Patent ID: 8729981

Claim:
A precision delay line instrument, comprising: a plurality of controller activatable delay loops comprising a plurality of different delay length design values, wherein the plurality of different delay length design values comprise a first set of delay lengths according to a first set of binary step values, and a second set of delay lengths according to a second set of binary step values that is offset from the first set of binary step values; an operating data structure comprising a set of selectable delay settings for the precision delay line instrument, and identifications of delay loops corresponding to each of the selectable delay settings, wherein the identified delay loops corresponding to at least one of the selectable delay settings comprise a best-fit matched combination of delay loops, wherein the best-fit matched combination of delay loops produces a signal delay by the delay line instrument that more closely matches the at least one selectable delay setting, as compared to other combinations of delay loops producible by the delay line instrument, said other combinations of delay loops including a combination of delay loops selected according to the delay length design values; and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of delay loops, and configured to apply a selected delay setting by accessing the operating data structure and activating the delay loops corresponding to the selected delay setting in the operating data structure.