Binary Weighted DAC

I tried to do this question but do not understand what this graph is. I know it is a binary value for the D0,D1,D2,D3 inputs but what is the value ?

And is this the correct formula for final Vout?

$$V_{out}= -(\frac{D3}{1}+\frac{D2}{2}+\frac{D1}{4}+\frac{D0}{8})*V_{in}*\frac{Rf}{R}$$

• Slow down. If you only had one input, D3, what would the output voltage equation be? – Transistor Aug 14 '17 at 16:10
• Check your formula again. This isn't correct. Remember: This is a summing amplifier. – KingDuken Aug 14 '17 at 16:13
• Hint: the x-axis in the graph is time. It's showing you different values for the inputs at different times. – The Photon Aug 14 '17 at 16:17
• Yes and the Y-axis shows the binary value 0v or 5v / 0 or 1..... but how does that give me a 4 digit number, im not seeing it haha – Andrei Elekes Aug 14 '17 at 16:19
• Do you know how a summing op-amp circuit works? If not then study that. – Andy aka Aug 14 '17 at 16:21

While this is a summing amplifier, the output voltage will change depending on when $D_0,D_1,$ etc. is on or off, which is provided to you in the graph on right.
This is from the Sedra/Smith (7th edition) textbook. Assuming that $D_0,D_1,$ etc. have the same input voltage, the binary number that will be represented when each input is high or low. The output voltage will tell you what binary number it's representing. Create truth table of each value to see the output voltage for every single possibility starting from 0000 to 1111. Now use your graph that was given to you and see at time $t$. Depending on that output voltage, you will see what binary value you will receive. Think of your graph that is given as switches for each network you have on the amplifier, like the picture above.