Patent ID: 6111436
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A system to output the difference in propagation delay of a first signal path segment and a second signal path segment in an integrated circuit, the device comprising:a signal source configured to generate a transition and to transmit the generated transition;a delay circuit configured to receive the transition, and, based on the transition, to transmit a first transition to the first signal path segment with a selectable delay and a second transition to the second signal path segment with a selectable delay;the integrated circuit further including:a first arbiter circuit coupled at its inputs to one end of the first and to one end of the second signal path segments, the first arbiter circuit including mechanisms configured to determine on which of the first and second signal path segments leading edge transitions of the first and second transitions arrive first; anda second arbiter circuit coupled at its inputs to a second end of the first and second signal path segments, the second arbiter circuit including mechanisms configured to determine on which of the first and second signal path segments leading edge transitions of the first and second transitions arrive first.