Patent ID: 7679539
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
1. A randomized thermometer-coding digital-to-analog converter for converting an N-level thermometer coded digital input to an analog output, comprising: an encoder which barrel shifts said N-level thermometer coded digital input to a specific starting position; a random number generator which generates a random number and sends said random number to said encoder to decide said specific starting position; a randomization period generator which produces a randomization period and sends said randomization period to said random number generator, wherein said randomization period controls said encoder to shift said N-level thermometer coded digital input to said specific starting position during said randomization period; a plurality of digital-to-analog converter elements which receive the outputs of said encoder to generate respective analog outputs; and an analog output summing node which receives and sums said respective analog outputs to generate said analog output.