KR20210100881A - Time-digital convertor having low power consumption and high precision - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a time-to-digital converter with low power and high precision. In accordance with the present invention, the number of long-period oscillation signals generated within an activation period of a time signal and the number of short-period oscillation signals generated within one period of the long-period oscillation signals are sensed, and thus, the number of short-period oscillation signals generated within the activation period of a time signal is sensed. Therefore, power consumption is greatly reduced, and precision is also greatly improved. In addition, in the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, a data value of sensing data is generated by reflecting the length of the activation period of the time signal in which the difference from the sensed number of the long-period oscillation signals occurs, and the length of the long-period oscillation signals in which the difference from the sensed number of the short-period oscillation signals occurs. Therefore, the conversion precision is further improved.

Description

TIME-DIGITAL CONVERTOR HAVING LOW POWER CONSUMPTION AND HIGH PRECISION with low power and high precision

The present invention relates to a time-to-digital converter that converts a time signal having a data value of an analog component corresponding to the length of an activation section into sensing data having a data value of a digital component, in particular, a time-to-digital converter with low power and high precision It's about digital converters.

Some of the circuits built into the electronic device are controlled by the data value of an analog component such as a voltage level, and others are controlled according to the data value of the digital component. For interfacing between circuits controlled according to data values of different properties as described above, a circuit for converting a data value of an analog component into a data value of a digital component is built in the electronic device.

As such, one of the circuits for converting the data value of the analog component into the data value of the digital component is a time-digital converter. The time-to-digital converter is a circuit that converts the length of the activation period of the time signal into sensing data of a digital component and outputs the converted data.

The time-to-digital converter generally senses the length of the activation period of the time signal using an oscillation signal having a constant period. That is, by sensing the number of periods of the oscillation signal included in the activation period, the length of the activation period of the time signal is sensed.

However, when an oscillation signal of a short period is used, there is a disadvantage in that power consumption is large. On the other hand, when an oscillation signal having a long period is used, there is a disadvantage in that the precision is lowered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a time-to-digital converter having low power consumption and high precision.

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a time-to-digital converter for converting a time signal into sensed data, wherein the time signal has a data value of an analog component corresponding to the length of the activation period, and the sensed data is and the time-to-digital converter having a data value of a digital component corresponding to a length of an activation period of a time signal. The time-to-digital converter of the present invention includes: a long-period counter for generating long-period number information by counting the number of pulses of the long-period oscillation signal generated within the activation period of the time signal; A short-period counter providing period matching information and residual matching information, wherein the period matching information depends on the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal generated within one period of the long-period oscillation signal, and the residual matching information is The short-period counter depends on the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal generated within the period, and the remaining period is the period from the time when the time signal is deactivated to the first activation time of the long-period oscillation signal generated later. ; An error calculating unit generating periodic error information based on a periodic error, wherein the periodic error is a difference between one period of the long-period oscillation signal and a period matching length, and the period matching length is the period matching information and the short-period oscillation signal the error calculating unit that is a product of a period of ; A length calculating unit generating total counting information based on the long period number information, the period matching information, the residual matching information, and the period error information, wherein the total counting information corresponds to the length of the activation section of the time signal. the length calculating unit corresponding to the number of pulses of the periodic oscillation signal; and a digital conversion unit converting the entire counting information into the sensed data.

In the time-to-digital converter of the present invention configured as described above, the number of long-period oscillation signals generated within the activation period of the time signal and the number of short-period oscillation signals generated within one period of the long-period oscillation signal are sensed, Through this, the number of short-period oscillation signals generated within the activation period of the time signal is sensed. Therefore, according to the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the power consumption is greatly reduced, and the precision is also greatly improved.

In addition, in the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the length of the activation period of the time signal in which a difference occurs with the number of sensed long-period oscillation signals and the number of sensed short-period oscillation signals and long-period oscillation signals in which a difference occurs A data value of the sensing data is generated by reflecting the length of . Therefore, according to the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the conversion precision is further improved.

A brief description of each figure used in the present invention is provided.
1 is a diagram for explaining a time-to-digital converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the time-digital converter of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 3 is a view of a part of the error annual part of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining generation of periodic error information/residual error information in the error calculating unit of FIG. 3 .

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed subject matter may be thorough and complete, and that the spirit of the present invention may be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

And, in understanding each drawing, it should be noted that the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that are determined to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

In describing the contents of the present invention throughout the specification, a plurality of expressions for each component may also be omitted. For example, even if it is composed of a plurality of signal lines, it may be expressed as 'signal lines' or in a singular form such as 'signal lines'. This is because the switches sometimes operate complementary to each other and sometimes operate alone. In the case where the signal line also consists of a bundle such as multiple signal lines having the same property, for example, data signals, it is necessary to divide it into singular and singular. It is also because there is no need to separate the plurals. In this respect, this description is reasonable. Therefore, similar expressions should also be interpreted in the same sense throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram for explaining a time-to-digital converter (TAC) according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the operation of the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of FIG.

The time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 converts the time signal (XTIM) that may be provided from the voltage-time converter (ATC) into sensing data (DSEN). At this time, the voltage-time converter ATC receives the measurement signal XMES sensed by the sensor SEN and converts it into the time signal XTIM. In addition, the time signal XTIM has an activation period (P11 in FIG. 2 ) having a length corresponding to the voltage level of the measurement signal XMES. That is, the time signal XTIM has a data value of an analog component corresponding to the length of the activation period (P11 in FIG. 2 ).

Here, the voltage-time converter (ATC) is a circuit that can be implemented in various ways, and can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art. Therefore, in the present specification, for the sake of simplicity of description, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

In addition, the sensing data DSEN has a data value of a digital component corresponding to the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM.

The time-to-digital converter of the present invention senses the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM by using both a short-period oscillation signal of a relatively short period and a long-period oscillation signal of a relatively long period. Note that

Still referring to FIG. 1 , the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention includes a long-period counter 100 , a short-period counter 200 , an error calculating unit 300 , a length calculating unit 400 and a digital conversion unit 500 . be prepared

The long-period counter 100 counts the number of pulses of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL generated within the activation period (P11 of FIG. 2) of the time signal XTIM, and the long-period number information IFLSCN Occurs.

Here, the long-period number information IFLSCN is the number of pulses of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL completely included in the activation period (P11 of FIG. 2 ) of the time signal XTIM.

The short-period counter 200 provides period matching information IFCYM and residual matching information IFREM by using the short-period oscillation signal XOSS together with the long-period oscillation signal XOSL. In this embodiment, the period TOSL of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL is significantly longer than the period TOSS of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

Here, the period matching information IFCYM is the number of pulses of the short period oscillation signal XOSS generated within one period of the long period oscillation signal XOSL (the first period in this embodiment, P12). am.

In addition, the residual matching information IFREM is the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS generated within the residual period (P13 of FIG. 2 ). In this case, the remaining period P13 is a period from the deactivation time t12 of the time signal XTIM to the first activation time t13 of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL generated later.

The error calculator 300 generates periodic error information IFCYER based on the periodic error SCE.

Here, the period error SCE is the difference between one period TOSL of the long period oscillation signal XOSL and a period matching length LCYM, and the period matching length LCYM is the period matching information IFCYM and It is the product of the period TOSS of the short period oscillation signal XOSS.

As a result, the period error SCE is the end time t15 of the first period of the long period oscillation signal XOSL and the short period oscillation signal XOSS included in the first period of the long period oscillation signal XOSL. ) corresponds to the difference between the end times t16 of the last pulses.

Preferably, the error calculating unit 300 also generates residual error information IFRMER based on the residual error RME. In this case, the residual error RME is a difference between the residual section P13 and the residual matching length LREM.

