EP 0508232 B1 19960306 - Electronic circuit for measuring short time-intervals
Title (en)
Electronic circuit for measuring short time-intervals
Title (de)
Elektronische Schaltung zum Messen eines kurzen Zeitintervalls
Title (fr)
Circuit électronique pour la mesure de périodes de temps courtes
Publication
Application
Priority
DE 4111350 A 19910409
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0508232A2] An electronic circuit for measuring a short time interval which is present in the form of an electric measurement pulse comprises a ring oscillator (OSC) which consists of a chain of series-connected inverters (I3 - I16). A controllable element consisting of NAND gates (NA) and two additional inverters (I1, I2) switches the ring oscillator (OSC) on and off. The full clock periods of the latter are counted in a first pulse counter (C1) and a second pulse counter (C2). A phase indicator consisting of memory chain (SPK) and evaluating logic (LOG) registers the phase angle of the last clock period of the ring oscillator (OSC) at the instance of switching-off. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) uses the registered phase angle to decide which of the two pulse counters (C1) or (C2) contains the correct count and calculates from the selected count and the registered phase angle the length of the measurement pulse with an accuracy corresponding to the transit time of one inverter. The proposed circuit is distinguished by extremely high measuring accuracy within a range of 200 picoseconds and can be inexpensively implemented in a single integrated CMOS circuit. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G04F 10/00 (2006.01); G04F 10/04 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
G04F 10/04 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
CH DE FR GB IT LI
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0508232 A2 19921014; EP 0508232 A3 19940525; EP 0508232 B1 19960306; DE 4111350 C1 19920910; DE 59205532 D1 19960411
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 92105260 A 19920327; DE 4111350 A 19910409; DE 59205532 T 19920327