# Patent

## Title
Apparatuses and methods for delaying signals using a delay line with homogenous architecture and integrated measure initialization circuitry

## Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for delaying signals using a delay line are described. An example apparatus includes a controller configured to in a first mode, set a delay length, and, in a second mode, to determine an initial delay. The apparatus further including a delay line circuit coupled to the controller and includes delay elements. Each of the delay elements includes delay gates that are the same type of delay gate. The delay line circuit is configured to, in the first mode propagate a signal through one or more of the delay elements to provide a delayed signal. The delay line circuit is further configured to, in the second mode, propagate a pulse signal through one or more of the delay elements and provide a corresponding output signal from each of the one or more delay elements responsive to the pulse signal reaching an output of the corresponding delay element.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/692,666, filed Dec. 3, 2012, which application is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety, for any purpose.


TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to delay circuits, and more particularly, in one or more of the illustrated embodiments, to variable delay circuits for adjusting the timing of signals.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Variable delay circuits are designed to delay a signal by a delay, for example, often to synchronize two clock signals. Conventional delay circuits have a series of delay elements that are coupled together serially with exit tree circuitry configured to tap an output of any particular delay element once a desired delay length is achieved. The exit tree circuitry includes several layers of circuit elements including circuit elements of different types. The several layers of circuit elements increase forward path delay through which a signal propagates prior to being output, and using different types of circuit elements, decrease the predictability of the delay. Additionally, the exit tree circuitry consumes power and can be particularly susceptible to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) degradation and duty cycle distortion issues. Further, circuitry for the exit tree logic increases a layout area required for the delay circuit.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a delay-locked loop;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a homogenous delay line circuit;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a homogenous delay line circuit;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a homogenous delay line circuit; and
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a memory including a homogenous delay line circuit according to an embodiment of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be clear to one having skill in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these particular details. Moreover, the particular embodiments of the present invention described herein are provided by way of example and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Referring to FIG. 1, a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a delay-locked loop (DLL) is disclosed and generally designated 100. As used herein, examples of apparatuses may include an integrated circuit, a memory device, a memory system, an electronic device or system, a smart phone, a tablet, a computer, a server, etc. The apparatus 100 may include a DLL circuit 110, which includes a delay line circuit 160. The delay line circuit 160 includes a plurality of delay elements coupled together. Each of the plurality of delay elements may be nearly identical and may delay a signal for an approximately equal length of time. The delay line circuit 160 may include a delay line circuit with homogenous architecture and integrated measurement initialization circuitry. A delay line circuit with homogenous architecture may include delay gates of a same type. Further, the integrated measure initialization circuitry may include circuitry integrated into the delay line circuit that is capable of performing a measure initialization operation to determine an initial delay. The apparatus 100 may receive an input signal CLKIN and provide a DLL signal DLLCLK by delaying the CLKIN signal through the delay line circuit 160. The delay of the delay line circuit 160 may be adjusted based on a comparison between a phase of a feedback signal CLKFB (e.g., the DLLCLK delayed by a model circuit 166) and a phase of the CLKIN signal at a phase detector 170. The phase detector 170 provides shift signals SL/SR to a controller 150 that are indicative of a difference between the phases of the CLKFB and CLKIN signals. Responsive to the SL/SR signals, the controller 150 provides control signals to control the delay of the delay line circuit 160. The controller 150 may include a shift register that is used to provide the control signals to control the length of the delay through the delay line circuit 160 based on the SL/SR signals. In an embodiment, the controller 150 provides control signals that cause the number of active delay elements to decrease responsive to an active SL signal (e.g., “shift left”), and as a result, decrease the delay of the delay line circuit 160. The controller 150 may provide control signals that cause the number of active delay elements to increase responsive to an active SR signal (e.g., “shift right”), and as a result, increase the delay of the delay line circuit 160.
The DLLCLK signal is provided to a model circuit 166, which provides a further delay to the DLLCLK signal to provide the CLKFB signal. The model circuit 166 may model a propagation delay of at least a portion of the circuitry (not shown) of the apparatus 100, for example, an output or an input buffer, a signal distribution network, or other circuit.