Here, the remaining period P13 is a period from the deactivation time t12 of the time signal XTIM to the first activation time t13 of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL generated later. The residual error RME is a difference between the length of the residual section P13 and the residual matching length LREM. Here, the residual matching length LREM is a product of the residual matching information IFREM and a period TOSS of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

As a result, the period error SCE corresponds to a difference between the end time t13 of the remaining period P13 and the end time t17 of the last pulse of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

Next, the generation principle of the periodic error information IFCYER and the residual error information IFRMER will be described.

FIG. 3 is a view of a part of the error annual difference unit 300 of FIG. 1 , and is a view showing a part related to generation of periodic error information IFCYER and residual error information IFRMER. And, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining generation of periodic error information IFCYER/residual error information IFRMER in the error calculating unit 300 of FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , the error delay unit 300 includes a phase shifter 310 , first to fourth AND gates 321 to 324 , and first and second latches 331 and 332 .

The phase shifter 310 delay phase shifts the short-period oscillation signal XOSS by 0, π/2, π and 3π/2 to generate first to fourth shifter signals XOSH1 to XOSH4 . (See Fig. 4 (a))

Preferably, the phase shifter 310 is enabled only in a certain period including the end time t15 of one period of the long period oscillation signal XOSL and the end time t13 of the remaining period P13. .

In addition, the first to fourth AND gates 321 to 324 end each of the first to fourth shifter signals XOSH1 to XOSH4 with the long-period oscillation signal XOSL to form first to fourth flag signals. (XFLG1 to XFLG4) are output.

At this time, the logic states of the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 to XFLG4 are the end time t15 of one period of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL / the end time t13 of the remaining period P13 and It follows a time interval (hereinafter, referred to as an 'error interval') between the end times (t16/t17) of the last pulse of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the logic states of the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 to XFLG4 will be described in detail.

In FIG. 4 , CASE1 is a case where the error interval is between 0 and π/2, CASE2 is a case where the error interval is between π/2 and π, CASE3 is a case where the error interval is between π and 3π/2, and CASE4 is the case where the error interval is between 3π/2 and 2π.

And, in CASE1 to CASE4, the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 at the end time t15 of one period of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL / the end time t13 of the remaining period P13 to XFLG4) are as shown in (Table 1).

XFLG1 XFLG2 XFLG3 XFLG4 CASE1 H L L H CASE2 H H L L CASE3 L H H L CASE4 L L H H

That is, the size of the error interval can be sensed through the logic states of the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 to XFLG4.

The first latch 331 is enabled in response to the signal XTLAT activated at the end time t15 of the first period of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL, and in this case, the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 to XFLG1 to The logic state of XFLG4) is latched and generated as the period error information IFCYER.

The second latch 332 is enabled in response to the signal XRLAT activated at the end time t13 of the remaining period P13, and in this case, the logic states of the first to fourth flag signals XFLG1 to XFLG4. is generated as the residual error information (IFRMER).

As a result, the size of the error interval is reflected in the period error information IFCYER and the residual error information IFRMER.

For example, in each of CASE1, CASE2, CASE3, and CASE4, the periodic error information IFCYER/the residual error information IFRMER is 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 of a pulse of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS. applies to

In other words, if the period error information IFCYER and the residual error information IFRMER are used, the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM can be more precisely sensed.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , the length calculating unit 400 generates total counting information DCNT based on the long period number information IFLSCN, the period matching information IFCYM, and the remaining matching information IFREM.

In this case, the total counting information DCNT is expressed by (Equation 1) when the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM is sensed as the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

(Equation 1)

DCNT=(IFLSCN+1)*IFCYM-IFREM

Preferably, the length calculating unit 400 is configured to calculate total counting information ( DCNT) is generated.

In this case, the total counting information DCNT is expressed as (Equation 2).

