A time-to-digital converter based on a digitally controlled oscillator

Typically, TDAQ systems of High Energy Physics experiments, require time measurements, for example in synchronization or calibration activities. Usually, mixed-signal design is used for the design of time measurement circuits, but in the recent past the research is also studying all-digital design, that have many advantages with respect to the previous approach. In this work, we present a full-digital TDC application, based on a synthesizable DCO. The DCO design is technology-independent, it is described by means of a hardware description language and it can be placed and routed with automatic tools. We present the TDC architecture, the DCO performances and the results on a preliminary prototype, implemented on a 130 nm ASIC.