In operation, the DLL circuit 110 may be configured to operate in one of at least two modes. A first mode may be a measure initialization mode and a second mode may be a tracking mode. In the measure initialization mode, a measure operation may be performed during which the controller 150 may determine an initial delay length based on a pulse signal propagating through the delay line circuit 160. During measure initialization mode, a signal is propagated through the DLL circuit 110 contemporaneously with a pulse signal propagating through the delay line circuit 160. As the pulse signal propagates through the delay line circuit 160, the plurality of delay elements are each configured to provide an output signal responsive to the pulse signal reaching an output of a corresponding delay element. Responsive to the signal completing propagation through the DLL circuit 110, the controller 150 may determine an initial delay based on the output signals received from the delay line circuit 160. In an embodiment, the controller 150 may count a number of output signals that were asserted based on the phase difference between feedback pulse signal and reference clock. In another embodiment, the controller 150 may determine a delay element associated with a last asserted output signal that was received. The controller 150 may store a value associated with an initial delay in a shift register based on the output signals received. After determining and setting the initial delay, the DLL circuit 110 may exit the measure initialization mode.
During the tracking mode, the controller 150 configures the delay line circuit 160 to delay the CLKIN signal to achieve a desired delay length to produce the DLLCLK signal based on a phase relationship between the CLKIN signal and the CLKFB signal. For example, the phase detector 170 is configured to monitor a phase relationship between the CLKIN signal and the CLKFB signal by detecting a phase difference between the CLKIN signal and the CLKFB signal (e.g., the DLLCLK signal delayed through the model circuit 166). Based on a detected phase difference, the phase detector 170 may provide the SL/SR signals having a value indicating a shift necessary to attempt to reduce the phase difference. The detection of a phase difference and providing of the SL/SR signal continues to synchronize (e.g., in phase with each other) the CLKIN and the CLKFB signals. In an embodiment, the SL/SR signal may include a shift right (SR) signal and/or a shift left (SL) signal. In other embodiments, signals other than shift signals may be provided by the phase detector 170 to indicate a phase difference between the CLKIN and CLKFB signals.
The controller 150 may provide control signals responsive to the SL/SR signals to adjust the length of the delay applied to the CLKIN signal by delay line circuit 160. For example, when shifting to the left, the controller 150 controls the delay line circuit to have fewer active delay elements of the plurality of delay elements in the delay line circuit 160, to decrease the length of the delay applied to the CLKIN signal. Alternatively, when shifting to the right, the controller 150 controls the delay line circuit to have more active delay elements of the plurality of delay elements in the delay line circuit 160 to increase the length of the delay applied to the CLKIN signal. By adjusting the length of the delay through the delay line circuit 160 applied to the CLKIN signal, the CLKFB signal is adjusted accordingly. The controller 150 may perform further fine tuning by mixing signals (not shown) generated within the delay line circuit 160 prior to providing the DLLCLK signal. When the CLKIN and CLKFB signals are synchronized, the phase detector 170 may provide SL/SR signals that maintain the length of the delay through the delay line circuit 160 and set the DLL circuit 110 in locked position.
A delay line circuit with homogenous architecture and integrated measure initialization circuitry may simplify the delay line circuit 160, as compared with a delay line having exit trees and separate measure initialization circuitry. Elimination of an exit tree from the delay line circuit 160 may reduce a forward path delay, layout area, and power consumption. Additionally, negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) degradation may be mitigated by eliminating the exit tree. Further, circuitry integrated for the measure initialization mode may reduce necessary circuitry of the delay line circuit 160, which may reduce layout area and power consumption. Using homogenous delay elements may increase accuracy and reliability of a delay length due to each of the delay gates having a equal delay length. Further, responsive to exposure to similar operational stresses (e.g., temperature changes, etc.), the homogenous delay elements of the delay line circuit 160 may all degrade in a similar manner. For example, a variance in delay length caused by operational stresses may be approximately equal on of the homogenous delay elements.
Referring to FIG. 2, a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a delay line circuit with homogenous architecture and integrated measurement initialization circuitry is disclosed and generally designated 200. The apparatus 200 may include a delay line circuit 260 having a plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) configured to be controlled by a controller 250. While FIG. 2. depicts four delay elements 212(1-4), one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the delay line circuit 260 may be expanded to include any number of delay elements 212(1-N). Each of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) may form a delay line circuit 260 with homogenous architecture and integrated measurement initialization circuitry. While in a tracking mode, the first delay element 212(1) of the delay line circuit 260 may be configured to receive an input signal CLKIN and to provide an even output signal CLKOUT-EVEN having a first delay through one or more of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N). The first delay element 212(1) may be further configured to provide odd output signal CLKOUT-ODD having a second delay through one or more of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N). A length of the first delay and a length of the second delay may be based on control signals received from the controller 250. Further, the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) may be used by the controller 250 during the measure initialization mode to determine an initial delay. The controller 250 may include the controller 150 of FIG. 1. The delay line circuit 260 may include the delay line circuit 160 of FIG. 1.