(Equation 2)

DCNT=(IFLSCN+1)*IFCYM-IFREM+IFCYER*IFLSCN

In the case of (Equation 2), the period error SCE is also reflected in the total counting information DCNT. That is, the reflection precision of the total counting information DCNT with respect to the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM is improved, and as a result, the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM is increased. The conversion precision to the sensed data DSEN generated by the digital conversion unit 500 for the data is greatly improved.

More preferably, the length calculating unit 400 is configured to perform the residual error information IFRMER together with the long period number information IFLSCN, the period matching information IFCYM, the residual matching information IFREM, and the period error information IFCYER. ) based on the total counting information (DCNT) is generated.

In this case, the total counting information DCNT is expressed as (Equation 3).

(Equation 3)

DCNT=(IFLSCN+1)*IFCYM-IFREM+IFCYER*IFLSCN+IFRMER

In the case of (Equation 3), the residual error RME is also reflected along with the period error SCE in the total counting information DCNT. As a result, the conversion precision into the sensing data DSEN generated by the digital converter 500 with respect to the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM is further improved.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , the digital conversion unit 500 converts the entire counting information DCNT into the sensing data DSEN. Such a digital conversion unit 500 can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art. Therefore, in the present specification, a detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of simplification of the description.

Meanwhile, the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention preferably further includes a long-period oscillator (MOSL), a short-period oscillator (MOSS), and a control unit (MCON).

The long-period oscillator MOSL generates a long-period oscillation signal XOSL, and the short-period oscillator MOSS generates a short-period oscillation signal XOSS.

As described above, when the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention further includes the long-period oscillator (MOSL) and the short-period oscillator (MOSS), the long-period oscillation signal XOSL and the short-period oscillation signal ( XOSS) can be generated and used by itself.

In addition, the control unit MCON includes the long-period counter 100 , the short-period counter 200 , the error calculating unit 300 , the length calculating unit 400 , the digital conversion unit 500 , and the long-period oscillator (MOSL). ) and the synchronization of the short-period oscillator (MOSS) and the like.

To this end, the control unit MCON includes the long-period counter 100, the short-period counter 200, the error calculating unit 300, the length calculating unit 400, the long-period oscillator (MOSL), and the short-period oscillator ( Of course, it is possible to transmit and receive necessary signals between the MOSS). Also, the controller MCON may control synchronization of the voltage-time converter ATC and the time-digital converter TAC of the present invention.

For example, the start time of the activation period of the time signal XTIM generated in the voltage-time converter ATC in response to the inactivation of the synchronization signal XSYN generated by the controller MCON, the long-period oscillation A coincidence operation is performed between the pulse generation time of the signal XOSL and the pulse generation time of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS (refer to t11 in FIG. 2).

In addition, the control unit MCON may control the start time t12 of the inactivation period of the time signal XTIM to coincide with the pulse generation time of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS (refer to t12 of FIG. 2 ). ), in response to the pulse generation time of the first long-period oscillation signal XOSL, which is generated after the time signal XTIM is deactivated, the counting of the pulses of the short-period oscillation signal XOSS may be controlled to end. . (refer to t13 in Fig. 2)

Implementation of the control unit MCON and transmission/reception with other components may be easy for those skilled in the art. Therefore, in the present specification, for the sake of simplification of description, detailed illustration and description thereof may be omitted.

As a result, in the time-to-digital converter of the present invention as described above, in sensing the length of the activation period of the time signal XTIM, a relatively low frequency long-period oscillation signal XOSL and a high-frequency short-period oscillation signal The operation signal (XOSS) is appropriately used. Accordingly, according to the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the power consumption is greatly reduced, and at the same time, the precision is greatly improved.

And, in the time-to-digital converter of the present invention as described above, when sensing the length of the activation period of the time signal XTIM, an error between the long-period oscillation signal XOSL and the short-period oscillation signal XOSS It is driven to reflect the in-period error SCE and the residual error RME, which is an error between the short-period oscillation signal XOSS and the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM.

As a result, according to the time-digital converter of the present invention, the conversion precision is further improved.

