits are disclosed incorporating these and other features.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Gary G Fang