Digital circuit for frequency and timing characterization

Abstract

A digital circuit operating frequency characterizer provides a combination of frequency and duty cycle characterization. The digital circuit operating frequency characterizer includes a programmable frequency generator, a programmable edge variator, a test engine, and a control circuit. The programmable frequency generator provides one or more output signals, and the programmable edge variator is coupled to one or more outputs of the programmable frequency generator for adjusting duty cycle. The test engine uses the outputs from the programmable edge variator and/or programmable frequency generator to apply a defined test signal sequence to a circuit under test and produce a status output after evaluating the outputs received from the circuit under test. The control circuit is connected to the control inputs of the programmable frequency generator, programmable edge variator, and the status output of the test engine. The control circuit synchronizes their operations and performs the combination of frequency and duty cycle characterization.