MATRIX: A 15 ps resistive interpolation TDC ASIC based on a novel regular structure

Abstract

This paper presents a 4-channel TDC ASIC with the following features: 15-ps LSB (9.34 ps after calibration), 10-ps jitter, < 4-ps time resolution, up to 10 MHz of sustained input rate per channel, 45 mW of power consumption and very low area (910×215 μm2) in a commercial 180 nm technology. The main contribution of this work is the novel design of the clock interpolation circuitry based on a resistive interpolation mesh circuit (patented), a two-dimensional regular structure with very good properties in terms of power consumption, area and low process variability.