AD9772A
Rev. C | Page 12 of 40
TERMINOLOGY
Linearity Error (Also Called Integral Nonlinearity or INL)
Linearity error is defined as the maximum deviation of the
actual analog output from the ideal output and is determined by
a straight line drawn from zero to full scale.
Differential Nonlinearity (DNL)
DNL is the measure of the variation in analog value, normalized to
full scale that is associated with a 1 LSB change in digital input code.
Monotonicity
A DAC is monotonic if the output either increases or remains
constant as the digital input increases.
Offset Error
Offset error is the deviation of the output current from the ideal
of zero. For IOUTA, 0 mA output is expected when the inputs are all
0s. For IOUTB, 0 mA output is expected when all inputs are set to 1s.
B
Gain Error
Gain error is the difference between the actual and ideal output
span. The actual span is determined by the output when all inputs
are set to 1s minus the output when all inputs are set to 0s.
Output Compliance Range
The output compliance range is the range of allowable voltage
at the output of a current-output DAC. Operation beyond the
maximum compliance limits may cause either output stage
saturation or breakdown, resulting in nonlinear performance.
Temperature Drift
Temperature drift is specified as the maximum change from the
ambient (25°C) value to the value at either TMIN or TMAX. For offset
and gain drift, the drift is reported in ppm of full-scale range (FSR)
per °C. For reference drift, the drift is reported in ppm per °C.
Power Supply Rejection
Power supply rejection is the maximum change in the full-scale
output as the supplies are varied from minimum to maximum
specified voltages.
Settling Time
Settling time is the time required for the output to reach and
remain within a specified error band about its final value. It is
measured from the start of the output transition.
Glitch Impulse
Asymmetrical switching times in a DAC give rise to undesired
output transients that are quantified by a glitch impulse. It is
specified as the net area of the glitch in pV-s.
Spurious-Free Dynamic Range
Spurious-free dynamic range is the difference, in decibels,
between the rms amplitude of the output signal and the peak
spurious signal over the specified bandwidth.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
THD is the ratio of the rms sum of the first six harmonic
components to the rms value of the measured fundamental. It is
expressed as a percentage or in decibels.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
SNR is the ratio of the rms value of the measured output signal
to the rms sum of all other spectral components below the
Nyquist frequency, excluding the first six harmonics and dc.
The value for SNR is expressed in decibels.
Pass Band
Pass band is the frequency band in which any input applied
therein passes unattenuated to the DAC output.
Stop-Band Rejection
Stop-band rejection is the amount of attenuation of a frequency
outside the pass band applied to the DAC relative to a full-scale
signal applied at the DAC input within the pass band.
Group Delay
Group delay is the number of input clocks between an impulse
applied at the device input and the peak DAC output current.
Impulse Response
Impulse response is the response of the device to an impulse
applied to the input.
Adjacent-Channel Power Ratio (ACPR)
ACPR is a ratio, in dBc, between the measured power within a
channel relative to its adjacent channel.