In the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention having the above configuration, the time signal is converted by appropriately using the long-period oscillation signal XOSL with a relatively long period and the short-period oscillation signal XOSS with a relatively short period. The length of the activation period is sensed. That is, the number of long-period oscillation signals XOSL generated within the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM and the number of short-period oscillation signals XOSS generated within one period of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL Through sensing, the number of short-period oscillation signals XOSS generated within the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM is sensed. Therefore, according to the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the power consumption is greatly reduced, and the conversion precision is greatly improved together.

In addition, in the time-to-digital converter (TAC) of the present invention, the length of the activation period P11 of the time signal XTIM in which a difference occurs from the number of sensed long-period oscillation signals XOSL and the sensed short-period oscillation The number of signals XOSS and the length of the long-period oscillation signal XOSL in which a difference occurs are also reflected to generate a data value of sensing data. Therefore, according to the time-to-digital converter of the present invention, the conversion precision is further improved.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited embodiments and drawings, various modifications and variations are possible from the above description by those skilled in the art.

For example, in this specification, the time signal is shown and described as being a signal generated by converting the voltage level of the measurement signal. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the time signal may be generated by converting a sensor output such as an amount of current, a size of a resistor, a capacity of a capacitor, etc. in addition to a voltage level. And, such a conversion circuit will also be easily implemented by those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (7)

A time-to-digital converter for converting a time signal into sensing data, wherein the time signal has a data value of an analog component corresponding to a length of an activation interval, and the sensing data includes a digital component corresponding to a length of an activation interval of the time signal In the time-digital converter having a data value of
a long-period counter for generating long-period number information by counting the number of pulses of the long-period oscillation signal generated within the activation period of the time signal;
A short-period counter providing period matching information and residual matching information, wherein the period matching information depends on the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal generated within one period of the long-period oscillation signal, and the residual matching information is The short-period counter depends on the number of pulses of the short-period oscillation signal generated within the period, and the remaining period is the period from the time when the time signal is deactivated to the first activation time of the long-period oscillation signal generated later. ;
An error calculating unit generating periodic error information based on a periodic error, wherein the periodic error is a difference between one period of the long-period oscillation signal and a period matching length, and the period matching length is the period matching information and the short-period oscillation signal the error calculating unit that is a product of a period of ;
A length calculating unit generating total counting information based on the long period number information, the period matching information, the residual matching information, and the period error information, wherein the total counting information corresponds to the length of the activation section of the time signal. the length calculating unit corresponding to the number of pulses of the periodic oscillation signal; and
Time-to-digital converter comprising a digital converter for converting the entire counting information into the sensed data.
According to claim 1,
The error calculator
Provide residual error information based on the residual error, wherein the residual error is a difference between the residual section and the residual matching length, and the residual matching length is a product of the residual matching information and a period of the short-period oscillation signal,
The length calculating unit
and generating the total counting information based on the residual error information together with the long period number information, the period matching information, the residual matching information, and the period error information.
The method of claim 2, wherein the error calculator
The residual error information is provided using at least one shifter signal, wherein the at least one shifter signal is a signal shifted in phase by π with respect to the long-period oscillation signal.
4. The method of claim 3,
The error calculator
The residual error information is provided by using at least two other shifter signals together with the at least one shifter signal, wherein the other at least two shifter signals are phase shifted by π/2 and 3π/2 with respect to the long-period oscillation signal. Time-to-digital converter, characterized in that the signals.
The method of claim 1, wherein the time-to-digital converter is
a long-period oscillator for generating the long-period oscillation signal; and
The time-to-digital converter further comprising a short-period oscillator for generating the short-period oscillation signal.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the time-to-digital converter is
and a control unit driven to synchronize operations between the long-period counter, the short-period counter, the error calculating unit, the length calculating unit, the long-period oscillator, and the short-period oscillator.
The method of claim 1, wherein the time signal is
A time-to-digital converter, characterized in that it has an activation section having a length corresponding to the voltage level of the measurement signal.

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