The DAC8420 is a quad, 12-bit voltage-output DAC with serial digital interface in a 16-lead package. Utilizing BiCMOS technology, this monolithic device features unusually high circuit density and low power consumption. The simple, easy-to-use serial digital input and fully buffered analog voltage outputs require no external components to achieve a specified performance.

The 3-wire serial digital input is easily interfaced to micro-processors running at 10 MHz with minimal additional circuitry. Each DAC is addressed individually by a 16-bit serial word consisting of a 12-bit data word and an address header. The user-programmable reset control CLR forces all four DAC outputs to either zero scale or midscale, asynchronously overriding the current DAC register values. The output voltage range, determined by the inputs VREFHI and VREFLO, is set by the user for positive or negative unipolar or bipolar signal swings within the supplies, allowing considerable design flexibility.

The DAC8420 is available in 16-lead PDIP, SOIC, and CERDIP packages. Operation is specified with supplies ranging from +5 V only to ±15 V, with references of +2.5 V to ±10 V, respectively. Power dissipation when operating from ±15 V supplies is less than 255 mW (maximum) and only 35 mW (maximum) with a +5 V supply.