Segmented data shuffler apparatus for a digital to analog converter (DAC)

A method and apparatus is disclosed to convert a digital input signal to an analog output signal. A digital to analog converter (DAC) module converts the digital input signal to the analog output signal through segmentation. A primary sigma-delta modulator sigma-delta modulates the digital input signal to produce a primary digital segment and a primary quantization error. A primary sample delay delays the primary digital segment to produce a delayed primary digital segment. A primary decoder module decodes the delayed primary digital segment to produce a primary decoded digital signal. A primary scrambler scrambles the primary decoded digital signal to produce a primary scrambled digital signal. A primary DAC converts the primary scrambled digital signal from a digital representation to an analog representation to produce a primary analog segment. A secondary sigma-delta modulates the primary quantization error to produce a secondary digital segment. A secondary noise module shapes the secondary digital segment by a noise transfer function of the primary sigma-delta modulator to produce a noise shaped secondary digital segment. A secondary decoder module decodes the noise shaped secondary digital segment to produce a secondary decoded digital signal. A secondary scrambler scrambles the secondary decoded digital signal to produce a secondary scrambled digital signal. A secondary DAC converts the secondary scrambled digital signal from a digital representation to an analog representation to produce a secondary analog segment. A scaling module scales the magnitude of the secondary analog segment by a scaling factor to produce the secondary analog segment. An adder combines the primary analog segment and the secondary analog segment to produce the analog output signal.