Variable propagation delay digital signal inverter
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsFrancisco J. Fernandez, Thayamkulangara R. Viswanathan
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Abstract
An electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter comprises a digital signal inverter having an input signal port and an output signal port, and an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR). The ECNR is coupled to the output port of the inverter in a configuration so as to render the propagation delay of the digital signal inverter capable of being varied by varying the resistance of the ECNR. The electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter may be included in a ring oscillator configuration.
Claims23
An electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter comprising:
- a digital signal inverter having an input signal port and an output signal port;
- and
- an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR);
- said ECNR being coupled to the output port of said inverter in a configuration so as to render the propagation delay of said digital signal inverter capable of being varied by varying the resistance of said ECNR.
An electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter comprising:
- a first digital signal inverter having an input signal port and an output signal port;
- and
- an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR);
- said ECNR being coupled to the output port of said first inverter;
- said ECNR comprising:
- a second and a third digital signal inverter,
- each having an input signal port and an output signal port;
- and
- a voltage signal-controlled variable impedance;
- said second inverter having its output port coupled to the output port of said first inverter through said variable impedance;
- said third inverter having its input port coupled to the output port of said first inverter and having its output port coupled to the input port of said second inverter.
An electronically-controlled variable frequency ring oscillator comprising:
- 2N+1 digital signal inverters, each of said 2N+1 inverters including an input signal port and an output signal port, N being a positive integer;
- and
- an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR);
- said 2N+1 inverters being coupled together serially in a ring oscillator configuration;
- said ECNR being coupled to the output port of one of said 2N+1 inverters.
An electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter comprising:
- at least three digital signal inverters, each of said three digital signal inverters including an input signal port and an output signal port;
- and,
- a transmission gate (T-gate);
- the second of said three digital signal inverters having its output port coupled to the output port of the first of said digital signal inverters through said T-gate;
- the third of said three digital signal inverters having its output port coupled to the input port of the second of said three digital signal inverters and having its input port coupled to the output port of the first of said three digital signal inverters.
A method of varying the frequency of a ring oscillator, said ring oscillator comprising a plurality of digital signal inverters coupled together serially in a ring oscillator configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR) to the output port of one of said inverters;
- and
- varying the electronic signal controlling said ECNR to adjust the resistance of said ECNR.
A method of varying the propagation delay of a digital signal inverter, said inverter including an input signal port and an output signal port, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR) to the output port of said inverter;
- and
- varying the resistance of said ECNR so as to adjust the propagation delay of said digital signal inverter.
An electronically-controlled variable propagation delay digital signal inverter comprising:
- a first digital signal inverter having an input port and an output port;
- and
- an electronically-controlled negative resistance (ECNR);
- said ECNR being coupled to the output port of said first inverter;
- said ECNR comprising:
- a second digital signal inverter and a third digital signal inverter,
- each having an input signal port and an output signal port;
- said second inverter having its output port coupled to the output port of said first inverter;
- said third inverter having its input port coupled to the output port of said first inverter and having its output port coupled to the input port of said second inverter;
- at least one of said second digital signal inverter and said third digital signal inverter having a variable impedance controlled by an electronic signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.