Patent ID: 7583216

Claim:
A digital to analog converter (DAC) comprises: at least one digital to analog conversion module coupled to convert at least one bit of a digital signal into an analog signal, the digital to analog converter comprising: a first current source coupled to a first supply voltage source; a first switch; and a second switch, wherein, when the at least one bit is in a first state, the first switch is enabled to steer current of the first current source to a dump node and, when the at least one bit is in a second state, the second switch is enable to steer the current of the first current source to an analog output; a third switch operable to couple the dump node to a second supply voltage source when the at least one bit is in the first state, wherein voltage of the second supply voltage source is less than a voltage of the first supply voltage source and a power regulator that produces the second supply voltage, wherein the power regulator responds accordingly to maintain regulation of the second supply voltage as the current from the dump node changes; and a gated termination coupled to the analog output of the at least one digital to analog conversion module to provide a first termination when a termination selection signal is in a first state and to provide a second termination when the termination selection signal is in a second state.