IC-Mart Your Trusted Source for Delay Lines / Timing Elements Chips

(from leading manufacturers)

Leading Manufacturers and Key Models

Analog Devices (ADI / Maxim Integrated / Linear Tech)

ADI is the industry leader with the most extensive catalog. They cover everything from low-speed CMOS to high-speed RF.

Delay Type	Key Series	Features
Tapped	DS1100, DS1110	Classic 5/10-tap silicon delay lines. All-silicon; no external parts needed.
Programmable	DS1023, DS1124	8-bit digital adjustment. Supports parallel/serial interfaces with high precision.
Fixed	DS1135	3-in-1 fixed delay line. Small footprint; ideal for multi-signal sync.
Timing Modules	LTC6994	Part of the TimerBlox® series. Resistor-programmable with debounce and pulse delay.
High-Speed/RF	HMC856, HMC911	Wideband lines for multi-Gbps rates. Used for precision timing alignment.

onsemi

onsemi focuses on ECL / PECL / LVDS high-speed logic. These are common in high-performance computing and base station clock management.

Delay Type	Key Series	Features
Digital Prog.	MC100EP195	Classic 3.3V/5V ECL delay line for ultra-fast clock tuning.
Precision Adj.	MC100EP196	Programmable line with a latch to prevent signal jitter during tuning.
High Resolution	NB6L295	Supports up to 512 taps for picosecond-level fine-tuning.

Microchip (Micrel Series)

Microchip acquired Micrel, gaining a strong portfolio of high-speed clock solutions (typically starting with the SY prefix).

Delay Type	Key Series	Features
High Performance	SY100EP195	Compatible with onsemi’s EP195. An industry standard for programmable delay.
Ultra-High Speed	SY89295U, SY89296U	2.5V/3.3V precision. Supports signal frequencies up to 2.5GHz.

Texas Instruments (TI)

TI primarily provides “delay units” for logic circuits, often used in legacy system maintenance or basic digital delays.

Delay Type	Key Series	Features
Logic Delay	SN74LS31	Traditional 74-series hex delay elements. Basic digital logic chips.
Dedicated Timing	CD40106B	A Schmitt Trigger often used in TI docs for simple RC delay circuits.

Renesas (IDT Series)

Renesas gained its timing tech through the IDT acquisition. They focus heavily on “Zero Delay Buffers”.

Model	Classification	Application
ICS570	Zero Delay Multiplier	Used for clock multiplication while maintaining phase alignment.
853S006	High-Speed Dist.	Low-jitter timing management for differential signals.

Leading Chinese Manufacturers

I. High-Precision Digital & RF (Professional Grade)

These vendors target ultra-high-speed signals in radar and optical communications with picosecond (ps) precision.

Manufacturer	Key Series	Technical Highlights & Applications
Plywave	GZ1106DLA10	16-bit programmable line. 0.25ps step accuracy. Supports 1.0GHz.
Sicore	SIP066	Voltage-controlled GaAs chip. 0–25ps continuous adjust. For RF front-ends.
AcelaMicro	AS51xx Series	High-speed clock/signal conditioning. Used with fast ADC/DACs.
Chengdu Huasheng	CSD Series	Specialty ICs for aerospace and high-reliability industrial use.

II. Logic & Silicon Delay (General Purpose/Replacement)

These chips are primarily used as pin-to-pin (P2P) replacements for international brands like Maxim.

Manufacturer	Target Model	Description
CETC 58	54LS31 / Custom	Key supplier for specialty 5-tap and fixed delay lines.
BMTI	BMT772 Series	Focuses on radiation-hardened and wide-temp timing/delay ICs.
Juxin	High-Perf Timing	Specializes in low-jitter delay solutions for high-speed interfaces.
Hichip	Custom Logic	Provides logic timing control chips for specific vertical industries.

III. General Timing Elements & Modules (Basic Grade)

This includes standard timers, supervisors with delay, and basic modules.

Manufacturer	Key Series	Classification
Run-IC	RS555	CMOS timer chip. Low-power alternative to the standard NE555.
Belling	BL8518	Voltage detector with built-in delay. Used for precise Reset delays.
SGMICRO	SGM8xx Series	Microprocessor supervisors with precise power-on reset delays.

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What is a Delay Line / Timing Element IC?

These chips receive an input signal, hold it for an incredibly precise duration, and then output it. Unlike standard logic chips that prioritize speed, these chips prioritize accuracy. They compensate for physical delays on PCBs or provide timing alignment for complex digital systems.

Core Features:

• High Precision: Extremely low timing error.
• High Resolution: Programmable models allow for tiny time steps (e.g., $10ps$ increments).
• Low Jitter: Ensures the signal maintains its original quality after the delay.

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Typical Application Scenarios

1. Clock Skew Compensation

On complex PCBs, signals take different amounts of time to travel through traces of varying lengths. Delay lines fine-tune these arrival times so all chips work in perfect sync.

• Industries: Servers, HPC, core switches.

2. Radar & Medical Imaging (Phased Arrays)

These systems control the direction of a beam by adjusting the “time difference” between different elements.

• Industries: Radar, Ultrasound, precision instruments.

3. Memory & Bus Calibration

DDR memory requires strict timing between data lines (DQ) and strobe signals (DQS). Programmable delay lines find the best “sampling window” during initialization.

• Industries: Motherboards, Graphics cards.

4. Pulse Generation & Debouncing

Used to stretch narrow pulses or filter out mechanical noise from buttons.

• Industries: Industrial automation, control circuits.

5. Automated Test Equipment (ATE)

Testers simulate extreme conditions by creating intentional timing offsets (skew) to see how a chip performs under stress.

Why Use a Dedicated IC?

While engineers can implement delays using FPGA logic or simple RC circuits, dedicated ICs offer:

• Environmental Stability: Minimal drift from temperature or voltage changes.
• Hardware Execution: No CPU/FPGA resources used; response time is near physical limits.
• Design Simplicity: No complex algorithms; just hardware wiring or simple commands.

The Four Core Categories

1. Tapped Delay Lines: One input, multiple outputs with fixed intervals.
   • Example: DS1100 Series (5 taps, 20ns–500ns total delay).
2. Programmable Delay Lines: Highest flexibility via digital interfaces (I2C, SPI, or Parallel).
   • Example: DS1023 (8-bit, 0.25ns resolution).
3. Fixed / Silicon Delay Lines: Pre-set at the factory. Modern versions use all-silicon tech instead of old LC modules.
   • Example: DS1135 (High-precision 3-in-1).
4. Specialized Modules: Integrates extra features like debouncing, pulse stretching, or watchdogs.
   • Example: LTC6990–LTC6994 (TimerBlox® series).