IP Library Granted Patent US 9,531,399
Granted Patent B1
US 9,531,399 · App. 14/861,216 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Linearity improvement for high resolution RFDAC

Inventor: Franz Kuttner (St. Ulrich, AT)
Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
H03M1/0612H03M1/002H03M1/682H03M7/165
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,531,399
App. No.
14/861,216
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

A digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit to convert a digital input signal to an analog output signal, wherein the digital input signal comprises a plurality of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) and a plurality of Most Significant Bits (LSBs). The DAC circuit comprises a line decoder configured to receive the plurality of LSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate line information based thereon. The DAC circuit further comprises a column decoder configured to receive the plurality of MSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate column information based thereon. Further, the DAC circuit comprises one or more source cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the one or more source cells are configured to be selectively activated and consequently generate an individual output signal based on the line information and the column information respectively.

Claims (51)

1. A digital to analog converter circuit to convert a digital input signal to an analog output signal, wherein the digital input signal comprises a plurality of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) and a plurality of Most Significant bits (MSBs), the digital to analog converter circuit comprising:

a line decoder configured to receive the plurality of LSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate a line information based thereon;

a column decoder configured to receive the plurality of MSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate a column information based thereon;

one or more source cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the one or more source cells are configured to be selectively activated and consequently generate an individual output signal based on the line information and the column information respectively;

a control circuit configured to supply a source signal to selectively energize one or more source cells of the plurality of columns based on the column information; and

a compensation circuit comprising one or more cells configured to linearize the source signal.

2. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 1 , further comprising

one or more Local Oscillator (LO) lines coupled between a LO and the plurality of columns.

3. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 2 ,

wherein the one or more LO lines are activated based on the column information.

4. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 1 ,

wherein the compensation circuit linearizes the source signal by generating a current signal.

5. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 4 ,

wherein the compensation circuit comprises a plurality of capacitances.

6. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 5 ,

wherein the generation of the current signal is based on switching the plurality of capacitances.

7. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 1 ,

wherein the compensation circuit linearizes the source signal based on the line information.

8. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 1 ,

wherein a sum of the individual output signals generated by the one or more source cells provide the analog output signal.

9. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more source cells comprises a plurality of capacitances.

10. The digital to analog converter circuit of claim 9 ,

wherein the individual output signal is obtained by switching the plurality of capacitances based on the line information and the column information.

11. A digital to analog converter system to convert a digital input signal to an analog output signal, wherein the digital input signal comprises a plurality of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) and a plurality of Most Significant bits (MSBs), the digital to analog converter system comprising:

a line decoder component configured to receive the plurality of LSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate a line information based thereon;

a column decoder component configured to receive the plurality of MSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate a column information based thereon;

one or more source cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the one or more source cells are configured to be selectively activated and consequently generate an individual output signal based on the line information and the column information respectively;

a control circuit component configured to supply a source signal to the one or more source cells of the plurality of columns based on the column information; and

a compensation circuit component comprising one or more cells configured to linearize the source signal.

12. The digital to analog converter system of claim 11 ,

wherein the compensation circuit component linearizes the source signal by generating a current signal.

13. The digital to analog converter system of claim 12 ,

wherein the compensation circuit component comprises a plurality of capacitances.

14. The digital to analog converter system of claim 13 ,

wherein the generation of the current signal is based on switching the plurality of capacitances.

15. The digital to analog converter system of claim 11 ,

wherein the compensation circuit component linearizes the source signal based on the line information.

16. A method to improve linearity in a digital to analog converter circuit, wherein the digital to analog converter circuit converts a digital input signal to an analog output signal, wherein the digital input signal comprises a plurality of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) and a plurality of Most Significant Bits (MSBs), the method comprising:

receiving, by a line decoder, the plurality of LSBs of the digital input signal and generate a line information;

receiving, by a column decoder, the plurality of MSBs of the digital input signal and generate a column information;

selectively activating one or more source cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;

generating an individual output signal based on the line information and the column information;

supplying a source signal, by a control circuit, to one or more source cells of the plurality of columns based on the column information; and

linearizing the source signal, by a compensation circuit component comprising one or more cells.

17. The method of claim 16 ,

wherein the source signal is linearized by generating a current signal.

18. The method of claim 17 ,

wherein generating the source signal is based on switching a plurality of capacitances.

19. The method of claim 16 ,

wherein linearizing the source signal is based on the line information.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: INTEL IP CORPORATION
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056524/0373 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2015
From: KUTTNER, FRANZ
To: INTEL IP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036623/0057 →