A Novel 12-bit Current-Steering DAC with Two Reference Currents

Abstract

This paper proposes a new architecture of 12-bit current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with novel biasing scheme. In the proposed DAC, two 6-bit binary-weighted current source arrays are designed with two reference currents. The technique allows significant area savings without impairing static accuracy. The paper also presents a method to generate dual reference currents, whose design is compact and consumes low static power. The active area of the 12-bit DAC is 0.36mm(2) approximately. This chip was fabricated by a standard 0.18 mu m CMOS technology, and consumes 38mW at 180MS/s update rate with 1.8V supply voltage.