Multiple Output Range 16-Bit DAC Design Made Simple

Design Note 337

Derek Redmayne
of output ranges. However, with the new LTC 1592
multiple output range DAC, all of this complexity is
unnecessary. Figure 2 shows the compact simplicity of
an implementation based on the new LTC1592. All the
standard industrial ranges (0V to 5V, 0V to 10V, 5V,
10V, 2.5V and 2.5V to 7.5V) are provided, accurately
and under software control.

Introduction
Precision 16-bit analog outputs with software-congurable output ranges are often needed in industrial
process control equipment, analytical and scientic
instruments and automatic test equipment. In the past,
designing a universal output module was a daunting task
and the cost and PCB real estate associated with this
function were problematic, if not prohibitive. Figure1
shows an example of the circuitry formerly required
to produce a programmable 16-bit DAC with a variety

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U7

U6

5V
REF

+
U3

U10

10V

U7

U6

SHDN

50k
1%

U8

U9

10k

0.1%
10ppm/C
TRACKING

U6

100pF

100k
U6

U7

+
U4

5V

10k
U7

10k

5V

10k

U1
16-BIT CMOS DAC

U2
1/2 LT1469

DN337 F01

U8

+
U5

2.5V

15V
U6

U7

U8

U8
SHDN
5k

U6, U7, U8: DG411

U9: 74HC1G4066

Figure 1. How NOT to Build a Universal 16-Bit Analog Output

05/04/337_conv

OUT

15pF

10ppm
TRACKING

SHDN

10k

U8

U2
1/2 LT1469

15V

The Old Way

Figure 1 shows a pre-LTC1592 implementation of a
multiple output range DAC. The circuit can be made
to work, but only with costly components and a lot of
PCB real estate. The range switching capability requires
the addition of analog switches and precision resistors
to the basic DAC. Some of these analog switches are
required to compensate for the resistance of switches
at other points in the circuit. The circuit as shown, even
with its considerable complexity, is a compromise as
some of these analog switches are not paired with
counterparts in the same package. The analog switches
are expensive. They also require PCB real estate, bypassing and decoupling to compensate for poor PSRR
to mitigate digital noise. In addition, since they are not
switching at virtual ground, the analog switches exhibit
on-resistance variation with voltage which will degrade
linearity. Leakage can be an issue at high temperature.
Precision matched resistor pairs are shown, as they are
available from a number of sources. But unless very
expensive devices are used, they will degrade accuracy.

The New, Easy Way

In contrast is Figure 2 where the LTC1592 contains all
of the circuitry required to perform these functionsall
under processor control. All the ranges are accurate
with low drift, fast settling and low glitch operation
right out of the box. The LTC1592 incorporates all the
switches and precision resistors. A full implementation takes less than 0.5in 0.5in including the dual
operational amplier, bypass and compensation. This
analog output subsystem can be recongured in real
time and the serial interface makes optoisolation easy.
Conclusion
Building a precision, multiple output range, softwarecongurable 16-bit DAC is no longer a complicated,
expensive design effort. Now a clean, simple design
yields smaller size, lower cost and much better accuracy.
The LTC1592 can also be used for embedded or xed
range applications, where its 4-quadrant operation
with serial interface make it compelling even if range
changing may not be required.

VREF
5V
5

+
7

1/2 LT1469
6

C2
150pF

5V
0.1F

16 15

R1
R1

RCOM

R2 REF ROFS RFB

R2

4
C1
30pF

VCC
5

IOUT2 6

IOUT1
14
13
12
11
10

CLR

16-BIT DAC WITH

SPAN ADJUST

CS/LD
SCK

AGND

SDI
SDO

LTC1592

GND

15V
8

0.1F

1/2 LT1469

4
15V

VOUT

0.1F

DN337 F01

Figure 2. Programmable Output Range 16-Bit SoftSpan DAC

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