A delay element of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) may be coupled to adjacent delay elements of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N). In an embodiment, the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) may have the same architecture. Each of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) includes a two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N). The two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) may include a same type of delay gate, and may have approximately equal delay characteristics. For example, the two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) may delay a signal for an approximately equal length of time. Further, a type of delay gate of each of the corresponding two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) may include a two-input NAND gate NAND2.
The delay element 212(1) may be configured to receive an input control signal CTRL10, a first control signal CTRL11, and a second control signal CTRL12 from the controller 250, and may be configured to provide an output signal OUTM1 to the controller 250. The delay element 212(2) may be configured to receive a first control signal CTRL21 and a second control signal CTRL22 from the controller 250 and may be configured to provide an output signal OUTM2 to the controller 250. The delay element 212(3) may be configured to receive a first control signal CTRL31 and a second control signal CTRL32 from the controller 250 and may be configured to provide an output signal OUTM3 to the controller 250. The delay element 212(4) may be configured to receive a first control signal CTRL41 and a second control signal CTRL42 from the controller 250 and may be configured to provide an output signal OUTM4 to the controller 250. Similarly, additional delay elements (not shown) may be configured to receive a corresponding first control signal and a corresponding second control signal and to provide the corresponding output signal.
In operation, the controller 250 may control the delay line circuit 260 for the measure initialization mode using the control signals CTRL<1:N><0:2> signals. For example, the controller 250 may control the delay line circuit 260 for the measure initialization mode by asserting the CTRL10 signal and each of the CTRL<1:N>2 signals to provide a signal path through the delay line elements 212(1-N). The signal path may include at least two of the delay gates 222(1-N), 224(1-N), and a delay gate 228(1-N). During the measure initialization mode, a pulse signal is provided as the CLKIN signal to the first delay element 212(1). The pulse signal propagates along the signal path through the delay elements 212(1-N), with the OUTM<1:N> signals sequentially asserted as the pulse signal reaches an output of the corresponding delay gate 228(1-N). Upon completion of the measure initialization, the controller 250 may be configured to determine an initial delay based on the asserted OUTM<1:4> signals (e.g., determining a count of the asserted OUTM<1:N> signals or determining a delay element associated with a last asserted OUTM<1:N> signal) and to store a value indicating the initial delay in a shift register. After setting the initial delay, the measure initialization mode may be exited. A specific example of the measure initialization mode is described further with reference to FIG. 3.
The controller 250 may be configured to control the delay line circuit 260 for the tracking mode using the CTRL<1:N><0:2> signals. During the tracking mode, the controller 250 may be configured to control the delay elements 212(1-N) to provide a first delay applied to the CLKIN signal to produce the CLKOUT-EVEN signal and provide a second delay applied to the CLKIN signal to produce the CLKOUT-ODD signal by asserting the CTRL10 signal and/or at least one of the CTRL<1:N>1 signals. Asserting the CTRL 10 signal and/or the CTRL<1:N>1 signals may set a first signal path for the CLKIN signal to produce the CLKOUT-EVEN signal and may set a second signal path for the CLKIN signal to produce the CLKOUT-ODD signal. For example, the CTRL10 and/or the at least one of the CTRL<1:4>1 signals may be asserted by the controller 250 based on a determination of a number of delay elements to be applied for each of the first delay and the second delay. Each of the first signal path and the second signal path may include at least two of the delay gates 220 (1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), and 226(1-N).
The first signal path may form a loop starting from the CLKIN signal input of the first delay element 212(1) and returning to the CLKOUT-EVEN signal output of the first delay element 212(1). For example, the first signal path may extend through one or more of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) to a first return delay element of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N), and return to the CLKOUT-EVEN signal output of the first delay element 212(1) from the first return delay element. The first return delay element may be designated by the controller 250 by the CTRL10 signal and the CTRL<1:N>1 signals. The second signal path may form a loop starting from the CLKIN signal input of the first delay element 212(1) and returning to the CLKOUT-ODD signal output of the first delay element 212(1). For example, the second signal path may extend through one or more of the plurality of delay elements 212(1-N) to a second return delay element 212(1-N), and return to the CLKOUT-ODD signal output of the first delay element 212(1) from the second return delay element. The second return delay element may be designated by the controller by the CTRL10 signal and the CTRL<1:N>1 signals. A specific example of the delay operation is described further with reference to FIG. 4.
