A 6-bit fully binary digital-to-analog converter in 0.25-μm SiGe BiCMOS for optical communications
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
This paper presents an approach to implement a high-speed binary weighted digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A different current switching mechanism is proposed that improves the dynamic performance of binary weighted DACs. Circuit simulation shows an improvement of the rise (fall) time mismatch by a factor of 2 over the conventional structure. It is shown that in a conventional high-speed binary DAC implemented with differential pairs, the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) can be degraded by nearly 6 dB due to the different rise (fall) times of the current switches. Using the proposed current switches, a fully binary weighted DAC with nominal resolution of 6 bit has been fabricated in 0.25-μm SiGe technology. The measured SFDR is higher than 30.1 dBc up to 5.9-GHz input signal with a 13.4-GHz clock. The DAC can provide 1.1-V peak-to-peak differential output swing over 50 Ω while dissipating 1050 mW. Full-scale 20%-80% fall time and 2% settling time are measured below 18 and 45 ps, respectively.
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 5983420 |
| Pages (from-to) | 2254-2264 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2011 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- BiCMOS integrated circuits, current steering, current switch circuits, digital-to-analog convertor (DAC), high speed, Nyquist rate DAC