Patent ID: 7683813

Claim:
A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter including a plurality of current source cells arranged in a matrix configuration; said D/A converter comprising: an output current path section for digital-to-analog conversion in a regular operation and a correcting current path section for a calibration operation used as a current path for conducting a cell current generated in said current source cell, each of said plurality of current source cells including a first transistor serving as a current source that generates the cell current corresponding to a predetermined bias voltage applied thereto, said current source cell being operative so that said first transistor is connected during the regular operation to said output current path section in cascade to flow the cell current through said output current path section and during the calibration operation to said correcting current path section in cascade to flow the cell current through said correcting current path section; and a current corrector operative in response to a correction value obtained on said correcting current path section for generating a correction current that is used for correcting the cell current; wherein said correcting current path section includes: a current comparator for comparing the cell current to a predetermined reference current; and logic processing circuitry for determining the correction value in accordance with a result of comparison by said current comparator.