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:
Aug. 09, 2016
Filed:
Dec. 09, 2014
Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Jan Mulder, Houten, NL;
Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A decoder for a current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is described herein. In an embodiment, the decoder is a dynamic element matching (DEM) row/column decoder that randomizes pairs of row control signals and column control signals that are provided to a matrix of current cells. The randomization is performed in a manner that ensures that the pairs of row control signals are randomized as pairs. In another embodiment, the decoder is an N-dimensional decoder, where N is any integer greater than two. The N-dimensional decoder comprises an N number of decoders that are each configured to provide respective control signals that are provided to current source(s) in current cell(s) in a respective dimension of an N-dimensional matrix of current cells for enabling current source(s) included therein. Such decoders advantageously allow for a simpler, more efficient design compared to a non-segmented, unary DAC due to the smaller area and lower power consumed.