Timing generating device

• US 4,657,406 A
• Filed: 02/13/1986
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advantest Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advantest Corporation
• Inventors: Yaeda, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/828,971
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 368/120, 368/118, 368/119
• US Class Current: 368/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31922 Timing generation or clock distribution G01R31/3191 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2005/00247 using counters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/131 Digitally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/135 by the use of time reference signals, e.g. clock signals

Abstract

A timing generating device, in which a period generator generates pulses the average period of which is equal to a preset period, at integral intervals of a reference clock period T, and provides fractional period data which indicates the phase difference between the above pulses and a pulse of the preset period for each of them. From a coarse delay circuit is yielded a pulse delayed behind the former pulse according to coarse delay data in a preset delay amount, which indicates a value greater than the reference clock period T. Fractional delay data in the preset delay amount which indicates a value smaller than the reference clock period, and the fractional period data are added together. By the added output the delayed pulses from the coarse delay circuit is delayed in a fine delay section by a value corresponding to the added value, thus producing a timing pulse.

Claims

1. A timing generating device for generating timing pulses of a preset period and phase, comprising:

a clock generator for generating reference clock pulses of a period T;

a period setting means in which a period to be generated, (m+k)T (where m is an integer greater than 1 and 0≦

k<

1), is set, for producing preset period data;

a period generator which receives the preset period data from the period setting means and the reference clock pulses from the clock generator, generates a pulse upon each counting of the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the m, outputs fractional period data indicative of an accumulated value of the k upon each occurrence of the pulse and delays the generation of the pulse by one reference clock period each time the accumulated value exceeds the period T;

a delay setting means in which a delay time to be provided, (n+i)T (where n is 0 or a positive integer and ≦

i<

1), is set, for providing coarse delay data indicating a delay time nT and fractional delay data indicating a delay time iT;

a coarse means connected to the delay period generator, for creating a pulse delayed for the time nT relative to the pulse provided from the period generator;

an adder for adding together the fractional period data from the period generator and the fractional delay data from the delay setting means; and

a fine delay section which is supplied with the output of the adder and the delayed pulse from the coarse delay means and further delays the delayed pulse for a time corresponding to the added output of the adder, producing a timing pulse.

2. A timing generating device according to claim 1 wherein the fine delay section is comprised of a series connection of:

a unit delay means which is controlled by a carry bit in the added output of the adder and delays the input pulse by the period T when a carry is made but does not delay the input pulse when no carry is made; and

a fine delay circuit which is composed of a series connection of a plurality of delay switching stages, each including a series connection of a switching means which is controlled by one of bits other than the carry bit in the added output of the adder and a delay element which provides a delay smaller than the period T, corresponding to the weight of the bit.

3. A timing generating device according to claim 2 wherein the unit delay means comprises a flip-flop which is provided at the input side of the fine delay circuit, reads said input pulse by the reference clock and yields a pulse delayed by the period T to said fine delay circuit, and a switching means which is controlled by said carry bit to selectively bypass said flip-flop, said input pulse and the T-delayed pulse from the flip-flop.

4. A timing generating device according to claim 2 wherein the unit delay means comprises a series circuit of a switching means which is controlled by the carry bit and a delay element for providing a delay of the period T, the series circuit being connected in series with the delay switching stages of the fine delay circuit.

9. A timing generating device according to claim 1 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m;

an accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period generator upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for inhibiting, by a carry output of the accumulator, the counter from one counting of the reference clock pulse upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when the carry is made, the output of the accumulator, except the carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

10. A timing generating device according to claim 9 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.

11. A timing generating device according to claim 9 wherein the coarse delay means is a coincidence detecting means for comparing the count value of the counter and the coarse delay data from the delay setting means and yielding the delayed pulse when they coincide with each other.

12. A timing generating device according to claim 2 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m;

an accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period generator upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for inhibiting, by a carry output of the accumulator, the counter from one counting of the reference clock pulse upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when the carry is made, the output of the accumulator, except the carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

13. A timing generating device according to claim 3 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m; and

accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period generator upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for inhibiting, by a carry output of the accumulator, the counter from one counting of the reference clock pulse upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when the carry is made, the output of the accumulator, except the carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

14. A timing generating device according to claim 4 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m;

an accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period generator upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for inhibiting, by a carry output of the accumulator, the counter from one counting of the reference clock pulse upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when the carry is made, the output of the accumulator, except the carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

16. A timing generating device according to claim 12 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initalized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.

17. A timing generating device according to claim 13 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initalized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.

18. A timing generating device according to claim 14 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initalized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.

20. A timing generating device according to claim 16 wherein the coarse delay means is a coincidence detecting means for comparing the count value of the counter and the coarse delay data from the delay setting means and yielding the delayed pulse when they coincide with each other.

5. A timing generating device for generating timing pulses of a preset period and phase, comprising:

a clock generator for generating reference clock pulses of a period T;

a period setting means in which a period to be generated, (m+k)T (where m is an integer greater than 1 and 0≦

k<

1), is set, for producing preset period data;

a period generator which receives the preset period data from the period setting means and the reference clock pulses from the clock generator, yields pulses the average period of which is equal to the preset period (m+k)T, at intervals of an integral multiple of the period T, and outputs fractional period data indicative of the phase difference between the pulses of said average period and pulses of the preset period upon each occurrence of them;

a delay setting means in which a delay time to be provided, (n+i)T (where n is 0 or a positive integer and 0≦

i<

1), is set, for providing coarse delay data indicating a delay time nT and fractional delay data indicating a delay time iT;

a coarse delay means connected to the period generator, for creating a pulse delayed for the time nT relative to the pulse provided from the period generator;

an adder for adding together the fractional period data from the period generator and the fractional delay data from the delay setting means; and

a fine delay section which is supplied with the output of the adder and the delayed pulse from the coarse delay means and further delays the delayed pulse for a time corresponding to the added output of the adder, producing a timing pulse.

6. A timing generating device according to claim 5 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating a pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m;

an accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period setting means upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for being controlled by a carry output of the accumulator, so that the output pulse of the detecting means is provided as the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when no carry output is yielded but the output of the detecting means is delayed by the period T when the carry output is produced, the output of the accumulator, except its carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

7. A timing generating device according to claim 6 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a detecting means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.

8. A timing generating device according to claim 6 wherein the coarse delay means is a coincidence detecting means for comparing the count value of the counter and the coarse delay data from the delay setting means and yielding the delayed pulse when they coincide with each other.

15. A timing generating device according claim 5 wherein the period generator comprises a counter for counting the reference clock pulses, the counter being initialized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period;

a detecting means for creating the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period upon detecting that the counter has counted, from its initial state, the reference clock pulses by the number corresponding to the value m;

an accumulator for accumulating the data kT from the period generator upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period; and

a means for inhibiting, by a carry output of the accumulator, the counter from one counting of the reference clock pulse upon each occurrence of the pulse of the average period equal to the preset period when the carry is made, the output of the accumulator, except the carry output, being provided as the fractional period data.

19. A timing generating device according to claim 15 wherein the coarse delay means comprises a counter which is initalized by each of the pulses of the average period equal to the preset period and counts the reference clock pulses, and a means for yielding the delayed pulse upon detecting that the counter has counted the reference clock pulses by the number n.