Patent ID: 7734002
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H03D,H03L

Abstract:
1. A chronometer for measuring respective chronological displacements between first edges of a first switched signal and corresponding second edges of a second switched signal, the chronometer comprising: (a) a timing marks receiver that receives a common set of chronologically spaced-apart timing markers including a set of spaced-apart coarse timing markers and including, for each coarse timing marker, a cluster of plural spaced-apart fine timing markers, where each cluster can align temporally in accordance with a predefined orientation relative to its respective coarse marker, and where at least some of the fine timing markers are temporally interposed between the coarse timing markers; (b) a coarse locations determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for designating a first of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given first edge of the first switched signal, for designating a second of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given second edge of the second switched signal; and for generating therefrom a coarse displacement signal that coarsely represents a chronological displacement present between the given first and second edges of the respective first and second switched signals; (c) a first fine location determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for identifying a first of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated first coarse timing marker as a fine marker that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given first edge; and (d) a second fine location determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for identifying a second of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated second coarse timing marker as one that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given second edge.