Configurable tapered delay chain with multiple sizes of delay elements
First Claim
1. A method of delaying a signal comprising:
- selecting one of a plurality of delay elements using a switch circuit to create a delay signal path, wherein the plurality of delay elements comprise;
a first group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a first delay by incorporating a first number of active devices per delay element;
a second group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a second delay larger than the first delay by incorporating a second number of active devices per delay element, the second number larger than the first number; and
a third group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a third delay larger than the second delay by incorporating a third number of active devices per delay element, the third number larger than the second number;
coupling an input signal to a first delay element of the delay signal path using the switch circuit;
propagating the input signal through the delay signal path; and
receiving a resulting output signal from a last delay element of the delay signal path by using the switch circuit to generate a resulting output signal that is adelayed version of the input signal.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tapered chain of delay elements. The chain of delay elements includes a plurality of delay elements comprising a plurality of smaller sized stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a first delay, and a plurality of larger sized stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a second delay larger than the first delay. A switch circuit is coupled to the plurality of delay elements and is configured to select at least one of the plurality of delay elements to create a delay signal path having an amount of delay in accordance with a number of delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal. An output is 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.
143 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of delaying a signal comprising:
-
selecting one of a plurality of delay elements using a switch circuit to create a delay signal path, wherein the plurality of delay elements comprise; a first group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a first delay by incorporating a first number of active devices per delay element; a second group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a second delay larger than the first delay by incorporating a second number of active devices per delay element, the second number larger than the first number; and a third group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a third delay larger than the second delay by incorporating a third number of active devices per delay element, the third number larger than the second number; coupling an input signal to a first delay element of the delay signal path using the switch circuit; propagating the input signal through the delay signal path; and receiving a resulting output signal from a last delay element of the delay signal path by using the switch circuit to generate a resulting output signal that is a delayed version of the input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A tapered chain of delay elements, comprising:
-
a plurality of delay elements comprising; a first group of stacked inverter delay elements for implementing a first delay by incorporating a first number of active devices per delay element; a second group of stacked inverter delay elements for implementing a second delay larger than the first delay by incorporating a second number of active devices per delay element, the second number larger than the first number; and a third group of stacked inverter delay elements for implementing a third delay larger than the second delay by incorporating a third number of active devices per delay element, the third number larger than the second number; a switch circuit coupled to the plurality of delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of delay elements to create a delay signal path having an amount of delay in accordance with a number of delay elements comprising the delay signal path; an input coupled to a first 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 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A tapered chain of delay elements, comprising:
-
a plurality of delay elements comprising; a first group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a first delay by incorporating a first number of active devices per delay element; a second group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a second delay larger than the first delay by incorporating a second number of active devices per delay element, the second number larger than the first number; and a third group of stacked inverter delay elements each configured to implement a third delay larger than the second delay by incorporating a third number of active devices per delay element, the third number larger than the second number; a switch circuit coupled to each of the plurality of delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of delay elements to create a delay signal path having an amount of delay in accordance with a number of delay elements comprising the delay signal path; an input coupled to a first 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 (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification