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US 6,476,656 B2Granted
Low-power low-jitter variable delay timing circuit
AssigneeVelio Communications, Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Dally, Ramin Farjad-Rad, Teva J. Stone, Xiaoying Yu, John W. Poulton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The timing circuit includes at least one delay element and its supply voltage is obtained from an active current source. The current source is a current mirror which is driven by a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier compares a voltage on the delay element supply line to a voltage on a current control node connected to a voltage controlled current source. An RC compensating circuit may be coupled to the current control node.
Claims35
A timing circuit comprising:
- a delay element;
- and
- a current source circuit supplying current to the delay element through a supply node, the current source circuit including a differential amplifier which compares the voltage on the supply node to a voltage on a current control node to control the supplied current.
A method of providing power to a delay element comprising:
- supplying current to the delay element through a supply node;
- and
- comparing the voltage on the supply node to a voltage on a current control node to control the supplied current.
A timing circuit comprising:
- delay means;
- and
- current source means for supplying current to the delay element through a supply node, the current source means comparing the voltage on the supply node to a voltage on a current control node to control the supply of current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.