Simulating Parallel Vernier Second Type Digital-to-Analog Converter

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 also used in digital-to-analog frequency synthesizers to obtain the desired envelope shape of the synthesized signal, and are widely used in video and audio interfaces, digital oscilloscopes, and precision signal sources. Currently, 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, primarily analog voltage (current) switches and R-2R matrix resistors. Therefore, the structural method of overcoming existing technological problems is relevant.

The purpose of this work is to theoretically substantiate a new approach to the ideology of digital-to-analog conversion and to build structures of digital-to-analog converters with increased accuracy and (or) high performance.

The solution to the problem is to increase the number of reference signals at the inputs of partial digital-to-analog converters, regardless of their internal structure, but while unconditionally ensuring a strict fractional-multiple
(vernier) ratio of the values of the reference signals. At the same time, the vernier reference signals must be coupled at only two points – at the beginning and at the end of the scale, and at direct current. The accuracy of the vernier scale coupling (the accuracy of the reference signal coupling) must correspond to the final accuracy of the digital-to-analog conversion.

The novelty and originality of the proposed method lies in the significant expansion of the range of conversion of the digital control code into an analog parameter, i. e. in obtaining a new quality of digital-to-analog conversion.

The possibility of practical implementation of the new digital-to-analog converter structure is confirmed by theoretical calculations and circuit modeling using the Microcap12 package, which demonstrated the correctness of the proposed method. The proposed solution makes it possible to circumvent the technological limitations of production on the potentially achievable conversion accuracy in the manufacture of digital-to-analog converters chips and provides qualitatively new possibilities for digital-to-analog conversion technology.

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