Generating Timing Signals

This invention relates to generating timing signals.

Stable clocks such as crystal oscillators have been used to generate a sequence of timing signals of variable signal-to-signal interval by programming digital counters to trigger the timing signals at predetermined counts of the clock. Although tapped delay lines having resolution (e.g., 1 nanosecond) higher than that (e.g., 16 ns) of the clock have been used to additionally delay signals relative to the start of the sequence, timing signal interval resolution has in such systems been limited by the clock resolution, with the timing signal period equal to the crystal oscillator period or an integer multiple thereof.

My invention provides a simple, low cost, highly accurate, timing signal generator in which the period of timing signals derived from a fixed period clock can be asynchronous with (i.e., not equal to or an integer multiple of) the clock period and can be programmably varied on an interval by interval basis with resolution higher than that of the clock.

In general, my invention features, in one aspect, a clock and programmable counter combination whose output is fed through a variable delay to produce the timing signal, and programmable means for repeatedly changing the delay for successive signals.

In preferred embodiments the delay means is a tapped delay line which has a resolution at least ten times that of the clock.

In other preferred embodiments a second programmed delay line phase shifts the basic clock to provide a derived clock signal of the same period as the basic clock but shifted in time so that a clock signal occurs simultaneously with each timing signal.

In another aspect of the invention such derived clock and timing signals are in turn used to respectively advance and reset a further programmed counter to provide timing edges capable of controlling a pulse generator. The generator provides a train of pulses the length and spacing of which can be programmed pulse by pulse with resolution higher than that of the basic clock.

We turn now to the circuitry and operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, after first briefly describing the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit for deriving clock and timing signals from a crystal oscillator signal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit for using the derived clock and timing signals from FIG. 1 to generate timing edge signals to control a pulse generator.

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, 8 bit presettable counter 10 is arranged to count the output signals T.sub.OSC of 16 nsec period crystal oscillator 12, and, at counts determined by numbers loaded into the counter from memory 16 (an 8 bit wide by 16 word RAM), provide pulses T.sub.C to delay line 20. T.sub.C is also fed back to preset input 18 of the counter. Oscillator 12 also provides T.sub.OSC signals directly to delay line 24. Delay lines 20 and 24 each have 1 nsec resolution and 15 nsec total delay capacity, and are commonly controlled by a delay time number stored in 4 bit register 28 to respectively provide timing signals T.sub.OUT and clock signals T.sub.SYN.

Memory 30 (a 4 bit wide by 16 word RAM) stores delay change numbers to increment register 28 for successive T.sub.OUT s. Four bit adder 31 adds the numbers stored in memory 30 and register 28, and each T.sub.OUT causes the sum to be introduced into the register. Add+1 circuit 32 (a register clocked by T.sub.OSC and T.sub.C) is provided to receive a carry from adder 31 when the capacity (15) of register 28 is exceded, and, upon receipt of the carry, to inhibit counter 10 for one count.

Input 33 is connected to a computer to load the count and delay change numbers into memories 16 and 30 and to select which numbers appear at the memory outputs at any given time.

