Patent ID: 7116257

Claim:
A method of converting a multi-bit digital input signal into output signals from a plurality of single-bit digital-to-analog (D/A) converters using head and tail indicators, a difference between the indicators representing a value of the input signal, the head and tail indicators designating ordinal positions in an ordered set having at least as many elements as there are allowable discrete values of the input signal, the method including: calculating a difference in value between successive input signals; responsive to the difference, updating at least one of the head indicator, the tail indicator, or the difference between head and tail indicators; each of the D/A converters being associated with respective set elements, periodically shifting the association of the D/A converters with the respective set elements; and generating output signals from the plurality of D/A converters, a particular output signal responsive to a containment relationship between the head and tail indicators and the respective set element.