ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an 80 MHz 12-bit high-speed DAC implemented in 0.5 µm SiGe BiCMOS technology for aerospace extreme environment applications. The DAC is a crucial component in modern mixed-signal systems. High-speed high-accuracy DACs are increasingly demanded by many modern communication systems. The chapter presents a lower power 12-bit current-steering cryogenic DAC design that is capable of operating over the ultra-wide temperature range and under radiation conditions on the lunar surface. This DAC design uses commercial SiGe BiCMOS technology to provide better performance in cryogenic condition. Binary-weighted DAC uses the binary input digital signal to directly control switches and output corresponding value in analog formation. The current-steering DAC is the most common and almost exclusive type of DAC for high-speed high-resolution applications when compared with other typical DAC architectures. The digital logic part of the DAC includes a thermometer decoder which converts 3 binary MSBs to 7 thermometer code and clocked input buffers for the input bits of the DAC.