A Vernier Time-to-Digital Converter With Delay Latch Chain Architecture

A new Vernier time-to-digital converter (TDC) architecture using a delay line and a chain of delay latches is proposed. The delay latches replace the functionality of one delay chain and the sample register commonly found in Vernier converters, hereby enabling power and hardware efficiency improvements. The delay latches can be implemented using either standard or full custom cells, allowing the architecture to be implemented in field-programmable gate arrays, digital synthesized application-specific integrated circuits, or in full custom design flows. To demonstrate the proposed concept, a 7-bit Vernier TDC has been implemented in a standard 65-nm CMOS process with an active core size of 33 mu m x 120 mu m. The time resolution is 5.7 ps with a power consumption of 1.75 mW measured at a conversion rate of 100 MS/s.