DAC (Digital-to-Analog)

Electronics Engineering

How It Works

A Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) reconstructs a continuous electrical potential from discrete binary words using precision resistive networks. In a classic R-2R ladder topology, alternating series resistors of value R and shunt resistors of value 2R create successive current binary divisions by factors of two at each successive circuit node. High-speed electronic switches route these binary-weighted branch currents to a summing amplifier, producing an analog output voltage directly proportional to the numeric binary input.

Governing Equation
V_{out} = V_{ref} · ∑_{i=1}^{N} (b_i · 2^{-i})   |   V_{LSB} = V_{ref} / 2^N   |   D_{in} = b₁ b₂ ... b_N