Systems and methods for precise event timing measurements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for precise event time measurement. High speed serializer and deserializer circuitry are combined with high speed logic elements, such as exclusive-OR (XOR) or exclusive-not-OR (XNOR) logic circuitry, to achieve a measurement precision based upon a bit period associated with the high speed circuitry rather than upon slower reference clock signals. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate digital signal patterns, serialize them, transmit them as a high speed bit stream, utilize an event occurrence signal and logic circuitry to produce a modified bit stream, deserialize the modified bit stream to produce a modified digital signal pattern, compare the modified signal pattern with a predicted signal pattern, and determine bit positions or bit periods at which events occur based upon this comparison. These bit positions can then be used to generate precise timestamps and related time information for detected events.