16-bit dual DAC with 10.4 ns settling — what it means for the signal chain
The Texas Instruments DAC5688IRGCT is a 16-bit, dual-channel, current-sink DAC in a 64-VQFN (9x9) package. It settles in 10.4 ns typical. The output is current-unbuffered and requires an external transimpedance amplifier or resistor to convert to a voltage. That gives the designer control over the output compliance range and noise floor, but adds a few external components. The reference can be internal or external, so you can share a precision reference across multiple DACs on the same board. Supply rails are split: analog at 3 V to 3.6 V, digital at 1.7 V to 1.9 V.
Industrial temperature range and package
Rated for -40°C to 85°C, this DAC fits base-station transceivers, test equipment, and industrial signal generators. It is not qualified for automotive under-hood environments (no AEC-Q100 in the record). The 64-VQFN with exposed pad requires a thermal land on the PCB; the pad is the primary heat path, so a via array under the package is standard practice.
Lifecycle and sourcing
The DAC5688IRGCT is listed as Active with ROHS3 compliance. For a BOM freeze or a new design, this part carries no imminent obsolescence risk.