Data Acquisition - Digital to Analog Converters (DAC)

Category Introduction

Digital-to-analog converters (DAC, D/A, D2A, or D-to-A) convert a digital signal into an analog buffered or unbuffered voltage or current. The suitability of a DACs architecture for a particular application is determined by resolution and sampling frequency. DACs are commonly used in music players to convert digital data streams into analog audio signals. They are also used in televisions and mobile phones to convert digital video data into analog video signals which connect to the screen drivers to display monochrome or color images.

Product List

2850 Items

Mfr Part #	Quantity Available	UnitPrice	Series	Packaging	Product Status	Number of Bits	Number of D/A Converters	Settling Time	Output Type	Differential Output	Data Interface	Reference Type	Voltage - Supply, Analog	Voltage - Supply, Digital	INL/DNL (LSB)	Architecture	Operating Temperature	Package / Case	Supplier Device Package	Mounting Type
AD5601BKSZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT SC70-6 Analog Devices Inc.	58	$1.96	nanoDAC®	Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	1	10µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	Supply	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±0.5 (Max), ±0.5 (Max)	String DAC	-40°C ~ 125°C	6-TSSOP, SC-88, SOT-363	SC-70-6	Surface Mount
AD5300BRTZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT SOT23-6 Analog Devices Inc.	57	$4.48		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	1	6µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	Supply	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±1 (Max), ±0.25 (Max)	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	SOT-23-6	SOT-23-6	Surface Mount
AD5337ARMZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT 8MSOP Analog Devices Inc.	143	$4.62		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	2	8µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	I²C	External	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±0.15, ±0.02	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	8-MSOP	Surface Mount
DAC122S085CIMM/NOPB IC DAC 12BIT V-OUT 10VSSOP Texas Instruments	7	$5.81		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	12	2	8.5µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	External	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±2.4, +0.2/-0.1	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	10-VSSOP	Surface Mount
TLV5620ID IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT 14SOIC Texas Instruments	55	$3.83		Tube	Active	8	4	10µs (Typ)	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI	External	2.7V ~ 5.25V	2.7V ~ 5.25V	±1 (Max), ±0.9 (Max)	String DAC	-40°C ~ 85°C	14-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width)	14-SOIC	Surface Mount
MCP4822-E/SN IC DAC 12BIT V-OUT 8SOIC Microchip Technology	73	$3.95		Tube	Active	12	2	4.5µs (Typ)	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI	Internal	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±4, ±0.25	String DAC	-40°C ~ 125°C	8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width)	8-SOIC	Surface Mount
AD5310BRMZ-REEL7 IC DAC 10BIT V-OUT 8MSOP Analog Devices Inc.	55	$6.91		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	10	1	8µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	Supply	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±4 (Max), ±0.5 (Max)	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	8-MSOP	Surface Mount
AD5429YRUZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT A-OUT 16TSSOP Analog Devices Inc.	110	$7.02		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	2	120ns	Current - Unbuffered	Yes	SPI, DSP	External	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±0.5 (Max), ±1 (Max)	R-2R	-40°C ~ 125°C	16-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)	16-TSSOP	Surface Mount
TLC5615IDR IC DAC 10BIT V-OUT 8SOIC Texas Instruments	78	$6.77		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	10	1	12.5µs (Typ)	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI	External	5V	5V	±1 (Max), ±0.1	String DAC	-40°C ~ 85°C	8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width)	8-SOIC	Surface Mount
AD5433YRUZ-REEL7 IC DAC 10BIT A-OUT 20TSSOP Analog Devices Inc.	25	$9.03		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	10	1	120ns	Current - Unbuffered	Yes	Parallel	External	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±0.5 (Max), ±1 (Max)	R-2R	-40°C ~ 125°C	20-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)	20-TSSOP	Surface Mount
AD5321BRMZ-REEL7 IC DAC 12BIT V-OUT 8MSOP Analog Devices Inc.	28	$9.97		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	12	1	10µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	I²C	Supply	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±2, ±0.3	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	8-MSOP	Surface Mount
AD7302BRZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT 20SOIC Analog Devices Inc.	25	$8.50		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	2	2µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	Parallel	External	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±1 (Max), ±1 (Max)	Current Source	-40°C ~ 105°C	20-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width)	20-SOIC	Surface Mount
AD5660ARJZ-2500RL7 IC DAC 16BIT V-OUT SOT23-8 Analog Devices Inc.	61	$9.36	nanoDAC®	Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	16	1	10µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	Internal	5V	5V	±32 (Max), ±1 (Max)	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	SOT-23-8	SOT-23-8	Surface Mount
AD5322ARMZ-REEL7 IC DAC 12BIT V-OUT 10MSOP Analog Devices Inc.	73	$10.53		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	12	2	10µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	External	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±2, ±0.2	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	10-TFSOP, 10-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	10-MSOP	Surface Mount
AD7303BRMZ-REEL7 IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT 8MSOP Analog Devices Inc.	25	$10.36		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	8	2	2µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI	External, Internal	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±1 (Max), ±1 (Max)	Current Source	-40°C ~ 105°C	8-TSSOP, 8-MSOP (0.118", 3.00mm Width)	8-MSOP	Surface Mount
TLC7528CDW IC DAC 8BIT A-OUT 20SOIC Texas Instruments	35	$6.38		Tube	Active	8	2	100ns	Current - Unbuffered	No	Parallel	External	5V ~ 15V	5V ~ 15V	±0.5 (Max), ±0.5 (Max)	R-2R	0°C ~ 70°C	20-SOIC (0.295", 7.50mm Width)	20-SOIC	Surface Mount
DAC108S085CIMTX/NOPB IC DAC 10BIT V-OUT 16TSSOP Texas Instruments	41	$9.33		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	10	8	6µs	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI, DSP	External	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±0.5, +0.08/-0.04	String DAC	-40°C ~ 125°C	16-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)	16-TSSOP	Surface Mount
TLC5615CD IC DAC 10BIT V-OUT 8SOIC Texas Instruments	37	$6.85		Tube	Active	10	1	12.5µs (Typ)	Voltage - Buffered	No	SPI	External	5V	5V	±1 (Max), ±0.1	String DAC	0°C ~ 70°C	8-SOIC (0.154", 3.90mm Width)	8-SOIC	Surface Mount
DAC5573IPW IC DAC 8BIT V-OUT 16TSSOP Texas Instruments	95	$7.37		Tube	Active	8	4	12µs (Typ)	Voltage - Buffered	No	I²C	External	2.7V ~ 5.5V	2.7V ~ 5.5V	±0.25, ±0.1	String DAC	-40°C ~ 105°C	16-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)	16-TSSOP	Surface Mount
AD5415YRUZ-REEL7 IC DAC 12BIT A-OUT 24TSSOP Analog Devices Inc.	72	$12.26		Tape & Reel (TR)	Active	12	2	120ns	Current - Unbuffered	Yes	SPI, DSP	External	2.5V ~ 5.5V	2.5V ~ 5.5V	±1 (Max), -1/+2 (Max)	R-2R	-40°C ~ 125°C	24-TSSOP (0.173", 4.40mm Width)	24-TSSOP	Surface Mount

About Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)

What are Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)?

Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)

Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) are essential components in the realm of data acquisition systems, responsible for transforming digital signals into analog ones. This conversion is crucial for interfacing digital systems with the real world, where most signals are inherently analog. DACs work by taking discrete digital values, often in binary form, and converting them into continuous analog voltages or currents. The basic operating principle involves using a reference voltage and a network of resistors or capacitors to generate a proportional analog output that corresponds to the digital input value. This process allows digital devices to control analog systems, such as audio amplifiers or motor controllers, with precision and accuracy.

Types of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)

1. Binary-Weighted DAC

Binary-weighted DACs utilize a network of resistors with values weighted in powers of two. Each bit of the digital input controls a switch that connects a corresponding resistor to the output. These DACs are simple and fast but require precise resistor values, making them less practical for high-resolution applications.

2. R-2R Ladder DAC

The R-2R ladder DAC employs a repeating structure of resistors in a ladder-like configuration. This design simplifies the resistor requirements, needing only two distinct values, R and 2R. R-2R DACs are popular for their ease of implementation and scalability to higher resolutions.

3. Sigma-Delta DAC

Sigma-Delta DACs use oversampling and noise shaping techniques to achieve high-resolution outputs. They are particularly effective in applications requiring high precision and low noise, such as audio processing. These DACs convert a high-frequency digital bitstream into an analog signal through filtering and integration.

4. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) DAC

PWM DACs generate an analog signal by varying the width of pulses in a digital signal. The average voltage of the pulse train corresponds to the desired analog output. PWM DACs are cost-effective and widely used in applications where high precision is not critical.

How to choose Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)?

When selecting a DAC, several key parameters must be considered:

Resolution: Determines the smallest change in output that the DAC can produce. Higher resolution is crucial for applications requiring fine control.
Sampling Rate: The speed at which the DAC can process digital inputs. Higher rates are necessary for applications with fast-changing signals.
Output Range: The range of analog output voltages or currents the DAC can produce. Ensure compatibility with the intended application.
Linearity: The degree to which the output accurately follows the input. High linearity is essential for precision applications.
Power Consumption: Consider the power requirements, especially for battery-operated devices.

Evaluating product quality and reliability involves reviewing supplier specifications, customer reviews, and industry certifications. Environmental factors such as temperature range and humidity tolerance should also be considered, along with installation requirements like PCB space and connectivity options.

Applications of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)

1. Audio Industry

In the audio industry, DACs are pivotal in converting digital audio files into analog signals that can be amplified and played through speakers. They ensure high-fidelity sound reproduction in devices like smartphones, audio interfaces, and home theater systems.

2. Telecommunications

DACs are used in telecommunications to modulate digital data into analog signals for transmission over various media. They play a role in converting digital voice data into analog signals for traditional phone lines.

3. Industrial Automation

In industrial automation, DACs control actuators and motors by converting digital control signals into analog voltages or currents. This enables precise control of machinery and processes in manufacturing environments.

4. Medical Devices

Medical devices, such as imaging equipment and patient monitoring systems, use DACs to convert digital data into analog signals for display or further processing. They ensure accurate representation of physiological data.

5. Aerospace and Defense

In aerospace and defense, DACs are integral to systems requiring precise control and signal processing, such as radar and communication systems. They convert digital signals into analog forms for interfacing with various subsystems.