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:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
May. 16, 2001
Donal Geraghty, Limerick, IE;
Patrick Kirby, Limerick, IE;
Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA (US);
Abstract
A multi-channel DAC having a digital input port ( ) for receiving digital input codes and a plurality of analogue output terminals (OUT to OUTN) on channels (CH to CHN) on which corresponding analogue signals are outputted, comprises a primary DAC ( ) which receives the digital input codes from the input port ( ). Analogue signals from the primary DAC ( ) are selectively and sequentially sampled onto infinite sample and hold circuits (SH to SHN) of the channel (CH to CHN) through primary switches PS to PSN) under the control of a primary control circuit ( ). Each infinite sample and hold circuit (SH to SHN) comprises a secondary DAC ( ) which outputs an analogue signal which closely approximates to the sampled analogue signal from the primary DAC ( ) and which is held on the corresponding output terminal (OUT to OUTN). Secondary digital codes may be selectively applied to the secondary DACs of the respective infinite sample and hold circuits SH to SHN for incrementing or decrementing the analogue signal held on the corresponding output (OUT to OUTN).