Short for time-to-digital converter, this circuit acts as a highly precise digital stopwatch for electronic signals. It captures the exact time difference between a start pulse and a stop pulse, often with picosecond resolution. TDCs are heavily used in time-of-flight measurements, particle physics, and phase-locked loops where measuring time intervals is easier or more accurate than measuring voltage.
Heard on the job
We need a TDC with at least 50 picosecond resolution to get accurate distance readings from the lidar sensor.
Also heard as
- time-to-digital converter