Nonlinearity analysis of R-2R ladder-based current-steering digital to analog converter

This paper presents a theoretical nonlinearity analysis of R-2R ladder-based current-steering digital to analog converter (DAC). Besides the current mismatches, this paper analyzes static nonlinearity caused by resistor mismatches in the R-2R ladder. An elliptic equation is then developed capable of deriving the required current and resistor matching of N-bits R-2R ladder-based current-steering DAC simultaneously to achieve the static nonlinearity specifications and required yield. Monte-Carlo simulation results agree well with the theoretical equation and confirm its accuracy.