Referring to FIG. 2, 8 bit counter 34 is arranged to count T.sub.SYN pulses and to be reset by T.sub.OUT. Eight bit coincidence detector 38 provides a pulse at output 42 when the accumulated count at counter output 36 equals a number stored in memory 40 (an 8 bit wide by 16 word RAM). Output 42 is delayed in 1 nsec resolution delay line 44 for up to 15 nsec, as selected by a delay time number stored in memory 46 (a 4 bit wide by 16 word RAM), to provide a first timing edge signal, Delayed Output 1. A second timing edge signal, Delayed Output 2, is similarly provided by 8 bit coincidence detector 52, 0-15 nsec delay line 54, memory 56, and memory 58. Delayed Outputs 1 and 2 are applied to the set and reset inputs of flip-flop 60 to generate a train of pulses at output 62. Input 64 from a computer loads and controls memories 40, 46, 56 and 58.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the circuit of FIG. 1 to generate a timing signal T.sub.OUT having a 50 nsec period for eight such periods, A-H. Preceding period A, T.sub.OUT, T.sub.SYN, and T.sub.OSC are coincident (i.e., the delays imposed on T.sub.C and T.sub.OSC were zero). T.sub.OUTA is to occur 50 nsec (three 16 nsec T.sub.OSC periods plus 2 nsec) after this coincidence, so that the count number 3 (loaded in advance in memory 16) is loaded into counter 10 by the T.sub.C pulse occurring at the coincidence. The delay change number 2 (loaded in advance in memory 30) is added to the delay time number 0 in register 28, by adder 31, and the sum (2) is loaded into register 28 by the T.sub.OUT at the coincidence to select delays of 2 nsec for delay lines 20 and 24. Counter 10 counts down from 3 by one count with each T.sub.OSC input and, after 3 T.sub.OSC clocks (3.times. 16=48 nsec), reaches zero and generates a T.sub.C, which in turn is delayed by 2 nsec in delay line 20 to provide T.sub.OUTA. The first T.sub.SYN in period A occurs 18 nsec (the 16 nsec period of T.sub.OSC plus 2 nsec delay in delay line 24) from the start of period A, and is followed by two more T.sub.SYN s at 16 nsec intervals. I.e., each T.sub.SYN is delayed by 2 nsec from its corresponding T.sub.OSC, so that the last T.sub.SYN of period A will be coincident with T.sub.OUTA.

T.sub.OUTB is to occur 50 nsec (3 T.sub.OSC periods plus 2 nsec) after T.sub.OUTA and, because counter 10 begins a new counting operation with the start of each T.sub.OUT period, the count number 3 is again loaded into the counter from memory 16 by T.sub.C. The delay imposed on T.sub.OSC and T.sub.C must be increased by 2 nsec, to 4 nsec, for T.sub.OUTB to occur at the desired time relative to T.sub.OUTA, i.e., 6 counted T.sub.OSC periods (96 nsec) plus 4 nsec of delay (a total of 100 nsec) from the start of period A. The sum 4 already present in adder 31 is loaded into register 28 by T.sub.OUTA to select delays of 4 nsec for delay lines 20 and 24. Counter 10 and the delay lines then generate a sequence of three T.sub.SYN clocks at 16 nsec intervals, with the first occurring 18 nsec (14+4) after T.sub.OUTA, and with the last such T.sub.SYN (50 nsec after T.sub.OUTA) being coincident with T.sub.OUTB.

Counter 10, memory 16, and delay lines 20 and 24 operate in the same manner in periods C through G to generate successive T.sub.OUT timing signals and T.sub.SYN clock signals. The number 3 is loaded into the counter in each period and the delay imposed on T.sub.C and T.sub.OSC increases by 2 nsec for each succeeding period, so that, while the first T.sub.SYN of each period is always 18 nsec after the preceding T.sub.OUT and the last T.sub.SYN is coincident with T.sub.OUT, both T.sub.SYN and T.sub.OUT shift in time relative to T.sub.OSC by an amount which approaches one full T.sub.OSC period.

For period H, the accumulated delay time required becomes 16 nsec (i.e., one T.sub.OSC period), which exceeds the capacity of delay lines 20 and 24, the register, and the adder. When adder 31 adds 2 to the delay number for period G (14), causing the sum to become 16, the adder generates a carry output which is fed to add+1 circuit 32, and feeds an output of zero to register 28. The carry output inhibits the counting of counter 10 for one count, and the inhibited T.sub.OSC clears circuit 32 so that counter 10 resumes counting. The T.sub.SYN and T.sub.OUT of period H are therefore once again coincident with T.sub.OSC, and the time relationship between T.sub.OUT, T.sub.SYN, and T.sub.OSC is as it was at the start of period A.

