Patent ID: 6181649
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
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 event and at a nontriggering level upon occurrence of a reference event that follows said first event;a first current circuit having a current source or a current sink;a second current circuit havinga current sink where said first current circuit has a current source, ora current source where said first current is circuit has a current sink;a capacitor;a shunt,wherein said shunt and said capacitor are operatively disposed in parallel with respect to said first current circuit,wherein said shunt is disposed between said first current circuit and said second current circuit, andwherein said shunt receives said trigger signal and is selectable between conducting and non-conducting states between said first current circuit and said second current circuit depending upon said trigger signal so thatsaid shunt is driven to said conducting state from said non-conducting state upon receiving said trigger signal at said triggering level andsaid shunt is driven to said non-conducting state from said conducting state upon receiving said trigger signal at said non-triggering level; anda current boost circuit in communication with said capacitor, said current boost circuit configured to apply a voltage transition between said first current circuit and said capacitor upon occurrence of said reference event so that said capacitor voltage changes with said voltage transition.