Delay Signal Generator with 150 ps-Resolution and 100ps RMS Jitter

At the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, special devices called Time Interval Generators and Delayed Signal Generators are used to synchronize the Accelerator complex systems. In Time Interval Generators, the basic delay principle is simple counters in Field-Programmable Gate Array from a 100 MHz quartz oscillator. Whereas in Delayed Signal Generators, the counters of Field-Programmable Gate Array are supplemented by a special analog circuit. This circuit consists of special charging circuit, high-speed comparator with low leakage current and capacitor. The method using this circuit improves the delay setting resolution to $\mathbf{1 5 0} \mathbf{p s}$ and addresses delay instability due to the random phase of the trigger signal with respect to the main clock frequency by taking into account the arrival time of the delayed signal relative to the clock frequency. At the end of signal generation, this time is “added” to the delayed signal. Using this method, it is possible to delay signals with 150 ps resolution, Root Mean Square jitter of about 100 ps, and a maximum delay in the current configuration of up to $\mathbf{1 0} \boldsymbol{\mu s}$. The RMS jitter measurements were taken from four channels at different delays using an eye-diagram on an oscilloscope with at least 10 k measurements. The results showed no jitter change over the range of operating delays up to 10 us.