A low-power high-speed 10-bit CMOS-compatible D/A converter

A 10-b multiple-current-source digital-to-analog converter has been implemented in a 3- mu m p-well CMOS process using CMOS-compatible split-collector lateral bipolar transistors as unit current sources. This converter requires an active area of 1.3 mm/sup 2/ and is capable of operating at full-scale (FS) currents ranging from 50 nA to 1 mA. High switching speed is obtained at low current levels through improved current switch design. Test results show that differential nonlinearity is typically +or-0.05% FS, internal nonlinearity is +or-0.04% FS, and the settling time is 30 ns.>