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Resolution-Slide3

Shown here are the DC specifications for the AD5660 low voltage single supply DAC. These specs are a good example for showing the difference between resolution and accuracy. First, notice that the resolution is specified at 16 bits. This means the user can program 2^16 (or 65,536) discrete levels of analog output. Next is the relative accuracy, also known as INL or Integral Non-Linearity. Integral Non-Linearity is the deviation of the actual transfer function from a straight line. After nullifying offset and gain errors, this straight line is drawn between the end points of the transfer function. Finally, Differential Non-Linearity error, or DNL, is the difference between the ideal and the measured output response for successive DAC codes. An ideal DAC response would have analog output values exactly one code step (or LSB) apart, corresponding to a DNL error = 0. If the INL is good, then one can infer that the DNL is good. The opposite, however, does not hold true. Additionally, a DNL specification of less than or equal to 1 LSB guarantees monotonicity. This means the output always increases as the code increases, which is very important for Closed Loop systems.

PTM Published on: 2012-10-09