Question

How do you calculate the resolution of a DAC?

Answer 1

The resolution of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) refers to the number of discrete levels or steps that the DAC can represent between its minimum and maximum output voltages. It quantifies the precision with which the DAC can convert a digital input value into an analog output voltage.

The formula to calculate the resolution of a DAC is given by:

Resolution = (Vref+ - Vref-) / (2^n)

Where:

Resolution is the number of distinct output levels the DAC can produce.
Vref+ is the maximum reference voltage.
Vref- is the minimum reference voltage.
n is the number of bits of the DAC.

In this formula, 'n' represents the number of bits of the DAC. A DAC with 'n' bits can represent 2^n different output levels. 'Vref+' and 'Vref-' are the maximum and minimum reference voltages that the DAC can use.

For example, let's say you have a DAC with a 5V reference voltage (Vref+ = 5V, Vref- = 0V) and it has 10-bit resolution (n = 10):

Resolution = (5V - 0V) / (2^10) = 5V / 1024 = 0.0048828V per step

So, in this case, the DAC has a resolution of approximately 0.0048828 volts per step, meaning it can represent analog output levels in increments of approximately 4.88 millivolts.

Keep in mind that the actual output precision may be affected by factors such as the accuracy of the reference voltage, DAC's internal circuitry, and noise considerations.