Delay circuit with multiple dependencies
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBo Zhao, Jaroslav Raszka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delay circuit with multiple dependencies on various environmental parameters is disclosed. The delay circuit is configured to receive an input signal. The delay circuit includes a first circuit configured to generate a first amount of delay, wherein the first amount of delay has a direct relationship to a first environmental parameter. The delay circuit also includes a second circuit configured to generate a second amount of delay such that the second amount of delay has an inverse relationship to a second environmental parameter. The delay circuit is configured to generate a delayed output signal based on the first and second amounts of delay generated by the first and second circuits.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a delay circuit configured to receive an input signal, wherein the delay circuit includes:
- a first circuit configured to generate a first amount of delay such that the first amount of delay has a direct relationship to a first environmental parameter of the apparatus;
- and
- a second circuit configured to generate a second amount of delay such that the second amount of delay has an inverse relationship to a second environmental parameter of the apparatus, wherein one of the first and second environmental parameters is a supply voltage, and wherein another one of the first and second environmental parameters is a temperature;
- wherein the delay circuit is configured to generate a delayed output signal based on the first and second amounts of delay generated by the first and second circuits.
A system comprising:
- a delay circuit having one or more stages, wherein the delay circuit is configured to apply a delay to an input signal to generate an output signal that is a delayed version of the input signal, wherein ones of the one or more stages of the delay circuit include:
- a first circuit configured to increase an amount of delay applied to the input signal between an input to the delay circuit and an output of the delay circuit in response to an increase in a supply voltage;
- and
- a second circuit configured to increase an amount of delay between the input and the output in response to an increase in a temperature of the delay circuit;
- wherein, in at least one of the one or more stages, the first circuit is configured to decrease the amount of delay between the input and the output in response to an increase in a temperature of the delay circuit.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer system, are usable to manufacture an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit comprising:
- a delay circuit configured to receive an input signal and generate an output signal that is a delayed version of the input signal, wherein the delay circuit includes a plurality of stages, wherein ones of the plurality of stages include:
- a first circuit element configured to vary a first delay applied to the input signal in a direct relationship to a first environmental parameter of the delay circuit;
- and
- a second circuit element configured to vary a second delay applied to the input signal in an inverse relationship to a second environmental parameter;
- wherein the delay circuit is configured to generate the output signal based on the first and second delays;
- and
- wherein at least one of the plurality of stages implements circuitry in which a total amount of delay has a direct relationship with temperature, an inverse relationship with temperature, and a direct relationship with voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.