Smart CMOS Current-Steering D/A-Converters for Embedded Applications

The current-steering D/A-converter is the workhorse for the synthesis of high-resolution, wide-bandwidth analog signals, e.g. in the transmitter section of digital transceivers. Highly integrated systems require the implementation of such circuits in a nanometer CMOS technology together with analog and digital signal processing functions. Multi-mode operation additionally complicates the design task, since it is desired to minimize the circuit overhead in terms of silicon area and power consumption. "Smart" data converters make use of auxiliary analog and digital circuitry to enhance the linearity and to eventually tailor the converter architecture to the specific operating mode.