12-bit voltage-output DAC with internal reference
The Maxim Integrated MAX5531ETC+ is a single-channel 12-bit digital-to-analog converter with a voltage-buffered output, built around an R-2R ladder architecture. It integrates an internal reference, so the output span is set without an external voltage source, simplifying the BOM for precision analog output stages. The SPI data interface accepts the digital code, and the output settles to within 1 LSB in 660 µs typical, making it suited for closed-loop control, programmable voltage references, and sensor calibration where update rates are moderate.
Housed in a 12-lead TQFN with an exposed pad (4 mm × 4 mm body), the MAX5531ETC+ is a surface-mount device.
Linearity and accuracy
The INL is specified at ±4 LSB maximum, and the DNL at ±0.2 LSB maximum. The DNL figure below ±0.5 LSB guarantees monotonicity — the output never decreases for an increasing digital code — which matters in servo loops and programmable power supplies where a non-monotonic step could cause oscillation or a reverse correction.