1 Features
1• Relative Accuracy: 8 LSB
• Glitch Energy: 0.1 nV-s
• MicroPower Operation: 140 μA at 2.7 V
• Power-On Reset to Midscale
• Power Supply: 2.7 V to 5.5 V
• 16-Bit Monotonic
• Settling Time: 10 μs to ±0.003% FSR
• Low-Power Serial Interface with Schmitt-Triggered
Inputs
• On-Chip Output Buffer Amplifier with Rail-to-Rail
Output Amplifier
• Power-Down Capability
• 2's Complement Input
• SYNC Interrupt Facility
• Drop-In Compatible with DAC8531/01 and
DAC8551 (Binary Input)
• Available in a Tiny MSOP-8 Package

2 Applications
• Process Control
• Data Acquisition Systems
• Closed-Loop Servo-Control
• PC Peripherals
• Portable Instrumentation
• Programmable Attenuation

3 Description
The DAC8550 is a small, low-power, voltage output,
16-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC). It is
monotonic, provides good linearity, and minimizes
undesired code-to-code transient voltages. The
DAC8550 uses a versatile, 3-wire serial interface that
operates at clock rates of up to 30 MHz and is
compatible with standard SPI™, QSPI™,
Microwire™, and digital signal processor (DSP)
interfaces.
The DAC8550 requires an external reference voltage
to set its output range. The DAC8550 incorporates a
power-on reset circuit that ensures that the DAC
output powers up at midscale and remains there until
a valid write takes place to the device. The DAC8550
contains a power-down feature, accessed over the
serial interface, that reduces the current consumption
of the device to 200 nA at 5 V.
The low-power consumption of this device in normal
operation makes it ideal for portable, battery-operated
equipment. Power consumption is 0.38 mW at 2.7 V,
reducing to less than 1 μW in power-down mode.
The DAC8550 is available in an MSOP-8 package.
For additional flexibilty, see the DAC8551, a binarycoded
counterpart to the DAC8550.