Delay-Locked Pulse Generation for Narrow Terahertz Radar Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional delay locked loops (DLLs) are inadequate for generating high-speed, narrow pulses required for terahertz radar systems due to the delay needed for phase lock and continuous operation, even when pulses are not in use.
Innovation Solution
A DLL design featuring a delay line with series-coupled delay cells and logic gates, including a phase/frequency detector, charge pump, and filter, which adjusts delay cells to generate narrow pulses by comparing rising and falling edges of pulses, allowing for efficient generation of high-speed, narrow pulses without continuous high-frequency operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional DLL uses delay line and continuous operation to achieve phase lock, then phase lock is achieved, but power consumption increases and narrow pulse generation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The DLL operates in a start-stop manner rather than continuously. The delay line is activated only when pulse generation is needed, and stopped when pulses are not required. This periodic operation maintains phase lock capability when needed while dramatically reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the delay line operation from continuous operation and activates it only during specific periods when pulse generation is required. This separation allows the system to maintain phase lock functionality when needed while eliminating unnecessary power consumption during idle times.
2Reliability
If a conventional DLL operates continuously to maintain phase lock, then phase lock is maintained, but pulse width control for narrow pulses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The delay line delay amount is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. By controlling the delay amount dynamically, the system can generate narrow pulses of specific widths while maintaining phase lock, allowing flexible pulse width control adapted to different operational requirements.
3Reliability
If delay line is activated for phase lock, then phase lock is achieved, but speed for high-speed pulses is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies delay only partially - just enough to achieve phase lock between the input clock signal and the delayed signal, rather than applying excessive delay. This minimal necessary delay approach maintains phase lock while preserving high-speed pulse generation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a plurality of narrow pulses is provided. A first pulse having a first width is received by a delay line having a plurality of delay cells. This first pulse has a first width. In response to this first pulse, a plurality of second pulses is generated by the delay line, where each second pulse has a second width that is less than the first width. First and second delay pulses are also generated by the delay line, and a delay for each delay cell in the delay line can then be adjusted if a rising edge of the second delay pulse is misaligned with a falling edge of the first delay pulse.