Reducing the effects of component mismatch by using relative size information

This paper shows how the relative size of components can be used to increase matching performance - saving orders of magnitude in component area. The relative size information can be found by ordering the elements from smallest to largest. A circuit to do this is described. Properties of ordered devices are summarized. Improvements are quantified for simple feedback circuits and matched devices constructed from ordered sub-elements. The INL of a 17-level D/A converter is simulated, and the methods are shown to increase linearity by 5 bits.