Configurable delay chain with stacked inverter delay elements
First Claim
1. A method of delaying a signal comprising:
- selecting at least one of a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements using a switch circuit to create a delay signal path, wherein each stacked inverter delay element includes a greater number of n-type devices than p-type devices;
coupling an input signal to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path;
propagating the input signal through the delay signal path; and
receiving a resulting output signal from a last stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path such that the resulting output signal is a delayed version of the input signal.
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Abstract
A stacked inverter delay chain. The stacked inverter delay chain includes a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements. A switch circuit is included and is coupled to the stacked inverter delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of stacked inverter delay elements to create a delay signal path. The delay signal path has an amount of delay in accordance with a number of stacked inverter delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal and an output is coupled to the switch circuit and is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of delaying a signal comprising:
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selecting at least one of a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements using a switch circuit to create a delay signal path, wherein each stacked inverter delay element includes a greater number of n-type devices than p-type devices; coupling an input signal to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path; propagating the input signal through the delay signal path; and receiving a resulting output signal from a last stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path such that the resulting output signal is a delayed version of the input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A stacked inverter delay chain, comprising:
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a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements, each stacked inverter delay element including a greater number of n-type devices than p-type devices; a switch circuit coupled to the stacked inverter delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of stacked inverter delay elements to create a delay signal path having an amount of delay in accordance with a number of stacked inverter delay elements comprising the delay signal path; an input coupled to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal; and an output coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the output is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A stacked inverter delay chain comprising:
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a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements, wherein each stacked inverter delay element comprises; two stacked inverter circuits coupled in series, each of said stacked inverter circuits comprising; at least two p-type devices coupled in series; and at least three n-type devices coupled in series, wherein each stacked inverter delay element incorporates a greater number of n-type devices than p-type devices; a switch circuit coupled to the stacked inverter delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of stacked inverter delay elements to create a delay signal path having an amount of delay in accordance with a number of stacked inverter delay elements comprising the delay signal path; an input coupled to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal; and an output coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the output is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification