US4939677A
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US
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Timing-signal delay equipment
Assignee: NTT Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-02
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Granted: 1990-07-03
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Expires: 2007-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Timing-signal delay equipment which provides an adjustable delay time, equal to a multiple of a predetermined time unit, to an input signal pulse is used as a timing source required in a circuit tester of LSIs (semiconductor large-scale integrated circuits). The timing-signal delay equipment has a plurality of delay elements (D ij 's) with weighted delay times arranged in a matrix form; a selector (S) coupled with the matrix for selecting one of the delay elements for each column of the matrix, wherein the selected delay elements are connected in series; and an arithmetic control circuit (M) that controls the selectors based on a set-up value of delay time and an error in delay time of each delay equipment. In order to provide a delay time which is equal to a multiple of a predetermined time unit in spite of an error in delay time of each delay element, either a correction matrix is connected in series to the matrix or the weight of each delay element is modified.
Inventors
- 👤 Taiichi Otuji
- 👤 Naoaki Narumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/13; H03K5/14; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31917; G01R31/31922; H03K5/131; H03K5/133; H03K5/15; H03K2005/00013; H03K2005/00019; H03K2005/00026; H03K2005/00045; H03K2005/0015; H03K2005/00234; H03K2005/00267; H03K2005/0028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising; a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series; an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value delay time and an error lay time of each delay element, wherein delay time T ij of said ay element satisfies following equation: T.sub.ij =T.sub.d (i-1)m.sup.j-1 where T d is set-up temporal resolution; i is row number of the delay element; j is column number of the delay element; and m is column number of rows in matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising; a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series; an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value delay time and an error lay time of each delay element, wherein delay time T ij of said ay element satisfies following equation: T.sub.ij =T.sub.d (i-1)m.sup.j-1 where T d is set-up temporal resolution; i is row number of the delay element; j is column number of the delay element; and m is column number of rows in matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
Timing-signal delay equipment according to claim 1, wherein at least one correction matrix delay circuit device is provided, in series with said timing-signal delay equipment, said correction matrix delay circuit device having a plural number of weighted delay elements arranged in a matrix form, a selector for selecting one of its delay elements for each column of said matrix by the control of said arithmetic control circuit, and a means to connect selected delay circuits in series, so that a delay time being equal to a multiple of the set-up temporal resolution T d is obtained although each delay element has an error in its delay time by means of said correction matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Timing-signal delay equipment according to claim 2, wherein the following relation is satisfied by the delay time T.sub.αβ of any delay element in said correction matrix. T.sub.αβ =T.sub.d (α-1)K.sup.β-1 where α is row number of the delay element in correction matrix; β is column number of the delay element in correction matrix; K is number of rows in correction matrix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
Timing-signal delay equipment according to claim (1), wherein m≧3 is satisfied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising: a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series; and an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value of delay time and an error in delay time based on each delay element, wherein delay time T ij of said delay element satisfies following equation: ##EQU3## where T d is set-up temporal resolution; i is row number of the delay element; j is column number of the delay element; m is number of rows in matrix; and e is absolute value of a relative error rate in delay time of each delay element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising: a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series; and an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value of delay time and an error in delay time based on each delay element, wherein delay time T ij of said delay element satisfies following equation: ##EQU3## where T d is set-up temporal resolution; i is row number of the delay element; j is column number of the delay element; m is number of rows in matrix; and e is absolute value of a relative error rate in delay time of each delay element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising: a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series and arranged in matrix rows; and an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value of delay time and an error in delay time of each delay element, wherein delay time of each delay element is identified by matrix rows and columns, and is a function of an expected set-up temporal resolution and a function of a number of said matrix rows to thereby provide an output timing signal having a delay time of a precise value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
Timing-signal delay equipment, comprising: a plurality of delay elements arranged in a matrix form, each of which gives a mutually different value of weighted delay time to an input signal; a selector means operably connected to each matrix column for selecting one of said delay elements; a means for connecting said selected delay elements in series and arranged in matrix rows; and an arithmetic control circuit means for controlling said selector means based on a set-up value of delay time and an error in delay time of each delay element, wherein delay time of each delay element is identified by matrix rows and columns, and is a function of an expected set-up temporal resolution and a function of a number of said matrix rows to thereby provide an output timing signal having a delay time of a precise value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-01-01 | 1994-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-02 | 1998-01-01 | 1998-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-02 | 2002-01-01 | 2002-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |