Circuit Note

CN-0151
Devices Connected/Referenced
AD5446/ 14-/16-Bit High Bandwidth DACs
Circuit Designs Using Analog Devices Products AD5543 with Serial Interface
Apply these product pairings quickly and with confidence.
For more information and/or support call 1-800-AnalogD OP1177/ Precision, Low Noise, Low Input Bias
(1-800-262-5643) or visit www.analog.com/circuit. AD8510 Current Op Amps
ADR425/
Precision, Low Noise 5 V/1.2 V References
ADR512

Versatile High Precision Programmable Current Sources Using DACs,

Op Amps, and MOSFET Transistors

CIRCUIT FUNCTION AND BENEFITS CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

Digitally controlled current sources are critical functions in a All three circuits require a single 5 V supply for the DACs and
variety of applications, such as power management, solenoid ±15 V supplies for the op amps. Some circuits may need an
control, motor control, impedance measurement, sensor accurate external voltage reference (see MT-087 Tutorial).
excitation, and pulse oximetry. Here we describe three current Each circuit contains two stages. The first stage is the input
sources with serial interface digital control using DACs, stage, composed of the DAC and an op amp. The second stage is
op amps, and MOSFET transistors. an N-channel MOSFET transistor output stage (Figure 1 and
The DACs selected are high resolution (14- or 16-bit), low Figure 2), which supplies the current in response to the digital
power CMOS with standard serial interfaces. The AD5543 word sent to the system.
16-bit DAC is packaged in ultracompact (3 mm × 4.7 mm) The input stage of the circuit, shown in Figure 1, is composed of
8-lead MSOP and 8-lead SOIC packages. The AD5446 14-bit a current output DAC (AD5446) and its op amp (AD8510). It
DAC is available in a small 10-lead MSOP package. The two provides the conversion of the command word and drives the
DACs are both compatible with most DSP interface standards transistor. It also modulates the voltage applied to the single
and also SPI, QSPI, and MICROWIRE. The external reference resistor. The command word is sent via an SPI interface.
voltage input allows many output level variations, up to 10 V.
The output stage is composed of an N-channel MOSFET
The combination of parts represents industry-leading small PC transistor (NTE4153N), which can provide more current
board area, low cost, and high resolution. The three designs than the output of the op amp and a single resistor. The single
offer low risk solutions and use industry-standard parts. resistor, R1, produces the current with the voltage applied to its
pins. The transistor regulates this current.
+5V

OUT
4 SCLK VDD 8
SCLK
+15V ILOAD
AD5446 3pF
5 SDIN 10
DIN RFB
D
1 2 7
IOUT1 −
NTE4153NT1G
6 2 6 G
SYNC SYNC IOUT2 AD8510
3 + S
4
7 3
SDO SDO GND

VREF 9 VIN −15V R1

100Ω
SEE TEXT
08977-001

AGND AGND

Figure 1. Current Source Using a Current Output DAC (All Connections and Decoupling Not Shown)

Rev. A
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any cause whatsoever connected to the use of any“Circuit from the Lab”. (Continued on last page) Fax: 781.461.3113 ©2010-2011 Analog Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
CN-0151 Circuit Note
The load current is The DAC output voltage range on Pin 9 varies from 0 V to 1.2 V.
See the AD5446 data sheet for more details on the reverse
− D × V IN
I LOAD = voltage mode of operation.
R1 × (1 + R1/R DAC )
The op amp used in this case is the OP1177. It is a high
where D is the fractional representation of the digital word precision and very low offset device (60 µV maximum). Low
loaded into the DAC. However, RDAC >> R1, (RDAC is nominally offset voltage is essential when the DAC is used in voltage
9 kΩ); therefore, the load current can be approximated as output mode because of the reduced signal swing.
− D × V IN The N-channel MOSFET transistor in conjunction with the op
I LOAD =
R1 amp makes a high current output follower circuit.
With R1 = 100 Ω and VI N = −5 V, ILOAD is programmable from The negative feedback from the source pin of the transistor to
0 mA to 50 mA with a resolution of 3 µA (1 LSB at 14 bits). The the op amp input regulates the value of the current through the
output compliance voltage is approximately 20 V and is limited R1 resistor.
by the breakdown voltage of the MOSFET transistor. The ADR425 The load current is
is an ideal 5 V low power precision reference for this circuit, but
V IN × D
its output must be inverted with an additional op amp to I LOAD =
generate the −5 V reference. R1

The circuit shown in Figure 2 also uses the AD5446 DAC. With R1=10 Ω and VIN = 1.2 V, ILOAD can be programmed from
However, in this case the DAC is used in the reverse or voltage 0 mA to 120 mA with a resolution of 7 µA (1 LSB at 14 bits).
mode, which provides a voltage output by using a 1.2 V voltage
reference such as the ADR512.

