AD5663 Data Sheet
Rev. A | Page 12 of 24
TERMINOLOGY
Relative Accuracy or Integral Nonlinearity (INL)
For the DAC, relative accuracy or integral nonlinearity is a
measurement of the maximum deviation, in LSBs, from a
straight line passing through the endpoints of the DAC transfer
function. A typical INL vs. code plot is shown in Figure 5.
Differential Nonlinearity (DNL)
Differential nonlinearity is the difference between the measured
change and the ideal 1 LSB change between any two adjacent
codes. A specified differential nonlinearity of ±1 LSB maximum
ensures monotonicity. This DAC is guaranteed monotonic by
design. A typical DNL vs. code plot is shown in Figure 6.
Zero-Scale Error
Zero-scale error is a measurement of the output error when
zero code (0x0000) is loaded to the DAC register. Ideally, the
output should be 0 V. The zero-scale error is always positive in
the AD5663 because the output of the DAC cannot go below
0 V. It is due to a combination of the offset errors in the DAC
and the output amplifier. Zero-scale error is expressed in mV.
A plot of zero-scale error vs. temperature is shown in Figure 11.
Full-Scale Error
Full-scale error is a measurement of the output error when full-
scale code (0xFFFF) is loaded to the DAC register. Ideally, the
output should be VDD − 1 LSB. Full-scale error is expressed in
percent of full-scale range. A plot of full-scale error vs. tempera-
ture is shown in Figure 10.
Gain Error
Gain error is a measure of the span error of the DAC. It is the
deviation in slope of the DAC transfer characteristic from ideal
expressed as a percent of the full-scale range.
Zero-Scale Error Drift
Zero-scale error drift is a measurement of the change in zero-
scale error with a change in temperature. It is expressed in µV/°C.
Gain Temperature Coefficient
Gain temperature coefficient is a measurement of the change in
gain error with changes in temperature. It is expressed in (ppm
of full-scale range)/°C.
Offset Error
Offset error is a measure of the difference between VOUT (actual)
and VOUT (ideal) expressed in mV in the linear region of the trans-
fer function. Offset error is measured on the AD5663 with
Code 512 loaded in the DAC register. It can be negative or
positive.
DC Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR)
PSRR indicates how the output of the DAC is affected by changes
in the supply voltage. PSRR is the ratio of the change in VOUT to
a change in VDD for full-scale output of the DAC. It is measured
in dB. VREF is held at 2 V, and V DD is varied by ±10%.
Output Voltage Settling Time
Output voltage settling time is the amount of time it takes for
the output of a DAC to settle to a specified level for a 1/4 to 3/4
full-scale input change and is measured from the 24th falling
edge of SCLK.
Digital-to-Analog Glitch Impulse
Digital-to-analog glitch impulse is the impulse injected into the
analog output when the input code in the DAC register changes
state. It is normally specified as the area of the glitch in nV-s,
and is measured when the digital input code is changed by
1 LSB at the major carry transition (0x7FFF to 0x8000). See
Figure 20.
Digital Feedthrough
Digital feedthrough is a measure of the impulse injected into
the analog output of the DAC from the digital inputs of the
DAC, but it is measured when the DAC output is not updated.
It is specified in nV-s and measured with a full-scale code change
on the data bus, that is, from all 0s to all 1s and vice versa.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
Total harmonic distortion is the difference between an ideal
sine wave and its attenuated version using the DAC. The sine
wave is used as the reference for the DAC, and the THD is a
measurement of the harmonics present on the DAC output.
It is measured in dB.
Noise Spectral Density
Noise spectral density is a measurement of the internally
generated random noise. Random noise is characterized as a
spectral density (voltage per √Hz). It is measured by loading the
DAC to midscale and measuring noise at the output. It is
measured in nV/√Hz. Figure 25 shows a plot of noise spectral
density.
DC Crosstalk
DC crosstalk is the dc change in the output level of one DAC in
response to a change in the output of another DAC. It is measured
with a full-scale output change on one DAC (or soft power-down
and power-up) while monitoring another DAC kept at midscale.
It is expressed in μV.
DC crosstalk due to load current change is a measure of the
impact that a change in load current on one DAC has to another
DAC kept at midscale. It is expressed in μV/mA.
Digital Crosstalk
Digital crosstalk is the glitch impulse transferred to the output
of one DAC at midscale in response to a full-scale code change
(all 0s to all 1s and vice versa) in the input register of another
DAC. It is measured in standalone mode and is expressed
in nV-s.