Patent ID: 11967968
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Field: Basic communication processes (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 0:
1. A multi-channel digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprising:
a plurality of DAC channels each having an input adapted to receive a digital input signal and operable convert the digital input signal to an analog output signal;
each DAC channel comprising:
a current control circuit having a first input adapted to receive a start limit signal or an end limit signal, the current control circuit operable to reduce an output current limit, for the DAC channel, from a higher current limit to a lower current limit responsive to the start limit signal and to increase the output current limit to the higher current limit responsive to the end limit signal;
a current sensor circuit coupled to the current control circuit and operable to provide an alert signal responsive to an output current of the DAC channel exceeding the higher current limit; and
filter coupled to the current sensor circuit and operable to provide a filtered alert signal responsive to the alert signal;

a summer circuit coupled to each DAC channel and operable to provide a summation signal indicating the number of DAC channels exceeding the higher current limit; and
a controller coupled to the summer circuit and operable to provide the start limit signal responsive to the summation signal exceeding a threshold and to provide the end limit signal responsive to the summation signal falling below the threshold minus a hysteresis value.