Clockless Time-to-Digital Conversion Using Iterative Chaotic Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are inadequate for high-resolution and high-precision time interval measurements due to noise introduction and resolution limitations from reference clocks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of clockless continuous-time chaos-based time-to-digital conversion methods using iterative chaotic maps, such as tent maps or Bernoulli shift maps, to convert continuous pulse signals into digital representations without relying on clocking signals, employing asynchronous logic gates and field programmable gate-arrays (FPGAs) for reconfigurability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reference clocks are used in TDC, then the system can provide discrete measurement resolution, but noise is introduced and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reference clock component from the TDC system entirely. By extracting the harmful noise source (reference clock) while maintaining the core time measurement functionality through alternative means (chaotic map-based continuous-time conversion), the invention resolves the contradiction between achieving measurement precision and avoiding noise introduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional clock-based mechanical timing system with a chaotic map-based continuous-time conversion system. This substitution eliminates the discrete clock cycles and associated noise, allowing for high-precision time interval measurements without the harmful effects of reference clocks.
2Measurement precision
If reference clocks are used in TDC, then the system can operate with clocked timing, but the speed of the clocking device limits measurement resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous-time conversion using chaotic maps instead of discrete clocked operations. This allows the measurement process to continue without interruption or quantization limits imposed by clock speed, thereby achieving high measurement resolution without being constrained by the speed of a clocking device.
3Measurement precision
If iterative chaotic map operations are used to amplify small pulse width differences, then measurement resolution is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chaotic map system is designed to be self-sustaining and self-regulating. The iterative operations automatically amplify small differences in pulse widths through the inherent properties of the chaotic map, without requiring external control or complex adjustment mechanisms. This self-service approach enhances measurement resolution while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are provided for time-to-digital conversion without reliance on a clocking signal. The technologies include a clockless TDC apparatus that can map continuous pulse-widths to binary bits represented via an iterative chaotic map (e.g., tent map, Bernoulli shift map, or similar). The clockless TDC apparatus can convert separated pulses to a single asynchronous digital pulse that turns on when a sensor detects a first pulse and turns off when the sensor detects a second pulse. The asynchronous digital pulse can be iteratively stretched and folded in time according to the chaotic map. The clockless TDC can generate a binary sequence that represents symbolic dynamics of the chaotic map. The process can be implemented by using an iterative time delay component until a precision of the binary output is either satisfied or overwhelmed by noise or other structural fluctuations of the TDC apparatus.