Patent · US Expired

Area efficient, low power and flexible time digitizer

US6720959B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 2002
Grant dateApr 13, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L2207/50
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A non-linear time digitizer delay chain and a respective lookup table for converting the phase error into a digital code together prevent a phase error pulse from saturating the delay chain, even when the input frequency varies by orders of magnitude. By using a non-linear T2D delay chain along with a corresponding lookup table, the phase error pulse associated with a digital phase lock loop (PLL) can be measured and represented in more meaningful and accurate ways that that achievable when using a conventional T2d circuit to convert the phase error into a digital code. The lookup table implementation allows an additional degree of freedom for designers to apply a transfer function to the digital code measured by the T2D.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.