Patent attributes
A current impulse (CI) method is provided for converting digital data signals to analog values. First, digital data bits are converted into current impulses. Then, the current impulses are converted into analog currents representing the digital data bits. More typically, the method accepts a k-bit digital word, and converts the k-bit digital word into (k) corresponding current impulses. In one aspect, the method accepts (n) consecutive k-bit digital words. Then, for each bit position in the k-bit digital word, (n) consecutive bits are sampled using (n) consecutive phases of an n-phase clock, creating (n) interleaved current impulses. The (n) interleaved current impulses are converted into an analog current representing the (n) consecutive k-bit digital words. Alternatively, (n) consecutive bits are sampled using (n) consecutive phases of an n-phase clock for each bit position in the k-bit digital word, creating (n) summed current impulses. A CI digital-to-analog converter is also provided.
