Redundant Segment Mapping for Linearized DAC and ADC Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) face challenges in achieving linearization due to nonlinearity issues, such as differential non-linearity (DNL) and integral non-linearity (INL), which are exacerbated by component mismatches.
Innovation Solution
The use of redundancy mapping and probabilistic assignment in DACs and ADCs, where the input digital word is decomposed into segments, and redundant representations are generated, allowing for the selection of segments with specific probabilities to produce an output analog signal, effectively reducing nonlinearity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional DAC architecture is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to nonlinearity
Solution Approach 1:
The input digital word is divided into multiple segments, each segment being processed separately through redundancy mapping. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by breaking down the conversion process into smaller, more controllable units while improving overall linearity performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Redundant representations are introduced as intermediary elements between the digital input and analog output. These redundant segments act as mediators that enable probabilistic selection to average out component mismatches, thereby improving linearity without requiring perfectly matched components.
2Manufacturing precision
If component matching is improved, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of component mismatches into a beneficial random noise that can be distributed across the Nyquist band. By using probabilistic selection of redundant segments, the systematic errors from component mismatches are transformed into random variations that average out, improving linearity without requiring precise component matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by introducing probabilistic selection mechanisms and redundant representations. Instead of relying on fixed component values, the system dynamically selects among multiple possible segment configurations, changing the parameter space to achieve better linearity performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If redundancy mapping is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The digital input is segmented into multiple parts, each with its own redundant representation. This segmentation strategy manages the complexity of redundancy mapping by organizing it into discrete, manageable segments rather than applying redundancy to the entire input at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies redundancy mapping selectively to specific segments rather than uniformly to all input bits. This partial application of redundancy allows the system to achieve improved linearity in critical regions while limiting the overall complexity increase to only where it is most beneficial.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for processing and storing digital information are described. One embodiment includes a method for linearizing digital-to-analog conversion including: receiving an input digital signal; segmenting the input digital signal into several segments, each segment being thermometer-coded; generating a redundant representation of each of the several segments, defining several redundant segments; performing a redundancy mapping for the several segments, defining redundantly mapped segments; assigning a probabilistic assignment for redundantly mapped segments; converting each redundantly mapped segment into an analog signal by a sub-digital-to-analog converter (DAC); and combining the analog signals to define an output analog signal.