Programmable current load systems and methods

A method comprising:

• coupling a power supply to a programmable current load, the programmable current load having a plurality of current sink elements operable to draw current from the power supply;
• applying a set of selection inputs to the programmable current load, the set of selection inputs being operable to select a length of delay associated with turning on each of the plurality of current sink elements;
• and
• applying an input waveform to the programmable current load, the input waveform being operable to turn on the plurality of current sink elements after propagating through a plurality of delay elements, as determined by the set of selection inputs.

A system comprising:

• a power distribution grid;
• an input pulse generator;
• and
• a network of programmable load elements coupled between the power distribution grid and a reference potential, at least one of the network of programmable load elements comprising:
• a plurality of current sink elements coupled between the power distribution grid and the reference potential;
• a plurality of multiplexers configured to enable the current sink elements to sink current;
• and
• a plurality of selection inputs configured to control the state of the multiplexers;
• wherein at least one of the plurality of multiplexers is configured to accept an external input signal from the input pulse generator, and, based on one of the selection inputs, to either (a) directly pass the external input signal to an enable input of a current sink element, or (b) pass the output of another one of the plurality of multiplexers to the enable input of the current sink element.