Percentage Resolution of a DAC
The resolution of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) is the smallest change in output voltage corresponding to a one-bit change in the digital input.
Resolution Formula
Resolution = 1 / (2n − 1)
Where:
- n = number of bits of the DAC
Percentage Resolution
Percentage Resolution = (1 / (2n − 1)) × 100 %
Full-Scale Range Calculation
The full-scale output voltage of a DAC depends on the reference voltage.
Step Size (Resolution Voltage) = Vref / (2n − 1)
Full Scale Output = (2n − 1) / 2n × Vref
Example (8-bit DAC)
Number of bits (n) = 8
28 = 256
Percentage Resolution = (1 / 255) × 100 = 0.392 %
If Vref = 5V:
Step Size = 5 / 255 = 0.0196 V
Common DAC Percentage Resolutions
| DAC Bits | Percentage Resolution |
|---|---|
| 4-bit | 6.67% |
| 8-bit | 0.392% |
| 10-bit | 0.098% |
| 12-bit | 0.0244% |