1. A method for calibrating a voltage controlled oscillator, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator comprises a power supply input, a control voltage input and at least one gate delay element, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator has a frequency that is a function of a delay of said gate delay element and a voltage applied to said power supply input, said method comprising:
varying an output voltage of a programmable voltage source through a range of values;
applying said output voltage to said power supply input of said voltage controlled oscillator;
comparing an output clock frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to a reference clock frequency for each of said output voltage values; and
selecting a value of said output voltage in a calibration mode that provides an approximate minimum frequency difference between said output clock frequency and said reference clock frequency.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a control voltage of said voltage controlled oscillator such that said voltage controlled oscillator operates at a constant frequency.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator is an N-stage voltage controlled ring oscillator.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said output clock frequency is a divided version of an output of said voltage controlled oscillator.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected output voltage value is provided as a voltage to one or more additional circuits.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected output voltage value is provided as a voltage setting for use by another voltage source to apply a voltage to one or more additional circuits.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected output voltage value provides an overall average indicator of a silicon process.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein a lower value of said selected output voltage relative to a nominal voltage value is selected for a \u201cfast\u201d silicon process.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein a higher value of said selected output voltage relative to a nominal voltage value is selected for a \u201cslow\u201d silicon process.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing power from said voltage controlled oscillator following said selecting step.
11. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a voltage controlled oscillator comprising a power supply input, a control voltage input and at least one gate delay element, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator has a frequency that is a function of a delay of said gate delay element and a voltage applied to said power supply input;
a programmable voltage source generating an output voltage that is applied to said power supply input of said voltage controlled oscillator; and
a frequency comparator for comparing an output clock frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to a reference clock frequency for each of a plurality of values of said output voltage, wherein a value of said output voltage is configured in a calibration mode to be selected that provides an approximate minimum frequency difference between said output clock frequency and said reference clock frequency.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein a control voltage of said voltage controlled oscillator is established such that said voltage controlled oscillator operates at a constant frequency.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator is an N-stage voltage controlled ring oscillator.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 11, further comprising a frequency divider to generate said output clock frequency as a divided version of an output of said voltage controlled oscillator.
15. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein said selected output voltage value is provided as a voltage to one or more additional circuits.
16. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein said selected output voltage value is provided as a voltage setting for use by another voltage source to apply a voltage to one or more additional circuits.
17. The integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein said selected output voltage value provides an overall average indicator of a silicon process.
18. The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein a lower value of said selected output voltage relative to a nominal voltage value is selected for a \u201cfast\u201d silicon process.
19. The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein a higher value of said selected output voltage relative to a nominal voltage value is selected for a \u201cslow\u201d silicon process.
20. A calibration system, comprising:
a voltage controlled oscillator comprising a power supply input, a control voltage input and at least one gate delay element, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator has a frequency that is a function of a delay of said gate delay element and a voltage applied to said power supply input;
a programmable voltage source generating an output voltage that is applied to said power supply input of said voltage controlled oscillator; and
a frequency comparator for comparing an output clock frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to a reference clock frequency for each of a plurality of values of said output voltage, wherein a value of said output voltage is configured in a calibration mode to be selected that provides an approximate minimum frequency difference between said output clock frequency and said reference clock frequency.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A tool for forming portions of a circle, comprising in combination:
an elongate rigid mass of material extending from a first end to a second end opposite said first end;
a pivot hole adjacent said first end adapted to receive a pivot element therethrough;
a plurality of marking holes spaced from said pivot hole at varying distances from said pivot hole;
said marking holes sized to receive a marking tool passing therethrough;
indicia adjacent said marking holes corresponding to measurement of a distance of said marking holes from said pivot hole;
wherein side edges extend substantially from said first end to said second end, said side edges being straight;
wherein a plurality of graduations are located adjacent at least one of said side edges and extending perpendicularly from said straight side edge adjacent thereto, said graduations located similar distances from each other such that measurement along said side edge is facilitated by said graduations;
wherein each said marking hole has a graduation adjacent thereto, a position of said graduation indicative of a distance from said pivot hole to said marking hole adjacent thereto; and
wherein said elongate rigid mass of material includes a contoured top surface including an elongate central groove extending between said first end and said second end, said tool including a shuttle slidably located within said groove, and adapted to slide between said first end and said second end, said shuttle including a marker support thereon.
