The DAC8501 is a low-power, single, 16-bit buffered voltage output Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) optimized for multiplying operation. Its on-chip precision output amplifier allows rail-to-rail output swing to be achieved. The DAC8501 uses a versatile 3-wire serial interface that operates at clock rates up to 30MHz and is compatible with standard SPI?, QSPI?, Microwire?, and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) interfaces.

The DAC8501 requires an external reference voltage to set the output range of the DAC. The DAC8501 incorporates a power-on reset circuit that ensures that the DAC output powers up at 0V and remains there until a valid write takes place to the device. The DAC8501 contains a power-down feature, accessed over the serial interface, that reduces the current consumption of the device to 200nA at 5V.

The low-power consumption of this part in normal operation makes it ideally suited to portable battery-operated equipment. The power consumption is 1.2mW at 5V reducing to 1μW in power-down mode.

The DAC8501 is available in an MSOP-8 package.