Vernier delay line(VDL) TDC

This TDC uses 2 signals START and STOP signals. Start signal propagates through one of the delay
chain with lager unit delay of τ1, while the stop signal propagates through the other with smaller
unit delay τ2, which is the clock to each stage. The resolution is determined by the difference
between two propagation delay values. Assume that after N stages of delay the rising edge of stop
signal catches up with start signal, the measurement time interval can be given by

∆T = N · (τ1− τ2) + ϵ, where ϵ corresponds to the quantization error.

Dynamic range is limited to DR = m (τ1− τ2), where m is the number of delay cells.

Start

Signal

Stop

Signal

Block diagram of Vernier TDC.

Output from each D flip flop together corresponds to a thermometer code. Using the corresponding
thermometer code to current decoder we can convert the digital code word produced from TDC to a
bias current. This bias current is used to control frequency.