Monotonic current/resistor digital-to-analog converter and method of operation

摘要

A digital-to-analog converter (10) performs two distinct conversions (12,59) of most significant bits (MSBs) and least significant bits (LSBs), respectively, of a digital input signal and uses the conversion results to provide an equivalent analog output. A plurality of current sources (34-36) is controlled by a thermometer code equivalent value of the most significant bits to provide a first input current to an output stage (22). A plurality of resistors (60-63) is controlled by a binary to 'one of' equivalent of the least significant bits to provide a second input current to the output stage. The output stage (22) converts a combination of the first and second input currents to the analog output.