2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said elongate rigid mass of material includes a substantially flat top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface parallel with said substantially flat top surface, defining said elongate rigid mass with a substantially constant thickness.
3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said plurality of marking holes includes a plurality of primary marking holes located at one inch intervals away from said pivot hole.
4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said plurality of marking holes includes a plurality of secondary marking holes located at one-quarter inch intervals from said pivot hole, other than at said one inch intervals where no secondary marking holes are provided.
5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said plurality of primary marking holes are located along a centerline of said elongate rigid mass and substantially midway between said side edges, said plurality of secondary marking holes located closer to a first side edge than to a second side edge opposite said first side edge; and
wherein said plurality of marking holes includes a plurality of tertiary marking holes located at one-eighth inch intervals from each other, other than where said secondary marking holes and said primary marking holes are located, said tertiary marking holes located closer to said second side edge than said primary and said secondary marking holes.
6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said indicia are provided in two sets of integer numerals, one of said sets of indicia counting up from said pivot hole and one of said sets of indicia counting down from said pivot hole, and wherein a second pivot hole is located at said second end opposite said pivot hole adjacent said first end, such that said tool can be utilized with either of said first end or said second end functioning as the pivot hole.
7. The tool of claim 1 wherein a suspension hole is provided adjacent at least one of said ends of said elongate rigid mass of material, said suspension hole larger than said pivot hole and said marking holes and adapted to allow the tool to be suspended from a wall, such as for storage of the tool when not in use.
8. The tool of claim 1 wherein said shuttle includes a lock thereon, said lock adapted to selectively fix said shuttle in a specific location along said elongate rigid mass when said lock is actuated.
9. The tool of claim 8 wherein said lock includes a rotatable locking disk extending into said groove from said shuttle, said groove having a substantially constant width and shape, said lock including a rotatable element formed of resilient material which has at least one dimension narrower than said groove and one dimension wider than said groove, such that said lock exhibits a tolerance fit within said groove in one orientation and a friction fit within said groove in a second orientation, with said lock holding said shuttle in position when said lock is in said second position with an interference fit experienced within said groove.
10. The tool of claim 1 wherein said shuttle includes a window through which portions of said elongate rigid mass are visible, said window positioned to be aligned with said indicia, with said marker support of said shuttle positioned to support a marker at a position located a distance from said pivot hole matching a measurement indicated by said indicia aligned with said window on said shuttle.
11. The tool of claim 1 wherein said top surface includes a pair of tapering flanks on either side of said center groove and extending from said center groove to said side edges, said tapering flanks located opposite a flat bottom forming a side of said tool opposite said tapering flanks, said tapering flanks oriented non-parallel with said bottom surface, said tapering flanks supporting said indicia and said graduations thereon.
