Oscillator-Based Digital-to-Time Conversion With Scalable Delay Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of bits in a digital input signal increases, the number of delay circuits in existing digital-to-time converters grows exponentially, leading to a rapid increase in circuit scale, which is inefficient and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A digital-to-time converter design that includes an oscillator and a count circuit, where the oscillator performs oscillations based on an activation signal, and the count circuit sets a delay time by counting oscillations, allowing for fine adjustment of delay time with increasing bits, while adding a delay addition circuit to further refine the delay time settings without significantly increasing the circuit scale.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of bits in the digital input signal is increased to improve delay time precision, then the measurement precision of delay time is improved, but the number of delay circuits increases exponentially causing device complexity to increase rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/circuit-based delay selection system with a software-based system. Instead of using multiple physical delay circuits selected by digital signals, the invention uses a single delay circuit whose delay time is controlled by a variable delay control signal generated through software processing of the digital input signal. This substitution of hardware with software control resolves the exponential growth of circuit complexity while maintaining delay time precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delay parameter dynamically through a variable delay control signal rather than selecting from fixed delay circuits. The delay time is adjusted by modifying the control signal parameters (such as duty cycle or pulse width) based on the digital input signal, allowing continuous or fine-grained delay adjustment without requiring multiple discrete delay circuits for each possible delay value.
2Measurement precision
If multiple delay circuits are connected in series to achieve fine delay time adjustment, then the measurement precision of delay time is improved, but the device complexity increases making the system difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single delay circuit perform multiple functions by controlling its delay time through a variable control signal. Instead of having separate dedicated delay circuits for different delay values, one delay circuit is designed to provide variable delay times based on the digital input signal, making it universal and multi-functional. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized circuits and simplifies system management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the delay circuit through a variable delay control signal that changes based on the digital input signal. The delay time is not fixed but dynamically adjustable, allowing the same circuit to adapt to different delay requirements. This dynamic approach replaces static multiple circuits with a single adaptable circuit, reducing complexity while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital-to-time converter has an oscillator; and count circuitry that starts counting a number of oscillations of the oscillator when an activation signal is input, and outputs a first delay activation signal obtained by delaying the activation signal during a period from a timing when the activation signal is input to a timing when a counted number of oscillations reaches a reference number set based on a digital input signal.