IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,074,609
Granted Patent B2
US 12,074,609 · App. 17/687,765 · Granted Aug 27, 2024

System and method for a super-resolution digital-to-analog converter based on redundant sensing

Inventors: Zhi Yang (Minneapolis, MN); Anh Tuan Nguyen (Minneapolis, MN); Diu Khue Luu (Minneapolis, MN); Jian Xu (Minneapolis, MN)
Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
H03M1/46H03M1/007H03M1/447H03M1/802
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,074,609
App. No.
17/687,765
Granted
Aug 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital-to-analog converter device including a set of components, each component included in the set of components including a number of unit cells, each unit cell being associated with a unit cell size indicating manufacturing specifications of the unit cell is provided by the present disclosure. The digital-to-analog converter device further includes a plurality of switches, each switch included in the plurality of switches being coupled to a component included in the set of components, and an output electrode coupled to the plurality of switches. The digital-to-analog converter device is configured to output an output signal at the output electrode. A first unit cell size associated with a first unit cell included in the set of components is different than a second unit cell size associated with a second unit cell included in the set of components.

Claims (15)

1. A digital-to-analog converter device comprising:

a set of components, each component included in the set of components comprising a number of unit cells, each unit cell being associated with a unit cell size indicating manufacturing specifications of the unit cell;

a plurality of switches, each switch included in the plurality of switches being coupled to a component included in the set of components; and

an output electrode coupled to the plurality of switches, the digital-to-analog converter device being configured to output an output signal at the output electrode,

wherein a first unit cell size associated with a first unit cell included in the set of components is different than a second unit cell size associated with a second unit cell included in the set of components, and

wherein a size of the set of the components is adjustable and dependent on a grouping method.

2. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein the unit cell size comprises a length value and a width value.

3. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein the unit cell size is associated with a transistor process size.

4. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein at least one component included in the set of components includes a number of unit cells that is not a power of two.

5. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein the digital-to-analog converter device is a current digital-to-analog converter.

6. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein the digital-to-analog converter device further comprises a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, the controller configured to

receive a desired output current;

determine a component configuration based on the desired output current and a predetermined output current value measured at the output electrode, the predetermined output current value associated with the component configuration; and

cause a current pulse to be output from the digital-to-analog converter device based on the component configuration.

7. The digital-to-analog converter device of claim 1 , wherein the grouping method comprises at least one of a uniform grouping method, a half-split grouping method, or a binary-weighted grouping method.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2023
From: YANG, ZHI; NGUYEN, ANH TUAN; LUU, DIU KHUE; XU, JIAN
To: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Reel/Frame 063681/0329 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17066456 · Oct 8, 2020
Provisional Application 62913759 · Oct 11, 2019
Related Publication 20220190839A1 · Jun 16, 2022