Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX5548 (8-bit) and MAX5550 (10-bit) dual, 30-mA current-output digital-to-analog converters (DACs). These devices feature a pin-selectable SPI or I²C interface. They are also highly accurate and guaranteed monotonic over the -40°C to +85°C operating temperature range. These low-cost, current-output DACs are suitable for applications such as PIN-diode biasing in base stations and wireless applications, RF attenuator control, and VCO tuning.

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The MAX5548/MAX5550 feature a single +2.7-V to +5.5-V supply range and low supply current (200 µA per DAC). A software-selectable shutdown feature reduces the supply current to 5 µA (max). These devices feature a +1.25-V internal reference but also accept an external reference from +1.225 V to +1.275 V. The two DAC outputs can each supply 30 mA and can be paralleled to provide up to 60mA. A D_OUT output allows daisy-chaining of multiple devices, or it may be used for readback in SPI mode. Addressing options allow multiple devices to be connected to the same bus in I²C applications. The MAX5548/MAX5550 are available in a 3 mm x 3 mm, 16-pin TQFN package. Prices for the MAX5548/MAX5550 start at $2.97 and $3.37, respectively, for 1000-piece quantities.