The DAC uses a segmented architecture. The 4 MSBs in the DAC latch select one of the segments in a 16-resistor string. Both taps of the segment are buffered by amplifiers and fed to a 12-bit DAC, which provides a further 12 bits of resolution. This architecture ensures 16-bit monotonicity. Excellent integral linearity results from tight matching between the input offset voltages of the two buffer amplifiers.