Patent ID: 7855582

Claim:
A device for detecting a timing of an edge of an input signal with respect to a timing of a predefined edge of a periodic signal, the edge of the input signal defining a state change between a first state and a second state of the input signal, the device comprising: a phase-shift element for shifting a phase of the input signal relative to a phase of the periodic signal by a phase shift value, wherein the state change is sensed at a point in time determined by the timing of the predefined edge; and a detection element for detecting the timing of the edge of the input signal relative to the timing of the predefined edge based on the phase shift value, wherein the phase-shift element is an adjustable digital delay element for delaying the input signal by an adjustable delay value as the phase shift value, wherein the delay element adjusts the delay value by controlling the delay value in discrete steps, and wherein the delay element has a switchable capacitor for adjusting the delay value.