Low-Power, Dual, 12-Bit Voltage-Output DACs
with Configurable Outputs
Digital Calibration and
Threshold Selection
Figure 13 shows the MAX5156/MAX5157 in a digital
calibration application. With a bright value applied to
the photodiode (on), the DAC is digitally ramped up
until it trips the comparator. The microprocessor stores
this high calibration value. Repeat the process with a
dim light (off) to obtain the dark current calibration. The
microprocessor then programs the DAC to set an out-
put voltage that is the midpoint of the two calibration
values. Applications include tachometers, motion sens-
ing, automatic readers, and liquid clarity analysis.
Digital Control of Gain and Offset
The two DACs can be used to control the offset and
gain for curve-fitting nonlinear functions, such as trans-
ducer linearization or analog compression/expansion
applications. The input signal is used as the reference
for the gain-adjust DAC, whose output is summed with
the output from the offset-adjust DAC. The relative
weight of each DAC output is adjusted by R1, R2, R3,
and R4 (Figure 14).
REF_
+5V/+3V
VDD
MAX5156
MAX5157
µP
DIN
DAC _
DGND
AGND
Figure 13. Digital Calibration
V+
PHOTODIODE
FB_
OUT_
R
V+
VOUT
V-
+5V/+3V
VIN
CS
DIN
SCLK
CL
VREF
VDD
REFA
DACA
DACB
REFB
MAX5156
MAX5157
DGND
AGND
Figure 14. Digital Control of Gain and Offset
FBA
R1
OUT_A
R2
OUT_B
R3
VOUT
R4
FBB
VOUT = [GAIN] - [OFFSET]
[( )( )( )] [( )( )] =
VIN
NA
4096
R2 1+ R4
R1+R2 R3
VREF
NB
4096
R4
R3
NA IS THE NUMERIC VALUE OF THE INPUT CODE FOR DACA.
NB IS THE NUMERIC VALUE OF THE INPUT CODE FOR DACB.
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