As discussed with reference to FIG. 2, each of the delay elements 212(1-N) include two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N), with each of the two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) including a same type of gate delay, and having approximately equal delay characteristics, even as operational stresses cause degradation of the two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) over time. For example, degradation of each of the two or more delay gates 220(1-N), 222(1-N), 224(1-N), 226(1-N), and 228(1-N) may be similar based on having a same type of gate and being exposed to substantially similar operational stresses. This homogenous nature simplifies delay line circuit architecture, and looping signal paths back to a first delay element 212(1) may eliminate a need for a clock tree, which reduces power consumption and layout.
Referring to FIG. 3, a particular illustrative embodiment of an apparatus including a delay line circuit 360 with homogenous architecture and integrated measure initialization circuitry is disclosed and generally designated 300. The apparatus 300 may include a delay line circuit 360 having a plurality of delay elements 312(1-N) configured to be controlled by a controller 350. While FIG. 3. depicts four delay elements 312(1-N), one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the delay line circuit 360 may be expanded to include any number of delay elements. Each of the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N) have homogenous architectures and integrated measure initialization circuitry. The delay element 312(1) may receive an input signal CLKIN and may provide an even output signal CLKOUT-EVEN and an odd output signal CLKOUT-ODD each having a delay from propagating through one or more of the delay elements 312(1-N), and/or additional delay elements based on control signals received from the controller 350. Further, the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N) may be used with the controller 350 during the measure initialization mode to determine an initial delay. The controller 350 may include the controller 150 of FIG. 1 and/or the controller 250 of FIG. 2. The delay line circuit 360 may include the delay line circuit 160 of FIG. 1 and/or the delay line circuit 260 of FIG. 2. Each of the “0” and the “1” illustrated in the delay line circuit 360 represent a logical value of a corresponding line or input.
As with the delay elements 212(1-N) of the delay line circuit 260 described with reference to FIG. 2, a delay element of the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N) may be coupled to adjacent delay elements of the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N). Each of the plurality of delay elements includes a corresponding two or more two-input NAND gates NAND2 including corresponding delay gates 320(1-N), 322(1-N), 324(1-N), 326(1-N), and 328(1-N). The two or more delay gates 320(1-N), 322(1-N), 324(1-N), 326(1-N) may be homogenous and may have approximately equal delay characteristics. For example, each of the two or more delay gates may delay a signal for approximately a same length of time.
The delay line circuit 360 may receive control signals CTRL<1:N><0:2> from the controller 350 and provide output signals OUTM<1:N> to the controller 350. The CTRL<1:4><0:2> signals may correspond to the CTRL<1:4><0:2> signals described with reference to FIG. 2. The CTRL<1:4><0:2> signals may be based on a measurement enable signal MEASEN and/or corresponding exit enable signals EXITEN<1:N>. The MEASENF signal and the EXITENF<1:N> signals are complements to the MEASEN signal and the EXITEN<1:N> signals, respectively. The MEASEN signal may be asserted during a measure initialization mode.
Each of the EXITEN<1:N> signals may correspond to a respective one of the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N). The controller 350 may be configured to set a delay length of the CLKOUT-EVEN signal or the CLKOUT-ODD signal by asserting the EXITEN<1:N> signal corresponding to a particular delay element of the plurality of delay elements 312(1-N). The asserted EXITEN<1:N> signal is used to assert and/or clear one or more of the CTRL<1:4><0:2> signals associated with the asserted EXITEN<1:N> signal. At least one of the EXITEN<1:N> signals may be asserted for each of the CLKOUT-EVEN signal and the CLKOUT-ODD signal during a tracking mode. Logic used to assert each of the CTRL<1:4><0:2> signals provided to the delay line circuit 360 by the controller 350 is depicted as a logic equation at an input of a corresponding NAND2 gate. In the logic equations, the “*” indicates AND logic, and the “+” indicates OR logic. For example, CTRL10 is asserted responsive to MEASEN having a logical high value OR EXITEN<1> having a logical high value. Further, the OUTM<1:N> signals that may correspond to the OUTM<1:N> signals of FIG. 2 and are identified by corresponding text in the delay line circuit 360.
