Digital-to-analog converter and bias compensator therefor

U.S. Patent Number: 5293166

Abstract: A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter characterized by a decoder which decodes a multi-bit digital input into a plurality of cell activation signals; a converter comprising a number of current cells which can be individually activated by respective cell activation signals; a bias generator which develops a bias voltage for the current cells; and a compensator which compensates the bias voltage to reduce the effects of voltage variations in the power supply. The compensator includes a variation detector coupled to the power supply and develops an error signal when the power supply voltage fluctuates. A variation compensator is responsive to the error signal and is operative to stabilize the bias level. The method of the present invention includes the steps of developing a bias voltage from a power supply, sensing voltage variations in the power supply, and compensating the bias voltage to counteract the effects of the voltage variations.

Inventors: Ta; Paul D. (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc. (San Jose, CA)

Application Number: 07/860,946

Issued: 1994-03-08

Expired: 2006-03-08

Classes: 341/118 ; 341/136; 341/144

Field of search: 341/118,144,136,134,154

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