Apparatus and methods for automatic time measurements
AssigneeIntegrated Device Technology, Inc.
InventorsMin Chu, Jagdeep Singh Bal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A time-to-digital converter obtains a Start signal to indicate the start of an event, and a Stop signal whose assertion indicates the stop of the event. The Stop signal can be asserted multiple times due to false indications of the event stop. The TDC continuously monitors the Stop signal to generate a separate digital value for the duration from the event's starting time to each assertion of the Stop signal. The digital values can be analyzed to select the true duration of the event. Other features and embodiments are also provided.
Claims20
A method for automatically measuring one or more event durations of respective one or more events, the method comprising performing, by an apparatus, at least one event duration measurement which comprises, for a respective event:
- obtaining a start indication indicating a starting time of the event;
- obtaining a stop signal responsive to the event, wherein the stop signal is asserted more than once during the measurement, and each assertion of the stop signal is a true indication or a false indication of a stop of the event;
- for each assertion of the stop signal, regardless of whether the assertion is a true indication or a false indication of the stop of the event, generating a corresponding duration signal specifying a duration from the starting time to the assertion.
An apparatus comprising a circuit for measuring event durations, the circuit comprising a duration signal generator for:
- obtaining a start indication indicating a starting time of an event;
- obtaining a stop signal responsive to the event, wherein each assertion of the stop signal is a true indication or a false indication of a stop of the event;
- regardless of whether the stop signal is asserted only once or more than once to provide a true or false indication of the stop of the event, for each assertion of the stop signal, generating a corresponding duration signal specifying a duration from the starting time to the assertion.
An apparatus comprising a circuit for measuring event durations, the circuit comprising:
- a clock signal generator;
- a plurality of counters for counting clock cycles of the clock signal in response to a start indication indicating a starting time of an event, and for providing output counts;
- wherein the plurality of counters are responsive to consecutive stop indications, each stop indication being an electrical indication which is a true indication or a false indication of a stop of the event, wherein for each stop indication, regardless of whether the stop indication is a true indication or a false indication, at least one counter is configured to stop counting at the stop indication and at least one other counter is configured to start counting at the stop indication;
- wherein the circuit further comprises an adder for adding output counts provided by respective counters to generate the event duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.