US Patent 10277215 Digital controlled delay line

Digital controlled delay lines are provided. A digital controlled delay line includes a plurality of delay cells coupled in a chain forming a propagation path to propagate an input signal and to delay the input signal by a delay time. The propagation path is formed when a single delay cell is operated in a feedback mode, the delay cells previous to the single delay cell in the chain are operated in a propagation mode, a subsequent delay cell following the single delay cell in the chain is operated in a standby mode, and the delay cells following the first subsequent delay cell in the chain are operated in an idle mode.