12. A method for forming a circular segment in construction of a portion of a structure, the steps including:
identifying a tool having an elongate rigid mass of material extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, a pivot hole adjacent the first end adapted to receive a pivot element therethrough, a plurality of marking holes spaced from the pivot hole at varying distances from the pivot hole, the marking holes sized to receive a marking tool and indicia adjacent the marking holes corresponding to measurement of a distance of the marking holes from the pivot hole;
locating a center point for the circular segment;
selecting a radius for the circular segment;
placing the pivot element through the pivot hole;
anchoring the pivot element at the center point;
orienting a marker passing through one of the marking holes corresponding with the radius of said selecting step;
pivoting the tool about the pivot element while marking with the marker; and
wherein said identifying step includes the step of identifying the top surface as having a contoured form opposite a substantially planar bottom surface with the top surface having an elongate center groove extending between the first end and the second end of the elongate rigid mass forming the tool, and with a shuttle slidably located within the groove, the shuttle having a marker support structure thereon.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying step includes the further steps of the tool having side edges extending between the first end and the second end with the side edges being substantially straight, and with graduations adjacent at least one of the side edges and extending perpendicular from the adjacent side edge.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying step includes the further steps of selecting the tool to have an elongate rigid mass of material including a substantially flat top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface parallel with the substantially flat top surface, defining the elongate rigid mass with a substantially constant thickness;
wherein the plurality of marking holes includes a plurality of primary marking holes located at one inch intervals away from the pivot hole; and
wherein the plurality of marking holes includes a plurality of secondary marking holes located at one-quarter inch intervals from the pivot hole, other than at the one inch intervals where no secondary marking hole is provided.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying step includes identifying the tool as having a rotatable lock extending into the groove from the shuttle, the groove having a substantially constant width and shape, the lock including a rotatable element formed of resilient material which has at least one dimension narrower than the groove and one dimension wider than the groove, such that the lock exhibits a tolerance fit within the groove in one orientation and a friction fit within the groove in a second orientation, with the lock holding the shuttle in position when the lock is in the second position with an interference fit experienced within the groove;
wherein the shuttle includes a window through which portions of the elongate rigid mass are visible, the window positioned to be aligned with the indicia, with the marker support of the shuttle positioned to support a marker at a position located a distance from the pivot hole, matching a measurement indicated by the indicia aligned with the window on the shuttle; and
wherein the top surface includes a pair of tapering flanks on either side of the center groove and extending from the center groove to the side edges, the tapering flanks located opposite a flat bottom forming a side of the tool opposite the tapering flanks, the tapering flanks oriented non-parallel with the bottom surface, the tapering flanks supporting the indicia and the graduations thereon.
16. A method for forming a circular segment in construction of a portion of a structure, the steps including:
identifying a tool having an elongate rigid mass of material extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end, a pivot hole adjacent the first end adapted to receive a pivot element therethrough, a top surface of the tool having a contoured form opposite a substantially planar bottom surface with the top surface having an elongate center groove extending between the first end and the second end of the elongate rigid mass forming the tool, and with a shuttle slidably located within the groove, the shuttle having a marker support structure thereon;
locating a center point for the circular segment;
selecting a radius for the circular segment;
placing the pivot element through the pivot hole;
anchoring the pivot element at the center point;
orienting a marker adjacent the marker support structure;
sliding the shuttle to a position corresponding with the radius of said selecting step; and
pivoting the tool about the pivot element while marking with the marker.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said identifying step includes identifying the tool as having a rotatable lock extending into the groove from the shuttle, the groove having a substantially constant width and shape, the lock including a rotatable element formed of resilient material which has at least one dimension narrower than the groove and one dimension wider than the groove, such that the lock exhibits a tolerance fit within the groove in one orientation and a friction fit within the groove in a second orientation, with the lock holding the shuttle in position when the lock is in the second position with an interference fit experienced within the groove.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the shuttle includes a window through which portions of the elongate rigid mass are visible, the window positioned to be aligned with indicia located on the top surface, with the marker support of the shuttle positioned to support a marker at a position located a distance from the pivot hole, matching a measurement indicated by the indicia aligned with the window on the shuttle.
19. A tool for forming portions of a circle, comprising in combination:
an elongate rigid mass of material extending from a first end to a second end opposite said first end;
a pivot hole adjacent said first end adapted to receive a pivot element therethrough;
at least one marker support spaced from said pivot hole at varying distances from said pivot hole;
said marker support sized to receive a marking tool adjacent thereto;
indicia corresponding to measurement of a distance of said marker support from said pivot hole;
wherein side edges extend substantially from said first end to said second end, said side edges being straight;
wherein a plurality of graduations are located adjacent at least one of said side edges and extending perpendicularly from said straight side edge adjacent thereto, said graduations located similar distances from each other such that measurement along said side edge is facilitated by said graduations; and
wherein said elongate rigid mass of material includes an elongate groove in said top surface extending between said first end and said second end, said tool including a shuttle slidably located within said groove, and adapted to slide between said first end and said second end, said shuttle including said marker support thereon.
