Patent ID: 7911245

Claim:
A multi-phase periodic signal generator comprising: a plurality of delay elements including a first delay element, an intermediate delay element, and a third delay element, each of the plurality of delay elements coupled such that an output of a respective delay element is coupled to an input of a next delay element, each of the respective delay elements configured to delay a signal applied to an input of the respective delay element and couple the delayed signal to the respective next delay element, the first delay element configured to receive a first periodic signal, the intermediate delay element configured to output an intermediate periodic signal, and the third delay element configured to output a third periodic signal; a first pulse generator configured to receive the first and intermediate signals and generate a first pulse having a width corresponding to a time between a rising edge of the intermediate signal and a next rising edge of the first signal; a second pulse generator configured to receive the intermediate and third signals and generate a second pulse having a width corresponding to a time between a rising edge of the intermediate signal and a next rising edge of the third signal; and a control signal generator configured to receive the first and second pulses and generate a control signal to configure the delay of the plurality of delay elements such that the first, intermediate, and third signals have a particular phase relationship.