CHAPTER 6

CONVERTER
Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)
 Resistive Divider

V V V V
From the above figure, I0  , I1  , I 2  , and I 3  .
8R 4R 2R R
Example 4.1

Determine the output of the DAC in figure below if the waveforms

representing a sequence of 4-bit numbers given below are applied to the
inputs. Input D0 is the least significant bit (LSB).

200kΩ
D0

I 0
Rf
100kΩ
D1 10kΩ

I 1
-
50kΩ Vout
D2 +
I 2

25k Ω
D3
I 3

+5V
D0
0
+5V
D1
0
+5V
D2
0
+5V
D3
0
Solution to Example 4.1

First, determine the current for each of the weighted inputs. Since the
inverting input of the op-amp is at 0 Volt and a binary 1 corresponds to +5V,
the current through any of the input resistors is +5V divided by the resistance
value:

5V
I0   0.025mA
200k

5V
I1   0.05mA
100k

5V
I2   0.1mA
50k

5V
I3   0.2mA
25k
Almost no current goes into the inverting op-amp input because of its
extremely high impedance. Therefore, assume that all of the current goes
through the feedback resistor Rf. Since one end of Rf (virtual ground), the
drop across Rf equals the output voltage, which is negative with respect to
virtual ground.
Vout (D0)= (10 kΩ ) ( -0.025mA ) = - 0.25V
Vout (D1)= (10 kΩ ) ( -0.05mA ) = - 0.5V
Vout (D2)= (10 kΩ ) ( -0.1mA ) = -1V
Vout (D3)= (10 kΩ ) ( -0.2mA ) = -2V

From the timing diagram figure, the first binary input code is 0000,
which produces an output voltage of 0V. The next input code is 0001, which
produces an output voltage of -0.25V. For this, the output voltage is -0.25V.
The next code is 0010 which produces an output voltage of -0.5V. The next
code is 0011 which produces an output voltage of -0.25V + -0.5V= -0.75V.
Each successive binary code increases the output voltage by -0.25V, so for
this particular straight binary sequence on the inputs, the output is a stairstep
waveform going from 0V to -3.75V in -0.25V steps. This is shown in figure
below.
Binary Ladder
Another method of D/A conversion is binary ladder or R/2R ladder
𝐼3 = 5V/2R 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼3 𝑅𝑓
= 2.5 A = -2.5 x 2R
= -5V
𝐼5 = 5V/2R 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼5 𝑅𝑓
= 2.5 A /2 = -1.25 x 2R
= 1.25 A = -2.5V
𝐼1 = 5V/2R 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼1 𝑅𝑓
= 2.5 A /2 = -0.625 A x 2R
= 1.25 A / 2 = -1.25V
= 0.625 A
𝐼0 = 5V/2R
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼0 𝑅𝑓
= 2.5 A /2
= 1.25 A / 2 = -0.3125 A x 2R
= 0.625 A /2 = -0.625V
= 0.3125 A
Analog to Digital Converter
Example 4.2

Assume the following values for the digital-ramp ADC:

clock frequency= 1MHz; DAC full-scale output= 1.5V
and a 4-bit input. Determine the following values.

a. The digital equivalent obtained for VA= 0.78V

b. The conversion time
c. The resolution of this converter
Solution to Example 4.2

a. The DAC has a 4-bit input and a 1.5V full-scale output. Thus, the number
of total possible steps is 24 -1= 15, and so the step size is

1.5V
= 0.1V
15

0.78V
This means the steps require are = 7.8 ≈8 steps
0.1V

At the end of the conversion, then, the counter will hold the binary
equivalent of 8, which is 1000. This is the desired digital equivalent of
VA= 0.78V, as produced by this ADC.

b. Eight steps were required to complete the conversion. Thus, 8 clock

pulses occurred at the rate of the one per microsecond. This gives a total
conversion time of 8µs.

c. The resolution of this converter is equal to the step size of the DAC,
which is 0.1V. In percent it is 1/15 x 100% ≈ 6.67%.