20. The tool of claim 19 wherein said shuttle includes a lock thereon, said lock adapted to selectively fix said shuttle in a specific location along said elongate rigid mass when said lock is actuated.
21. The tool of claim 20 wherein said lock includes a rotatable locking disk extending into said groove from said shuttle, said groove having a substantially constant width and shape, said lock including a rotatable element formed of resilient material which has at least one dimension narrower than said groove and one dimension wider than said groove, such that said lock exhibits a tolerance fit within said groove in one orientation and a friction fit within said groove in a second orientation, with said lock holding said shuttle in position when said lock is in said second position with an interference fit experienced within said groove.
22. The tool of claim 19 wherein said shuttle includes a window through which portions of said elongate rigid mass are visible, said window positioned to be aligned with said indicia, with said marker support of said shuttle positioned to support a marker at a position located a distance from said pivot hole matching a measurement indicated by said indicia aligned with said window on said shuttle.
23. The tool of claim 19 wherein said top surface includes a pair of tapering flanks on either side of said center groove and extending from said center groove to said side edges, said tapering flanks located opposite a flat bottom forming a side of said tool opposite said tapering flanks, said tapering flanks oriented non-parallel with said bottom surface, said tapering flanks supporting said indicia and said graduations thereon.
24. A tool for forming portions of a circle, comprising in combination:
an elongate rigid mass of material extending from a first end to a second end opposite said first end;
a pivot hole adjacent said first end adapted to receive a pivot element therethrough;
at least one marker support spaced from said pivot hole at varying distances from said pivot hole;
said marker support sized to receive a marking tool adjacent thereto;
indicia corresponding to measurement of a distance of said marker support from said pivot hole; and
wherein said elongate rigid mass of material includes an elongate groove in said top surface extending between said first end and said second end, said tool including a shuttle slidably located within said groove, and adapted to slide between said first end and said second end, said shuttle including said marker support thereon.
25. The tool of claim 24 wherein said shuttle includes a lock thereon, said lock adapted to selectively fix said shuttle in a specific location along said elongate rigid mass when said lock is actuated.
26. The tool of claim 25 wherein said lock includes a rotatable locking disk extending into said groove from said shuttle, said groove having a substantially constant width and shape, said lock including a rotatable element formed of resilient material which has at least one dimension narrower than said groove and one dimension wider than said groove, such that said lock exhibits a tolerance fit within said groove in one orientation and a friction fit within said groove in a second orientation, with said lock holding said shuttle in position when said lock is in said second position with an interference fit experienced within said groove.
27. The tool of claim 24 wherein said shuttle includes a window through which portions of said elongate rigid mass are visible, said window positioned to be aligned with said indicia, with said marker support of said shuttle positioned to support a marker at a position located a distance from said pivot hole matching a measurement indicated by said indicia aligned with said window on said shuttle.
28. The tool of claim 24 wherein side edges extend substantially from said first end to said second end, said side edges being straight.
29. The tool of claim 28 wherein a plurality of graduations are located adjacent at least one of said side edges and extending perpendicularly from said straight side edge adjacent thereto, said graduations located similar distances from each other such that measurement along said side edge is facilitated by said graduations; and
wherein said top surface includes a pair of tapering flanks on either side of said center groove and extending from said center groove to said side edges, said tapering flanks located opposite a flat bottom forming a side of said tool opposite said tapering flanks, said tapering flanks oriented non-parallel with said bottom surface, said tapering flanks supporting said indicia and said graduations thereon.