Ratio-to-digital converter (RDC) for the correction of the effect of position signals 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. 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 from the existing RDC shows nonlinear characteristics. A new RDC has been developed which completely eliminates the deviation of position information due to the input signal´s timing nonlinearity