An example of a measure initialization mode is depicted in FIG. 3. Line 390 depicts one example of a signal path through the delay line circuit 360 during the measure initialization mode. During the measure initialization mode, the MEASEN signal is asserted and logic gate 318 provides a logical high value to an input of the delay gate 324(1). The MEASEN signal also enables each of the delay gates 328(1-N) via a corresponding CTRL<1:4>2 signal. A pulse signal is provided to an input of the delay gate 322(1) and the delay gate 324(1), which is to be propagated through the delay elements of the delay line circuit 360. In an embodiment, the pulse signal is represented by a transition from a logical high value to a logical low value. The delay gate 324(1) provides a signal to the delay gate 328(1), and the delay gate 328(1) asserts the OUTM1 signal provided to the controller 350. The OUTM1 signal is also provided to an input of the delay gate 324(2). Responsive to the pulse signal, an output signal D1 is provided by the delay gate 322(1) to a second input of the delay gate 324(2). Based on the OUTM1 signal and the D1 signal, a signal is provided to the delay gate 328(2), and the delay gate 328(2) asserts the OUTM2 signal provided to the controller 350. Propagation of the pulse signal along a path corresponding to the line 390 continues until a feedback loop (not shown) of a DLL, such as the DLL circuit 110 of FIG. 1, has been completed by a reference signal (not shown), as described with reference to FIG. 1. The controller 350 may be configured to determine an initial delay based on asserted OUTM<1:N> signals that are provided as the pulse signal propagates through the delay elements 312, and may store a value corresponding to the initial delay in a shift register. After setting an initial delay, the measure initialization mode may be exited.
An example operation of the delay line circuit 360 during the tracking mode according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Dashed line 480 depicts an example of a first propagation path of the CLKIN signal through the delay line circuit 360 to provide the CLKOUT-EVEN signal during the tracking mode. Dashed line 482 depicts an example of a second propagation path of the CLKIN signal through the delay line circuit 360 to produce the CLKOUT-ODD signal during the tracking mode. In the example depicted in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the desired delay for the CLKOUT-EVEN and CLKOUT ODD signals are provided by having the delay element 312(2) as the first return delay element and the delay element 312(3) as the second return delay element.
During the tracking mode, the MEASEN signal is not asserted. The EXITENF<2> signal is de-asserted (e.g., the complement EXITEN<2> signal is asserted) by the controller 350 to control the delay line circuit 360 to have the delay element 312(2) as the first return delay element. Further, the EXITEN<3> signal is asserted by the controller 350 to control the delay line circuit 360 to have the delay element 312(3) as the second return delay element. Control signals associated with the EXITENF<2> signal and/or the EXITEN<3> signal are asserted or cleared corresponding to the EXITENF<2> signal being de-asserted and/or the EXITEN<3> signal being asserted. Responsive to the EXITENF<2> signal being de-asserted, the CLKIN signal loops back to the CLKOUT-EVEN signal output at the delay element 312(2). Thus, the CLKIN signal propagates through four delay gates 322(1), 324(2), 326(2) and 320(1) to provide the CLKOUT-EVEN signal. Responsive to the EXITEN<3> signal being asserted the CLKIN signal loops back to the CLKOUT-ODD signal output at the delay element 312(2). Thus, the CLKIN signal propagates through six delay gates 322(1), 322(2), 324(3), 326(3), 320(2), and 326(1) to provide the CLKOUT-ODD signal. The difference in delay between the CLKOUT-EVEN signal and the CLKOUT-ODD signal is two delay gates or approximately two times the propagation delay associated with a delay gate. The CLKOUT-EVEN signal and/or the CLKOUT-ODD signal may be further processed or combined (e.g., mixed by a phase mixer circuit) to produce the DLLOUT signal of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 5, block diagram of a memory 500 including a delay line circuit according to an embodiment of the invention. The memory 500 may include an array 502 of memory cells, which may be, for example, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) memory cells, static random-access memory (SRAM) memory cells, flash memory cells, or some other types of memory cells. The memory 500 includes a command decoder 506 that may receive memory commands through a command bus 508 and provide (e.g., generate) corresponding control signals within the memory 500 to carry out various memory operations. Row and column address signals may be provided (e.g., applied) to an address latch 510 in the memory 500 through an address bus 520. The address latch 510 may then provide (e.g., output) a separate column address and a separate row address.
