Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)

Output Response
TIPL 4705

Presented by Matt Guibord

Prepared by Matt Guibord

1
What is a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)?

0x1FF3
0x355A
0x0105
0xF23E
0x5046
0xCC41
0x51F6
0xAB10

Reconstruction
Waveform

2
Reconstruction Waveform – Time Domain
• A reconstruction waveform determines the output response of a DAC, in
both time domain and frequency domain
• At each sampling instance the DAC outputs the waveform weighted by
the digital sample
DAC Output Waveform DAC Output - Time Domain

1 1

Weighted by
digital samples
0.5

Amplitude (V)
Amplitude

0 0

-0.5

-1 -1

0 1 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035

Normalized Time (t/T) Time (us)

3
Reconstruction Waveform – Frequency Domain
• The shape of the reconstruction waveform results in a certain frequency
response
• The frequency response determines the output power of the desired
signal as well as the power of some undesired signals
DAC Output - Sinx/x Response DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0 0

-20
-10
Weighted by -40

-20
digital samples -60
Power (dBFS)

Power (dBFS)
-30 -80

-100
-40

-120

-50
-140

-60 -160
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

4
What is a Nyquist Zone?
DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0
• A Nyquist zone corresponds to a
band of frequencies Fs/2 wide, -20
1 2 3 4 5 6
where FS is the DAC’s sampling rate -40

• Each Nyquist zone is FS/2 wide,

-60
starting at DC:

Power (dBFS)
– The 1st Nyquist zone extends -80

from DC to FS/2 -100

– The 2nd Nyquist zone extends
from FS/2 to FS -120

– And so on… -140

• Note that even Nyquist zones have -160

a mirrored spectrum 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)
2.5 3

5
 Illustration of DAC Output Response
Loss of output power at higher Images in other Nyquist Images result in stair-case response
frequencies due to sinc response zones must be filtered out in reconstructed waveform

Desired signal
DAC Output - Sinx/x Response DAC Output - Frequency Domain DAC Output - Time Domain
0 0

-5
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1
-20

-10 -40
0.5
-15 -60
Power (dBFS)

Power (dBFS)

Amplitude (V)
-20 -80 0

-25 -100
-0.5
-30 -120

-35 -140
-1

-40 -160
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs) Time (us)

DAC Sinx/x Response for Zero-Order Hold DAC Frequency Domain for Sine Wave Output DAC Time Domain for Sine Wave Output and
Reconstruction Waveform and ZOH Reconstruction Waveform ZOH Reconstruction Waveform

6
Inverse Sinc Filter
Inverse Sinc Filter Response
• A simple method used to
recover the output power
loss due to the sinc response
is to use a digital filter to apply
gain at higher frequencies
• This example filter flattens the
output response through ~80%
of the Nyquist zone
• Care must be taken to ensure
that the applied gain does not
cause saturation of the digital
path for full scale signals

7
Reconstruction Filter
• An analog filter is required at the output of the DAC to select the desired image
signal and attenuate the undesired images
• This analog filter is called a Reconstruction Filter Response
0
“reconstruction filter” 1 2 3 4 5 6
-10
• An example (ideal) 5th-order low-pass
-20
Butterworth filter is shown with a cutoff
frequency at 80% of the 1st Nyquist zone -30

Power (dBFS)
-40

-50

-60

-70

-80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

8
Reconstruction Filter Example
• FS = 1 Gsps, FOUT = 30 MHz
• Attenuation of 2nd Nyquist zone image = ~40 dB
• Stair-case DAC output becomes a smooth sine wave after image removal
DAC Output - Frequency Domain DAC Output - Time Domain
0
DAC Frequency Response Unfiltered DAC Output
Reconstruction
Filter Response 1 After Reconstruction Filter
waveform
-20

-40
0.5
Reconstruction
filter
-60
Power (dBFS)

Amplitude (V)
Largest undesired 0
-80 image power

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs) Time (us)

9
Reconstruction Filter Example
• FS = 1 Gsps, FOUT = 400 MHz
• Attenuation of 2nd Nyquist zone image = ~18 dB
• May want to increase cutoff frequency and increase filter order
DAC Output - Frequency Domain DAC Output - Time Domain
0 Reconstruction
waveform DAC Frequency Response Unfiltered DAC Output
Reconstruction Filter Response 1 After Reconstruction Filter
-20 filter
Largest undesired
-40 image power
0.5

