Timing signal generator

Claim 1

A timing signal generator for generating a timing signal with independent, dynamic location of leading and trailing edges with respect to an external synchronizing clock signal, comprising in combination: means for coupling said external synchronizing clock signal to said timing signal generator; means for generating a digital wave train continuously synchronized with said external synchronizing clock signal; a delay chain comprised of a plurality of stages connected in series, one to another; said delay chain comprised of a sufficient number of stages such that an edge of said digital wave train will not propagate completely through said chain in one cycle of said external synchronizing clock signal; means to couple said digital wave train to said delay chain so that an edge of said digital wave train commences propagation along said delay chain synchronously with an edge of said external synchronizing clock signal; means coupled to each inverter stage to determine a location value of a timing signal stage in said delay chain of a last stage reached by said edge of said digital wave train during one clock cycle of said external synchronizing clock cycle; means for storing a fine edge value that specifies a location of a timing signal edge as a fraction of a clock cycle of said external synchronizing clock cycle; means for combining said fine edge value with said location value to determine a fine edge stage in said delay chain where an edge of said digital wave train is located with respect to an edge of said external synchronizing clock signal at a location specified by said fine edge value; means for constructing a timing signal; and means for selectively connecting said fine edge stage in said delay chain to said means for constructing a timing signal in order to locate said timing signal edge at said location specified by said fine edge value.