DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE RELATIVE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF SIGNALS

The present invention concerns a device (100) for measuring the relative time of arrival of at least two signals, the device comprising at least one TDC (10), each TDC (10) receiving a reference clock signal (CLK) which determines a period of oscillation (TCK) and comprising at least one channel each adapted to read a time of arrival (t'A,n=1-N, t"A,n=1-N) of an event signal (Sn=1-N). The device distinguishes itself by the fact that each TDC (10) comprises a free-running ring oscillator (2) as well as at least one supplementary channel dedicated to said reference clock signal (CLK), and by the fact that each TDC (10) is adapted to measure, concurrently to measuring said time of arrival (t'A,n=1-N, t"A,n=1-N) of an event signal (Sn=1-N), at least two of preceding and/or subsequent edges (tCK0, tCK1) of the reference clock signal (CLK) such as to allow, event by event or at least periodically, to measure the current period of oscillation (T'DT) of the reference clock signal (CLK) of each TDC (10) by use of said at least one supplementary channel of each TDC (10) dedicated to the reference clock signal (CLK). The present invention also concerns a system for measuring the relative time of arrival of at least two signals comprising at least two such devices (10) as well as a corresponding method for measuring the relative time of arrival of at least two signals.