-60
Power (dBFS)

Amplitude (V)
-80 0

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs) Time (us)

10
Can we use the image in a different Nyquist zone?
DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0

-20
1 2 3 4 5 6
Reconstruction
waveform
attenuation
-40

-60
Power (dBFS)

-80

-100

-120

-140

-160
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

11
Multi-Nyquist Modes
• The common ZOH reconstruction waveform results in a fairly flat response in
the 1st Nyquist zone, but suffers from high loss in higher Nyquist zones
• If an alternate Nyquist zone image is desired, then a different reconstruction
waveform should be used
• Common reconstruction waveforms:
– Zero-Order Hold (ZOH) or Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) – 1st Nyquist only
– Return-to-Zero (RTZ) – 1st and 2nd Nyquist
– Return-to-Complement (RTC), also called Mixed Mode or RF Mode – 2nd and 3rd
• Adjustable reset pulses can also be added to these waveforms to further
enhance high frequency output power and flatness
• The reconstruction waveform is a tradeoff of output power and flatness

12
Zero-Order Hold (or Non-return to Zero, NRZ)

Reconstruction Waveform Frequency Response

DAC Output Waveform DAC Output - Sinx/x Response
0

1 Loss in 2nd and higher

-5
Nyquist zones

-10

-15

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude

0 -20

-25

-30

-35
-1

-40
0 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Time (t/T) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

13
Zero-Order Hold (or Non-return to Zero, NRZ)

Time Domain Waveform Frequency Domain

DAC Output - Time Domain DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0

1
-20

-40
0.5
-60

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude (V)

0 -80

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Time (us) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

14
Return-to-Zero (RTZ)

Reconstruction Waveform Frequency Response

DAC Output Waveform DAC Output - Sinx/x Response
0
6 dB loss in 1st Nyquist
1
-5

-10

Flatter response
-15 through 1st and 2nd

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude

Nyquist
0 -20

-25

-30

-35
-1

-40
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Time (t/T) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

15
Return-to-Zero (RTZ)

Time Domain Waveform Frequency Domain

DAC Output - Time Domain DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0

1
-20

-40
0.5
-60

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude (V)

0 -80

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Time (us) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

16
Return-to-Complement (RTC) or Mixed Mode

Time Domain Frequency Domain

DAC Output Waveform DAC Output - Sinx/x Response
0
Attenuated 1st Nyquist
1
-5

-10
Enhanced power
-15 and flat response

Power (dBFS)
through 2nd Nyquist
Amplitude

0 -20

-25

-30

-35
-1

-40
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Time (t/T) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

17
Return-to-Complement (RTC) or Mixed Mode

Time Domain Waveform Frequency Domain

DAC Output - Time Domain DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0

1
-20

-40
0.5
-60

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude (V)

0 -80

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Time (us) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

18
Return-to-Complement with Reset Pulse

Time Domain Frequency Domain

DAC Output Waveform DAC Output - Sinx/x Response
0
No Reset Pulse
1 12.5% Reset Pulse
-5
25% Reset Pulse

-10

-15

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude

0 -20

-25

-30

-35
-1

-40
0 0.375 0.75 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normalized Time (t/T) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

21
Return-to-Complement (Mixed Mode)

Time Domain Waveform Frequency Domain

DAC Output - Time Domain DAC Output - Frequency Domain
0

1
-20

-40
0.5
-60

Power (dBFS)
Amplitude (V)

0 -80

-100
-0.5
-120

-140
-1

-160
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Time (us) Normalized Output Frequency (Fout/Fs)

22
Effect of Limited Output Bandwidth
• The effect of the reconstruction waveform and reconstruction filters and their
effect on output power of desired and undesired signals has been discussed
• One additional consideration is the effect of finite output bandwidth of the DAC
or external components
– Consider the passive losses of the DAC, not including the reconstruction waveform
contributions
– Additional losses may come from passive components (resistors, capacitors,
inductors), PCB trace losses and transformer or balun losses
• The attenuation of these components add (in dB) to the reconstruction
waveform and reconstruction filter responses to get the total output frequency
response of the DAC and signal chain

23
Thanks for your time!

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Use of this material is subject to TI’s , viewable at TI.com