Configurable pulse generator
AssigneeOracle America, Inc.
InventorsRobert P. Masleid, Anand Dixit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The described embodiments provide a circuit that can be configured as a pulse generator or as an oscillator. The circuit includes a pulse generator circuit and a test circuit that is coupled to the pulse generator circuit. In the described embodiments, an disable signal is coupled to the test circuit. When the disable signal is asserted, the test circuit is disabled, and the pulse generator circuit outputs pulses of a predetermined duration. In contrast, when the disable signal is deasserted, the test circuit is enabled, and the pulse generator circuit outputs an oscillating signal.
Claims20
A circuit that can be configured as a pulse generator or as an oscillator, comprising:
- a pulse generator circuit;
- a test circuit coupled to the pulse generator circuit;
- and
- a disable signal coupled to the test circuit;
- wherein when the disable signal is asserted, the test circuit is disabled, and the pulse generator circuit outputs pulses of a predetermined duration;
- and
- wherein when the disable signal is deasserted, the test circuit is enabled, so that a transistor in the pulse generator circuit and a transistor in the test circuit are configured as an inverter in a feedback path for the pulse generator circuit, and the pulse generator circuit outputs an oscillating signal.
An electronic device, comprising:
- a pulse generator circuit;
- a receiving circuit coupled to the pulse generator circuit, wherein the receiving circuit is configured to receive a signal output by the pulse generator circuit as an input;
- a test circuit coupled to the pulse generator circuit;
- and
- a disable signal coupled to the test circuit;
- wherein when the disable signal is asserted, the test circuit is disabled, and the pulse generator circuit outputs pulses of a predetermined duration;
- and
- wherein when the disable signal is deasserted, the test circuit is enabled, so that a transistor in the pulse generator circuit and a transistor in the test circuit are configured as an inverter in a feedback path for the pulse generator circuit, and the pulse generator circuit outputs an oscillating signal.
A method for using a pulse generator circuit as an oscillator, comprising:
- operating the pulse generator in a pulse generation mode;
- upon determining that the circuit is to be configured as an oscillator, deasserting a disable signal to a test circuit coupled to the pulse generator to configure an NMOS transistor in the pulse generator circuit and a PMOS transistor in the test circuit as an inverter on a feedback path for the pulse generator circuit, thereby configuring the pulse generator circuit as a ring oscillator;
- and
- operating the pulse generator circuit in an oscillator mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.