A fast, programmable, multichannel pulse delay generator

A four-channel pulse delay generator is described. Both the number of activated channels and the pulse delay from a common trigger signal in each selected channel are programmable. The digital clock which times the direct digital synthesis of triangular waveforms by 16-bit digital-to-analog converters, acts also as digital time base. Each time the programmed coarse delay is reached, the most linear part in the first semiperiod (1 μs) of the waveforms is used to determine the channel pulse fine delay by comparison with analog levels from digital-to-analog converters (either 16 bits or 18 ones). So, the drawback of lack of synchronism at long times is avoided while still preserving the time resolution due to analog interpolation technique. Since very high rate clock is not necessary, the major part of the generator can be implemented by high integration devices with the benefit of compactness, simplicity, and modularity. The generator, controled by the MPDS electronic system, may be used, for example, in subnanosecond range spectrometry and in time-to-amplitude converters test operations.