DAC Element Cycling with Hysteresis for Better Linearity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data converters struggle to effectively manage variances and errors in sensing elements, such as capacitors and resistors, leading to sub-optimal cycling of elements and reduced linearity performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hysteresis threshold value to decouple the determination of a DAC's output from its pointer increment value, ensuring that element variances do not erroneously affect the increment of the pointer increment value, thereby maintaining consistent cycling of elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional data converters use sensing elements (capacitors and resistors) for conversion operations, then the data converter can perform digital to analog conversion, but variances in manufacturing processes cause errors that cannot be averaged out across the operational range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic element cycling where the selection of sensing elements changes over time based on a pointer that increments through different elements. This dynamic approach allows the system to cycle through multiple sensing elements (capacitors and resistors) across conversion operations, enabling statistical averaging of manufacturing variances while maintaining continuous conversion capability. The pointer increment mechanism ensures that different elements are selectively activated in a controlled temporal sequence.
2Device complexity
If the determination of DAC output is coupled with pointer increment value determination, then the system can operate simply, but element variances cause erroneous pointer increment calculations and sub-optimal element cycling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the determination process into two independent stages: first determining the DAC output value, then using that output to calculate the pointer increment value. This segmentation decouples the two determination processes, preventing element variances from causing erroneous pointer increments. The system calculates the pointer increment as the difference between consecutive output values, which averages out random element variances and produces more accurate element cycling control.
3Measurement precision
If sensing elements are cycled to average out errors, then linearity performance can be improved, but conventional methods fail to ensure proper averaging across the operational range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the pointer increment value is calculated based on the difference between consecutive DAC output values. This feedback approach ensures that the element cycling is driven by actual output changes rather than fixed patterns, allowing the system to adaptively cycle through elements in a way that maximizes averaging effectiveness across the entire operational range, thereby improving linearity performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures that variances and associated errors of individual elements are averaged out, improving overall linearity performance and accuracy of the data converter.
Implementation Method 1
Implementing a hysteresis threshold value to decouple the determination of a DAC's output from its pointer increment value, ensuring that element variances do not erroneously affect the increment of the pointer increment value
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices enhance management of components used in data converters. Methods include receiving an input at a data converter comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC), the digital to analog converter comprising a plurality of sensing elements, and performing, using the DAC, a first conversion operation based on the input and a first set of the plurality of sensing elements identified by a first pointer value. Methods also include determining a pointer increment value based, at least in part, on an output of the first conversion operation and a hysteresis threshold value, the pointer increment value being used to determine an amount by which the first pointer value is incremented, the hysteresis threshold value identifying a threshold for determination of the pointer increment value.