Ring Oscillator State Capture for Linear Time-to-Digital Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-to-digital converters require correction circuits and extensive correction information to improve linearity, due to variations in delay times and operation speeds among components in the state transition section.
Innovation Solution
A transition-state output device with a ring oscillator circuit, state machine, transition-state acquisition section, and internal-state calculation section, which calculates internal states based on state information and outputs a state signal representing the internal state, allowing for accurate time-digital value calculation without the need for correction circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If correction circuits and correction information are used to improve linearity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the correction functionality from a separate correction circuit and integrates it into the state transition section itself. The state transition section is designed to inherently produce uniform state durations through its specific architecture (using multiple delay elements and logic circuits in a feedback loop), eliminating the need for external correction circuits while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The state transition section performs self-correction by design. The feedback mechanism within the state transition section automatically compensates for variations in delay times and operation speeds of individual components, making the system self-correcting without requiring external correction information or additional correction circuits.
2Measurement precision
If correction information is prepared and stored in advance, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for pre-prepared correction information by implementing self-correction through its operational design. The state transition section continuously maintains uniform state durations through its feedback mechanism, eliminating the need for separate calibration processes and correction data preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the state transition section with built-in compensation capabilities that are activated immediately upon operation. The feedback mechanism is established in advance within the circuit architecture, so correction action is automatically performed as part of the normal operation rather than requiring separate preliminary calibration steps.
3Measurement precision
If correction calculations are performed, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for separate correction calculation processes by integrating correction functionality directly into the state transition mechanism. The uniform state durations are achieved through the circuit's inherent design rather than through post-processing calculations, eliminating computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The state transition section performs automatic real-time correction through its feedback mechanism, eliminating the need for separate correction calculation steps. This continuous self-correction during operation maintains measurement precision without interrupting or slowing down the conversion process.
Data Source
AI summary
A transition-state output device includes: a ring oscillator circuit; a state machine changing in state according to a change in state of the ring oscillator circuit; a transition-state acquisition section acquiring and holding state information including a signal output from the ring oscillator circuit and a signal output from the state machine, synchronously with a reference signal; and an internal-state calculation section calculating an internal state corresponding to a number of changes in state of the ring oscillator circuit, based on the state information held by the transition-state acquisition section. A time until the internal state, after transitioning from a first internal state to a second internal state, transitions to the first internal state again is longer than a time interval of updating the state information held by the transition-state acquisition section.