DAC Output Calculator

In this post we provide a tool that computes the analog output voltage from a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). The DAC can have any number of bits associated with it.

Calculator

Enter the following:

  • Reference voltage
  • Number of Bits in the DAC (e.g. 8 or 12 bits)
  • Digital Input (e.g. 10101)

The tool will provide the Analog Output value from the DAC

Example Calculation

8-bit DAC

For a reference voltage of 5 Volt, digital word 0101010 into an 8-bit DAC, the analog output voltage is 0.82 Volt. If the digital input is 11111111, the output is at the max value of 5 Volt.

12-bit DAC

For the same reference voltage of 5V, digital word 110101001111 into a 12-bit DAC gives an output voltage of 4.16 Volt.

A similar calculation can be applied to 4-bit, 10-bit DACs.

Remember to specify the bit depth of the DAC as that determines the voltage resolution.

Background

The output of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) is an analog signal that corresponds to the digital input values it receives. A DAC takes digital data, usually in binary form, and converts it into a continuous analog signal. The nature of this analog output can vary depending on the specific application and the design of the DAC, but here are a couple of key considerations

Voltage or Current

  • Voltage Output DACs: Many DACs produce a voltage output. The exact voltage level corresponds to the digital value input, scaled according to the DAC’s reference voltage and resolution. For example, in a system with a reference voltage of 5V and a DAC resolution of 8 bits, each step in the digital input results in a change of approximately 19.53 mV (5V/256) in the output voltage. Use this tool to calculate voltage resolution.
DAC Symbol
  • Current Output DACs: Some DACs, especially those used in professional audio or precision applications, output a current instead of a voltage. The advantage of current output DACs lies in their ability to drive very high precision and low noise levels, particularly when used with current-to-voltage converters at the output stage.

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