Patent ID: 8825424
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: G04F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for estimating data relating to a time difference between two events, comprising: a delay line comprising a plurality of stages arranged in non-opposing timing orientation, each stage comprising a first delay in a first part and a second delay in a second part, the first delay and the second delay being different from each other, and each stage comprising a phase arbiter indicating by indication signal in a calibration mode comprising one of two different states, whether each of a plurality of events in a reference clock in the first part precedes or succeeds each of a plurality of events in a calibration source in the second part; a summation device for summing over the calibration indication signals in the calibration mode of the plurality of stages to acquire a calibration sum value; a controller for instructing the calibration mode in which a multitude of different calibration measurements is performed, wherein a calibration storage for storing the calibration values associated with different calibration sum values acquired by the summation device in the calibration mode; the delay line comprising the plurality of stages, and each stage comprising the phase arbiter indicating by a test indication signal in a test mode comprising one of two different states, wherein an event in the reference clock in the first part precedes or succeeds an event in a test source in the second part; the summation device for summing over the test indication signal in the test mode of the plurality of stages to acquire a test sum value; and a processor for processing the test sum value acquired by the summation device in the test mode and a given calibration value acquired from the calibration storage to estimate a time difference between the event in the reference clock and the even in the test source.