A digital to analog converter has been developed using switched capacitors as the basic DAC elements. The use of switching capacitors provides excellent matching without sacrificing die area, and allows for very low-power operation. However, the architecture provides significant challenges when used in a continuous-time application requiring a "smooth" output. A realization of this architecture in a standard 0.6um CMOS process achieved 10 bits of linearity while consuming less than 200uA of current.
Lapoe Lynn, Paul Ferguson Jr.