The frequency domain performance of high speed DACs has
traditionally been characterized by analyzing the spectral output
of a reconstructed full-scale (i.e., 0 dBFS), single-tone sine wave
at a particular output frequency and update rate. Although this
characterization data is useful, it is often insufficient to reflect a
DAC’s performance for a reconstructed multitone or spreadspectrum
waveform. In fact, evaluating a DAC’s spectral
performance using a full-scale, single tone at the highest specified
frequency (i.e., fH) of a bandlimited waveform is typically
indicative of a DAC’s “worst-case” performance for that given
waveform. In the time domain, this full-scale sine wave represents
the lowest peak-to-rms ratio or crest factor (i.e., VPEAK/V
rms) that this bandlimited signal will encounter.