Digital to analog conversion using summation of multiple DACs

1. A method for converting a digital signal to an analog signal, said method using a plurality of signal sources, preferably current sources, one or more of said signal sources being variable output signal magnitude sources, said method comprising:

setting the output signal magnitudes of the one or more variable output signal magnitude sources by one or more individual setting signals being input signals for said respective variable output signal magnitude sources contributing to said analog signal,

wherein said converting is adapted on a per signal basis in response to needs concerning bandwidth and/or accuracy for achieving a trade-off between sample-rate and resolution of said conversion,

wherein said output signal of said variable output signal magnitude sources are switchable according to a switch control signal provided by a logic unit, thus contributing or not to said analog signal, said switch control signal being derived from said digital signal to be converted, and

wherein said logic unit is part of a flexible selection unit, and wherein said digital signal to be converted is an input signal of said flexible selection unit, and operation of said flexible selection unit is software controlled by parameters determining processing of said digital signal to be converted, for achieving a trade-off between sample-rate and resolution of said conversion and hardware filtering effort.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of said signal sources are variable output signal magnitude sources, an wherein the outputs of said variable output signal magnitude sources are accumulated to contribute to said analog signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said setting signals are digital setting signals, thus said variable output signal magnitude sources being realized as digital-to-analog converters.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said setting signals being static setting signals independent from said digital signal to be converted.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said conversion is further adaptable on a per signal basis in response to needs concerning filtering requirements for achieving a trade-off between sample-rate and resolution of said conversion and hardware filtering effort.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said setting signals are adjustable to compensate mismatches of output signals of said variable output signal magnitude sources.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said setting signals are equal and said processing of said digital signal to be converted is performed by an over-sampling multi-bit delta-sigma converter according to said operation of said flexible selection unit.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said setting signals are binary weighted and said processing of said digital signal to be converted is performed by a Nyquist converter according to said operation of said flexible selection unit.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said variable output signal magnitude sources and said logic unit are part of a finite impulse response filter.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said filter having a filter characteristic being determined by at least one filter coefficient, and in that values of said filter coefficients are determined by said setting signals of said signal sources.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said values of said filter coefficients can range from −1 to 1, including at least one intermediate value.

12. A software program or product, preferably stored on a data carrier, for executing the method of claim 1 , when run on a data processing system such as a computer.

13. A system for converting a digital signal to an analog signal, said system comprising a plurality of signal sources, preferably current sources, one or more of said signal sources being variable output signal magnitude sources, said system further comprising:

means for setting the output signal magnitudes of the one or more of said variable output signal magnitude sources by individual setting signals being input signals for said respective variable output signal magnitude sources,

wherein said converting is adaptable on a per signal basis in response to needs concerning bandwidth and/or accuracy for achieving a trade-off between sample-rate and resolution of said conversion,

wherein said output signal of said variable output signal magnitude sources are switchable according to a switch control signal provided by a logic unit, thus contributing or not to said analog signal, said switch control signal being derived from said digital signal to be converted, and

wherein said logic unit is part of a flexible selection unit, and wherein said digital signal to be converted is an input signal of said flexible selection unit, and operation of said flexible selection unit is software controlled by parameters determining processing of said digital signal to be converted, e.g. for achieving a trade-off between sample-rate and resolution of said conversion and hardware filtering effort.

14. A method for converting a digital signal to an analog signal comprising:

using a plurality of variable output signal magnitude sources contributing to said analog signal, and

setting the output signal magnitudes of each of the variable output signal magnitude sources by a setting signal, the setting signal being individual for each variable output signal magnitude source for individually adjusting the contribution of each variable output signal magnitude source to the analog signal.

15. A system for converting a digital signal to an analog signal, said system comprising a plurality of variable output signal magnitude sources contributing to said analog signal, said system further comprising:

means for setting the output signal magnitudes of each of the variable output signal magnitude sources by a setting signal, the setting signal being individual for each variable output signal magnitude source for individually adjusting the contribution of each variable output signal magnitude source to the analog signal.