This paper presents a novel precision delay circuit design for high-speed data acquisition systems. Many studies have suggested that various advanced electronic measurement apparatuses require that the delay circuit should have a high precision and a short delay interval. Practically, however, such measurement apparatuses are low in preci- sion and long in delay interval at present. The structure and function of a data acquisition system is introduced first; then the principle of ramp-based precision delay circuits and the digitally programmable delay generator is studied and the precision delay circuit is designed. The authors also demonstrated 8-bit programmable delay circuits with a timing pre- cision of 10 ps. Therefore the programmable precision delay circuit here presented has a higher precision, shorter inter- val and more detectable function than any other precision delay circuit. This paper presents a novel precision delay circuit design for high-speed data acquisition systems. Many studies have suggested that various advanced electronic measurement apparatuses require that the delay circuit should have a high precision and a short delay interval. Practically, however, such measurement Apparatuses are low in preci- sion and long in delay interval at present. The structure and function of a data acquisition system is introduced first; then the principle of ramp-based precision delay circuits and the digitally programmable delay generator is studied and the precision delay circuit is designed. The authors also demonstrated 8-bit programmable delay circuits with a timing pre- cision of 10 ps. The programmable precision delay circuit here presented has higher precision, shorter inter- val and more detectable function than any other precision delay circuit .