Patent ID: 6445324
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
A method for digital-to-analog conversion of a digital input code into a first output analog signal and a second output analog signal to be supplied to a first terminal and a second terminal of a load, in particular an audio load, said conversion being performed by means of a digital-to-analog converter with an N-level balanced output, said method comprising the steps of:providing N/2 positive generator elements supplying respective positive elementary contributions that are nominally equal to one another, and N/2 negative generator elements supplying respective negative elementary contributions that are nominally equal to one another and, in absolute value, equal to the positive elementary contributions; attributing the same progressive addresses to said positive generator elements and to said negative generator elements; defining a first index for positive input codes and a second index for negative input codes; and in the presence of an input code at the input of said digital-to-analog converter: selecting, between said first index and said second index, the index corresponding to the sign of said input code; activating a first set of positive generator elements and a second set of negative generator elements, the number of the positive generator elements activated and the number of the negative generator elements activated being equal to one another and a function of said input code, and the addresses of the positive generator elements activated and of the negative generator elements activated being a function of said selected index (Ip, IN); generating said first output analog signal as a function of the positive elementary contributions supplied by the positive generator elements activated, and said second output analog signal as a function of the negative elementary contributions supplied by the negative generator elements activated; and updating said selected index according to said input code.