The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 23, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Helmuth Robert Litfin, San Jose, CA (US);
Anthony Joseph Becker, San Jose, CA (US);
Clyde Manford Brown, Cupertino, CA (US);
The Engineering Consortium, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A digital to analog converter has a decoder configured to select weighted decoding elements in a decoding network. The decoded outputs increase in steps by a mathematical progression as a function of the value of the input to the decoder. A calibration circuit adjusts the value of the digital input code received by the decoder to achieve a calibration function. In a programmable resistor embodiment, the value of the resistance selected by subsequent digital codes increases by a constant ratio. An adder is used to add an offset value to the digital input, thereby shifting the value of the resistance selected by the decoder to compensate for fabrication variances. A three terminal embodiment suitable for a form-C switch has a shorting switch to permit the programmable resistor to be switched from an extremely high resistance to an extremely low resistance