Patent classifications
H03K5/131
Low integral non-linearity digital-to-time converter for fractional-N PLLS
An apparatus includes a first digital-to-time converter (DTC) and a second DTC. The first DTC includes a sequence of delay stages. Each of the delay stages adds a delay to an input signal based on a control signal. Each delay stage includes a comparator and a capacitor coupled to an input of the comparator and to ground. The second DTC is coupled in parallel to the first DTC. The second DTC adds a delay to the input signal based on a complement of the control signal.
Systems and Methods for Online Gain Calibration of Digital-to-Time Converters
A system includes a first digital-to-time converter (DTC) adapted to receive a first DTC code and a first clock signal. The first DTC provides an output clock signal. The system includes a calibration DTC adapted to receive a calibration DTC code and a second clock signal. The calibration DTC provides a calibration output signal. The system includes a latch comparator which provides outputs indicative of which of the output clock signal and the calibration output signal is received first. The system includes an average computation module which provides an average value of the outputs of the latch comparator. The system includes a digital controller adapted to receive the average value. The digital controller provides the DTC code and the calibration DTC code.
CONTROL OF GENERATOR EXERCISER TIMERS
A control module for a generator exercise timer enables a user to conduct generator exercise sessions at intervals longer than predetermined intervals permitted by the manufacturer. The control module can be connected in series with a generator's existing electronic exerciser timer, preferably by disconnecting the existing exerciser timer's wiring harness from the exercise timer and connecting the control module to the exercise timer. The control module can be provided with a connector of its own to which the wiring harness can be connected. The control module includes a latching relay and a non-latching relay that can be operated in such a manner that alternating “engine start” signals are sent to the generator. Thus, the exercise timer will be effective to exercise the generator at delayed intervals, e.g., every other week rather than every week. The control module includes a pushbutton switch and a visible LED. The switch enables a user to control the state of the latching relay, while the LED indicates to the user whether the latching relay will permit or prevent the next engine start signal from being effective to start the generator.
Clock Generator And Method For Reducing Electromagnetic Interference From Digital Systems
A spread-spectrum clock generator has a phase-locked loop locked to a reference signal that gives a stable-frequency output to a variable phase shifter. The variable phase shifter provides a spread-spectrum clock output because its phase-shift is determined by a pseudorandom sequence generator and the pseudorandom sequence generator changes its output regularly or irregularly within limits. The clock generator performs a method of generating a spread-spectrum clock including locking the phase-locked loop to the reference signal, and phase shifting the stable frequency signal by a phase-shift determined by the pseudorandom sequence generator; and changing the phase-shift determined by the pseudorandom sequence generator. Since phase shifting is performed open-loop, total phase shift is defined by design.
DELAY LOCKED LOOP INCLUDING A DELAY CODE GENERATOR
A delay locked loop includes a delay line, a delay circuit, a phase detector, a delay code generator, and a delay controller. The delay line may delay an input clock signal in units of unit delay in response to a delay control code to generate an output clock signal. The delay circuit may delay the output clock signal to generate a delay clock signal. The phase detector may compare the input clock signal and the delay clock signal to generate a phase detection signal. The delay code generator may compare the input clock signal and the delay clock signal to detect a phase difference therebetween, and generate a delay code using the phase difference. The delay controller may generate the delay control code using the delay code and the phase detection signal.
SYNCHRONIZING PULSE-WIDTH MODULATION CONTROL
In described examples, a pulse width modulation (PWM) system includes an initiator and a receiver. The initiator includes an initiator counter and an initiator PWM signal generator. The initiator counter advances an initiator count in response to an initiator clock signal. The initiator PWM signal generator generates an initiator PWM signal in response to the initiator count. The receiver includes a receiver counter, a receiver PWM signal generator, and circuitry configured to reset the receiver count. The receiver counter advances a receiver count in response to a receiver clock signal. The receiver PWM signal generator generates a receiver PWM signal in response to the receiver count. The circuitry resets the receiver count in response to a synchronization signal and based on an offset.
PHASE INTERPOLATION DEVICE AND MULTI-PHASE CLOCK GENERATION DEVICE
A phase interpolation device and a multi-phase clock generation device are provided. The phase interpolation device includes a digital controller circuit and a phase interpolator that includes a capacitor and circuit branches, which are controlled by the digital controller circuit to generate an n-th phase clock of N phase clocks between first and second input clocks. When the n-th phase clock is generated, the digital controller circuit controls, in response to appearances of rising edges of the first input clock, the circuit branches to charge the capacitor using (N−n+1)×M ones of the first current source, and controls, in response to appearances of rising edges of the second input clock, the circuit branches to use N×M ones of the first current source to charge the capacitor. N, M, n are integers.
PHASE INTERPOLATION DEVICE AND MULTI-PHASE CLOCK GENERATION DEVICE
A phase interpolation device and a multi-phase clock generation device are provided. The phase interpolation device includes a digital controller circuit and a phase interpolator that includes a capacitor and circuit branches, which are controlled by the digital controller circuit to generate an n-th phase clock of N phase clocks between first and second input clocks. When the n-th phase clock is generated, the digital controller circuit controls, in response to appearances of rising edges of the first input clock, the circuit branches to charge the capacitor using (N−n+1)×M ones of the first current source, and controls, in response to appearances of rising edges of the second input clock, the circuit branches to use N×M ones of the first current source to charge the capacitor. N, M, n are integers.
Synchronizing pulse-width modulation control
In described examples, a pulse width modulation (PWM) system includes an initiator and a receiver. The initiator includes an initiator counter and an initiator PWM signal generator. The initiator counter advances an initiator count in response to an initiator clock signal. The initiator PWM signal generator generates an initiator PWM signal in response to the initiator count. The receiver includes a receiver counter, a receiver PWM signal generator, and circuitry configured to reset the receiver count. The receiver counter advances a receiver count in response to a receiver clock signal. The receiver PWM signal generator generates a receiver PWM signal in response to the receiver count. The circuitry resets the receiver count in response to a synchronization signal and based on an offset.
Inverter-based delay element with adjustable current source/sink to reduce delay sensitivity to process and supply voltage variation
A delay element including a first set of field effect transistors (FETs) with gates configured to receive a first control voltage; a second set of FETs coupled in series with the first set of FETs between a first voltage rail and a first node, respectively, the second set of FETs include gates configured to receive a set of complementary select signals, respectively; a third set of FETs including gates configured to receive a set of non-complementary select signals, respectively; a fourth set of FETs coupled in series with the third set of FETs between a second node and a second voltage rail, respectively, the fourth set of FETs including gates configured to receive a second control voltage; and an inverter coupled between the first node and the second node, the inverter including an input configured to receive an input signal and an output configured to produce an output signal.