Design of a fully integrated array of high-voltage digital-to-analog converters

This thesis presents the first fully integrated array of high-voltage (HV) digital-to-analog converters (DACs). It was designed in DALSA Semiconductor's 0.8mum CMOS/DMOS HV process technology. The 6-bit 300V DACs are based on a current-steering, thermometer coded architecture. Two designs adapted to the HV technology are proposed for the current-to-high-voltage conversion as traditional output resistor or op-amp solutions are not optimum for the HV process: one uses a high-compliance current mirror, while the other uses a simple current mirror. The DACs show a DNL of 0.16LSB and 1LSB, respectively, while the INL profile is 0.16LSB and 13LSBs for the first and second designs. The array is suited for applications requiring a set of digitally-controlled high-voltage signals