A sixteen-bit monolithic bipolar DAC

Abstract

Describes a fully monolithic 16-bit digital-analog converter (DAC) which is fabricated with dielectric isolation and thin film nichrome resistors. The design uses a straightforward extension of techniques successfully used in lower resolution DACs. To achieve the greater accuracy needed for a 16-bit DAC, special layout techniques are used. An auxiliary R-2R ladder is introduced to provide a ground current cancellation scheme. The experimental results show that 16-bit resolution is possible with a typical settling time of 1 /spl mu/s. Improved performance over a temperature range of 0/spl deg/C-75/spl deg/C is observed with units exhibiting one-half an LSB differential and integral linearity of 14-bit resolution. The initial 16-bit accuracy approaches that of expensive hybrid modules, while the accuracy over wide temperature ranges surpasses anything presently reported.