Chapter 18. Interfacing DACs to Loads
Bruce Carter
18.1. Introduction
A digital to analog converter, DAC, is a component that takes a digital word and converts it to a corresponding analog voltage. It has the opposite function of an analog to digital converter. The DAC is capable of producing only a quantized representation of an analog voltage, not an infinite range of output voltages.
The application almost always dictates the selection of the DAC, leaving the designer the task of interfacing that converter with the output load.
A DAC interfaces with a buffer op amp. Most DACs are manufactured with a process that is incompatible with op amps. Therefore, the op amp cannot be manufactured on the same IC. It must be external, and its characteristics ...
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