Ratio-to-digital converter (RDC) for the correction of the effect of position signal´s timing nonlinearity

A resistive anode of a single wire position sensitive proportional counter (SWPC) is a diffusive RC line due to the distributed resistance and capacitance along the line. The timing of the position signal at the end of the anode varies with the position of ionization. The delay of the position signal with reference to the intrinsic zero position signal as well as with reference to the sum signal is estimated. Due to the presence of a timing nonlinearity between the position signal and the sum signal, the position information determined by the existing RDC shows a nonlinear characteristic. A new RDC is developed which completely eliminates the deviation of position information originating from the input signal´s timing nonlinearity