Pulse width modulator using delay-line technology with automatic calibration of delays to desired operating frequency

A printer, comprising:

• a print engine having a pulse width modulator including a clock operative to count successive discrete time intervals having a period equal to a desired full pulse width, and configured to generate a clock signal, an adjustable delay line comprising a plurality of adjustable delay line elements, each delay line element operative to generate a clock signal at a specific location so as to generate a plurality of clocks, the plurality of clocks in cooperation with a transitional instruction, operative to produce a modulated output that has a plurality of transitions within the clock period, processing circuitry configured to receive the clock signal and a pulse code input and operative to select one of the delay line elements to generate a transitional instruction;
• logic circuitry communicating with the adjustable delay line and the processing circuitry and operative to receive the transitional instruction and the clock signal to combine multiple modulated outputs and generate a single modulated output;
• and
• an image-forming device configured to receive the single modulated output from the pulse width modulator and usable to generate a print image.

A method of generating a pulse width modulated output, comprising the steps of:

• providing an adjustable delay line comprising a plurality of adjustable delay cells for generating a clock signal at a specific location;
• providing processing circuitry configured to receive a clock signal from the adjustable delay line and generate transitional instructions;
• generating a plurality of delay clocks by adjusting the delay cells to produce a modulated output that has a plurality of transitions within a clock period that transitions at a desired modulated frequency;
• delivering a system clock signal comprising the modulated output to the processing circuitry;
• and
• generating a transitional instruction via the processing circuitry that toggles the modulated output that is generated at a primary clock frequency.