Simplified structure for programmable delays

Abstract

A programmable delay circuit with a simplified structure conserves parts and provides for simplified programmability. In this structure, N delay stages (1-N) each include delay elements (10,26, . . . ,80) that produce delay times that are related as powers of two and are connected by two-input multiplexers (12,22, . . . ,82). The two-input multiplexers select between the input and output of the delay element in their stage, and are collectively controlled by N-bits of delay selection signals that are connected so that less significant bits control multiplexers associated with delay elements producing shorter delays and more significant bits control multiplexers associated with delay elements producing longer delays in a monotonic correspondence. The resulting structure conserves parts and produces an overall delay time that is directly proportional to the binary value used to control the multiplexers. Alternative embodiments are disclosed in which delay elements are related as powers of an arbitrary base number Y instead of two, but this embodiment does not provide all possible delay values and the delay provided is not proportional to the value of the binary bits used for control.