Patent ID: 6456959
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G04F

Abstract:
A time interval analyzer for measuring time intervals between events in an input signal, said analyzer comprising:a trigger circuit that receives said input signal and that outputs a trigger signal at a triggering level upon occurrence of a first said event; a first counter that receives said input signal and that, when said first counter is activated, increments a count at each occurrence of a said event; a second counter that receives said input signal and that, when said second counter is activated, increments a count at each said occurrence of a said event; and a control circuit that receives said trigger signal from said trigger circuit and that outputs a control signal to each of said first counter and said second counter that controls activation of said first counter and said second counter so that only one of said first counter and said second counter is activated at a time, wherein said control circuit is configured so that, when said trigger signal goes to said triggering level from a non-triggering level and when one of said first counter and said second counter is activated and the other of said first counter and said second counter is deactivated, said control circuit deactivates said one of said first counter and said second counter and activates said other of said first counter and said second counter.