The address latch 510 may provide row and column addresses to a row address decoder 522 and a column address decoder 528, respectively. The column address decoder 528 may select bit lines extending through the array 502 corresponding to respective column addresses. The row address decoder 522 may be connected to a word line driver 524 that activates respective rows of memory cells in the array 502 corresponding to received row addresses. The selected data line (e.g., a bit line or bit lines) corresponding to a received column address may be coupled to a read/write circuitry 530 to provide read data to a output data buffer 534 via an input-output data bus 540. Write data may be provided to the memory array 502 through a input data buffer 544 and the memory array read/write circuitry 530. The command decoder 506 may respond to memory commands provided to the command bus 508 to perform various operations on the memory array 502. In particular, the command decoder 506 may be used to provide internal control signals to read data from and write data to the memory array 502.
The memory 500 may include a clock generator 516 that includes a delay line circuit 514 with homogenous architecture and integrated measure initialization circuitry 514. The delay line circuit 514 provides a DLLCLK signal that may be used for clocking circuitry of the memory 500. The delay line circuit 514 may include the delay line circuit 160 of FIG. 1 and/or the delay line circuit 260 of FIG. 2, the delay line circuit 360 of FIGS. 3 and 4, or any combination thereof, and may be configured to operate in conjunction with the controller 150 of FIG. 1 and/or the controller 250 of FIG. 2, the controller 350 of FIGS. 3 and 4. For example, the delay line circuit 514 may be configured, in the first mode, to drive a clock signal through one or more of a plurality of delay elements to provide a delayed clock signal at an output. The delay line circuit 514 may be further configured to, in the second mode, based on the control signals, receive a pulse signal and provide a corresponding output signal from each of the plurality of delay elements responsive to the pulse signal reaching an output of the corresponding delay element, for example, to set an initial delay for the delay line circuit 514.
Those of ordinary skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, configurations, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software executed by a processor, or combinations of both. Various illustrative components, blocks, configurations, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as defined by the following claims.

## Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:
a delay line circuit including a first delay element coupled to a second delay element, the delay line circuit configured to contemporaneously:
propagate a signal in a first loop from the first delay element through the second delay element and back through the first delay element to provide a first delayed signal; and
propagate the signal in a second loop from the first delay element through the second delay element and back through the first delay element to provide a second delayed signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delay line circuit configured to propagate the signal in the first loop and to propagate the signal in the second loop while in a first mode, the delay line circuit further configured to, while in a second mode, propagate a pulse signal through the first delay element and through the second delay element, wherein the first delay element is configured to provide a first output signal and the second delay element is configured to provide a second output signal based on the pulse signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a delay of the signal in the first loop to provide the first delayed signal is different than a delay of the signal in the second loop to provide the second delayed signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first delay element comprises a first plurality of delay gates and the second delay element comprises a second plurality of delay gates.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first plurality of delay gates include a same type of delay gate, and wherein each of the second plurality of delay gates include a same type of delay gate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first plurality of delay gates and each of the second plurality of delay gates include NAND gates.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the delay line circuit and configured to control the delay line circuit to propagate the signal in the first loop and to propagate the signal in the second loop.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising control logic coupled to the delay line circuit and configured to control the delay line circuit to propagate the signal in the first loop and to propagate the signal in the second loop.

9. An apparatus comprising:
a delay line circuit including a plurality of delay elements, the delay line circuit configured to provide output signals from one or more of the plurality of delay elements based on a pulse signal; and
a controller coupled to the delay line circuit and configured to determine an initial delay based on a comparison between the output signals and a delay of a reference signal through a delay path.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control a delay of an input signal through the delay line circuit to provide a delayed signal after determination of the initial delay.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the delay line circuit is further configured to receive the input signal at a first delay element of the plurality of delay elements and propagate the signal in a loop through one or more of the plurality of delay elements and returning to the first delay element to provide the delayed signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the delay line circuit is further configured to propagate the signal in a second loop through one or more of the plurality of delay elements and returning to the first delay element to provide a second delayed signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a propagation delay of the first loop is different than a propagation delay of the second loop.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the delay gates of a delay element of the plurality of delay elements are a same type of delay gate.

15. A method, comprising:
providing one or more output signals from a delay line circuit based on a received pulse signal;
comparing a count of the output signals with a reference signal propagated through a reference path;
determining an initial delay for the delay line circuit based on the comparison the count of the output signals with the reference signal propagated through the reference path.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising propagating an input signal through the delay line circuit based on the initial delay to provide a delayed signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting a propagation path through the delay line circuit based on control signals.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the initial delay in a shift register.