If the T.sub.OUT period is selected to be, e.g., 53 nsec, the count number loaded into register 10 is again 3, but the delay imposed on T.sub.C and T.sub.OSC by delay lines 20 and 24 is 5 nsec in the first period and increases by 5 nsec with each succeeding period. After 3 periods, the accumulated delay is 15 nsec, and for the fourth period, when the dealy required is 20 nsec, the adder generates a carry output to the add+1 circuit, to inhibit one count, and the delay line delays go to 4 nsec (i.e., the excess of 20 nsec over 16 nsec). In the next period 5 nsec is added to the 4 nsec, giving a 9 nsec delay, and so on.

Nonuniform T.sub.OUT periods can be generated by appropriate selection of the count numbers stored in memory 16 and the delay change numbers stored in memory 30. E.g., for successive T.sub.OUT periods of 50 nsec, 69 nsec, and 28 nsec, the count and delay change numbers would be (assuming the T.sub.OUT period sequence began with T.sub.OUT, T.sub.SYN, and T.sub.OSC coincident in time):

so that T.sub.OUT would occur at 50 nsec (3 counts+2 nsec), 119 nsec (7 counts+7 nsec), and 147 nsec (9 counts+3 nsec) after the start of the sequence.

FIG. 2 illustrates use of T.sub.OUT and T.sub.SYN to generate timing edge signals and a train of pulses of selectable spacing and width. T.sub.SYN clocks counter 34 to provide Delayed Output 1 (which sets flip-flop 60 to begin the pulse appearing at output 62) and Delayed Output 2 (which resets the flip-flop to terminate the pulse). T.sub.OUT, which is always coincident with a T.sub.SYN, resets counter 34 to zero each time the counting for a given pulse is completed, so that counter 34 may begin counting for the next pulse.

The times of occurrence of Delayed Outputs 1 and 2 can be selected, within any counting cycle of counter 34 (i.e., within a T.sub.OUT period), in increments of 1 nsec, the resolution of delay lines 44 and 54. By controlling T.sub.SYN and T.sub.OUT on a cycle to cycle basis (i.e., shifting them in time relative to T.sub.SYN and T.sub.OUT of the preceding cycle), the timing between successive counting cycles can also be selected in increments of 1 nsec (the resolution of delay lines 20 and 24), so that, by coordinating the numbers stored in memories 16, 30, 40, 46, 56, and 58, both the width and the spacing of the pulses appearing at output 62 can be programmed in 1 nsec increments.

The time interval between the edge signal terminating one pulse (Delayed Output 2) and that starting the next pulse (Delayed Output 1) can be selected to be as little as 1 nsec, so that the limiting factor in determing the minimum interval between pulses is the response time of the circuitry driven by Delayed Outputs 1 and 2. If flip-flop 60 is a high speed integrated circuit, e.g., of the 74LS00 family, this limit is about 5 nsec. Shorter intervals can be achieved by the triangulation method, i.e., simultaneously (with the time interval between Delayed Output 2 terminating one pulse and Delayed Output 1 starting the next pulse programmed to be zero) setting and resetting the flip-flop with the output pulse width determined by the difference in propagation time of these signals through the flip-flop (about 1 nsec). Where more complex pulse-forming circuits are used, Delayed Outputs 1 and 2 can be further delayed by equal amounts, preserving their mutual timing, to provide the actual pulse forming-timing edges while undelayed Delayed Output 1 and 2 signals are used to pretrigger the pulseforming circuitry, in preparation for the actual timing edges.

The amount of storage in the memories is dependent upon the timing resolution required, and the number of different pulse widths and intervals desired, and should be sufficient to contain the program for the entire sequence of pulses to be generated.

Other embodiments are within the following claims. E.g., T.sub.OUT as generated in FIG. 1 could be used as a reset signal for an analog ramp generator; a pair of level detectors would provide beginning and ending timing edges to a pulse generator, at selected ramp levels, and T.sub.OUT would determine the interval between pulses.