OUT
4 SCLK VDD 8
SCLK +5V
+15V ILOAD
AD5446
5 SDIN 10
DIN RFB
D
1 3 7
IOUT1 VIN = 1.2V −
6 NTE4153NT1G
2 SEE TEXT 6 G
SYNC SYNC IOUT2 OP1177
2 S
+
4
7 3
SDO SDO GND

9
VREF −15V R1
10Ω
08977-002

AGND AGND

Figure 2. Current Source Using a Current Output DAC Connected in the Reverse Voltage Mode (All Connections and Decoupling Not Shown)
+5V

7
VDD

3pF +15V
1 SCLK 3
SCLK RFB

2 SDI 5 2 7 R2
SDI IOUT R1
150kΩ 15kΩ
6
AD8510
8 VREF 4 3
CS CS VIN 4 10pF
SEE TEXT
AD5543 +15V
AGND R3
GND −15V 2
50Ω
4
6
7
AD8510
3
AGND 6
R3'
−15V 50Ω

R1' R2'
150kΩ 15kΩ
OUT
ILOAD
08977-003

AGND

Figure 3. Bipolar Current Source Based on the Howland Current Source (All Connections and Decoupling Not Shown)

Rev. A | Page 2 of 3
Circuit Note CN-0151
The third circuit, shown in Figure 3, uses an AD5543 16-bit LEARN MORE
DAC as the input and a Howland current pump circuit as the Brennan, Sean. AN-843 Application Note, Measuring a
output stage. Howland current pumps have two advantages over Loudspeaker Impedance Profile Using the AD5933, Analog
MOSFET outputs: high output impedance and the ability to Devices.
provide bipolar output currents. Usually, to improve stability,
the circuit is symmetrical. Therefore R1 = R1', R2 = R2', and MT-015 Tutorial, Basic DAC Architectures II: Binary DACs.
R3 = R3'. Analog Devices.

The load current is (see the AN-843 Application Note for MT-031 Tutorial, Grounding Data Converters and Solving the
derivation) Mystery of "AGND" and "DGND," Analog Devices.

V IN × D × (R2 + R3) MT-087 Tutorial, Voltage References. Analog Devices.

I LOAD =
R1× R3 MT-101 Tutorial, Decoupling Techniques. Analog Devices.
Output impedance is Voltage Reference Selection and Evaluation Wizard.
R1' R3 × (R1 + R2) Data Sheets and Evaluation Boards
Z OUT =
R1 × (R2'+R3' ) – R1' × (R2 + R3) AD5446 Data Sheet
With R1 = 150 kΩ, R2 = 15 kΩ, R3 = 50 Ω, and VIN = 10 V, AD5446 Evaluation Board
ILOAD is programmable from 0 mA to 20 mA with a resolution AD5543 Data Sheet
of 300 nA (1 LSB at 16 bits), and the circuit has a very high
output impedance. AD5543 Evaluation Board
AD5553 Data Sheet
Excellent layout and grounding and decoupling techniques
must be used in all three circuits to separate correctly DACs and AD5553 Evaluation Board
op amps and to achieve the desired performances (see the AD8510 Data Sheet
MT-031 and MT-101 tutorials).
ADR425 Data Sheet
COMMON VARIATIONS
ADR512 Data Sheet
In both circuits, other voltage references can be used to get
OP1177 Data Sheet
more or less current output range (see Voltage Reference
Selection and Evaluation Wizard). Note that a positive reference REVISION HISTORY
voltage input generates a negative output current because of the 4/11—Rev. 0 to Rev. A
DAC architecture. Although a wide variety of DACs can be used Changes to Circuit Description Section......................................... 2
to optimize the design for speed, precision, and so on, CMOS Changes to Figure 3 .......................................................................... 2
current output DACs such as the AD5543 and AD5446 give Changes to Learn More Section ...................................................... 3
more flexibility and provide low risk solutions.
4/10—Revision 0: Initial Release
Regarding the op amps, if you have a relatively small output
signal range, CMOS amplifiers should work fine. If you want
high input impedance, FET input op amps are good choices. In
either case, precision amplifiers are required to maintain 14-bit
to 16-bit precision.

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CN08977-0-4/11(A)

Rev. A | Page 3 of 3