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WM2630
Production Data
WOLFSON MICROELECTRONICS LTD
PD Rev 1.1 February 2001
12
PROGRAMMABLE INTERNAL REFERENCE
The reference can be sourced internally or externally under software control. If an external reference
voltage is applied to the REF pin, the device must be configured to accept this.
If an external reference is selected, the reference voltage input is buffered which makes the DAC input
resistance independent of code. The REF pin has an input resistance of 10M
and an input capacitance
of typically 55pF. The reference voltage determines the DAC full-scale output.
If an internal reference is selected, a voltage of 1.024V or 2.048 is available. The internal reference can
source up to 1mA and can therefore be used as an external system reference.
REF1
0
0
1
1
REF0
0
1
0
1
REFERENCCE
External (default)
1.024V
2.048V
External
Table 9 Programmable Internal Reference
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
LINEARITY, OFFSET, AND GAIN ERROR
Amplifiers operating from a single supply can have positive or negative voltage offsets. With a positive
offset, the output voltage changes on the first code transition. However, if the offset is negative, the output
voltage may not change with the first code, depending on the magnitude of the offset voltage. This is
because with the most negative supply rail being ground, any attempt to drive the output amplifier below
ground will clamp the output at 0 V. The output voltage then remains at zero until the input code is
sufficiently high to overcome the negative offset voltage, resulting in the transfer function shown in Figure
10.
DAC code
Negative
Offset
Output
Voltage
0 V
Figure 10 Effect of Negative Offset
This offset error, not the linearity error, produces the breakpoint. The transfer function would follow the
dotted line if the output buffer could drive below the ground rail.
DAC linearity is measured between zero-input code (all input bits at 0) and full-scale code (all inputs at 1),
disregarding offset and full-scale errors. However, due to the breakpoint in the transfer function, single
supply operation does not allow for adjustment when the offset is negative. In such cases, the linearity is
therefore measured between full-scale and the lowest code that produces a positive (non-zero) output
voltage.
POWER SUPPLY DECOUPLING AND GROUNDING
Printed circuit boards with separate analogue and digital ground planes deliver the best system
performance. The two ground planes should be connected together at the low impedance power supply
source. Ground currents should be managed so as to minimise voltage drops across the ground planes.
A 0.1
μ
F decoupling capacitor should be connected between the positive supply and ground pins of the
DAC, with short leads as close as possible to the device. Use of ferrite beads may further isolate the
system analogue supply from the digital supply.