MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815
Ultra-Small, Quad-Channel, 8-/10-/12-Bit Buffered
Output DACs with Internal Reference and I2C Interface
14
Maxim Integrated
Detailed Description
The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815 are 4-channel, low-
power, 8-/10-/12-bit buffered voltage-output DACs. The
2.7V to 5.5V wide supply voltage range and low-power
consumption accommodates most low-power and low-
voltage applications. The devices present a 100kI load
to the external reference. The internal output buffers
allow rail-to-rail operation. An internal voltage reference
is available with software selectable options of 2.048V,
2.5V, or 4.096V. The devices feature a fast 400kHz I2C-
compatible interface. The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815
include a serial-in/parallel-out shift register, internal
CODE and DAC registers, a power-on-reset (POR) cir-
cuit to initialize the DAC outputs to code zero, and con-
trol logic. CLR is available to asynchronously clear the
device independent of the serial interface.
DAC Outputs (OUT_)
The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815 include internal buf-
fers on all DAC outputs. The internal output buffers
provide improved load regulation for the DAC outputs.
The output buffers slew at 1V/Fs (typ) and drive up to
2kI in parallel with 500pF. The analog supply voltage
(VDD) determines the maximum output voltage range
of the devices as VDD powers the output buffer. Under
no-load conditions, the output buffers drive from GND to
VDD, subject to offset and gain errors. With a 2kω load to
GND, the output buffers drive from GND to within 200mV
of VDD. With a 2kω load to VDD, the output buffers drive
from VDD to within 200mV of GND.
The DAC ideal output voltage is defined by:
OUT
REF
N
D
V
2
=
×
where D = code loaded into the DAC register, VREF =
reference voltage, N = resolution.
Internal Register Structure
The user interface is separated from the DAC logic to
minimize digital feedthrough. Within the serial interface
is an input shift register, the contents of which can be
routed to control registers, individual, or multiple DACs
as determined by the user command.
Within each DAC channel there is a CODE register
followed by a DAC latch register (see the Detailed
Functional Diagram). The contents of the CODE register
hold pending DAC output settings which can later be
loaded into the DAC registers. The CODE register can be
updated using both CODE and CODE_LOAD user com-
mands. The contents of the DAC register hold the current
DAC output settings. The DAC register can be updated
directly from the serial interface using the CODE_LOAD
commands or can upload the current contents of the
CODE register using LOAD commands or the LDAC
hardware pin.
The contents of both CODE and DAC registers are main-
tained during power-down states, so that when the DACs
are powered on, they return to their previously stored
output settings. Any CODE or LOAD commands issued
during power-down states continue to update the register
contents. SW_CLEAR and SW_RESET commands reset
the contents of all CODE and DAC registers to their zero-
scale defaults.
Internal Reference
The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815 include an internal
precision voltage reference that is software selectable
to be 2.048V, 2.500V, or 4.096V. When an internal refer-
ence is selected, that voltage is available on the REF pin
for other external circuitry (see
Figure 9) and can drive
a 25kI load.
External Reference
The external reference input has a typical input
impedance of 100kI and accepts an input voltage
from +1.24V to VDD. Connect an external voltage
supply between REF and GND to apply an exter-
nal reference. The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815
power up and reset to external reference mode. Visit
list of available external voltage-reference devices.
Load DAC (LDAC) Input
The MAX5813/MAX5814/MAX5815 feature an active-
low LDAC logic input that allows the outputs to update
asynchronously. Connect LDAC to VDDIO or keep LDAC
high during normal operation when the device is con-
trolled only through the serial interface. Drive LDAC low
to simultaneously update the DAC outputs with data
from the CODE registers. Holding LDAC low causes the
DAC registers to become transparent and CODE data is
passed through to the DAC registers immediately updat-
ing the DAC outputs. A software CONFIG command can
be used to configure the LDAC operation of each DAC
independently.