Simulation of the First Type Parallel Vernier Digital-to-Analog Converter

Abstract

Digital-to-analog converters are widely and effectively used in radio-electronic equipment for various purposes, when it is necessary to convert a digital control code into an analog parameter - current or voltage. They are used, among other things, in digital-to-analog frequency synthesizers to obtain the required envelope shape of the synthesized signal. At present, the main problems in the construction of precision and (or) high-speed digital-to-analog converters are technological limitations of production, namely, the final accuracy of the implementation of analog elements. Therefore, a structural method for overcoming technological limitations is relevant.

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of classical digital-to-analog conversion methods based on the R-2R matrix and to substantiate a new approach to the ideology of digital-to-analog conversion and the construction of digital-to-analog converters of increased accuracy and (or) speed.

The solution to the problem lies in increasing the number of reference signals at the inputs of partial digital-to-analog converters while unconditionally ensuring their strict fractional-multiple (vernier) ratio. In this case, the conjugation of the vernier scales must be performed at one point and on direct current. The accuracy of the conjugation of the scales must correspond to the final accuracy of the digital-to-analog conversion.

The novelty and originality of the proposed method are confirmed by theoretical calculations, structural and circuit modeling, full-scale modeling, as well as Russian and US patents.

The possibility of practical implementation of the new structure of the digital-to-analog converter is confirmed by circuit modeling using the Microcap12 package and full-scale prototyping, which confirmed the correctness of the proposed method.

The proposed solution allows to bypass technological limitations on the potentially achievable conversion accuracy in the production of DAC microcircuits and provides qualitatively new capabilities of digital-to-analog conversion technology.