Real time digital sampler

Systems of fine chronometry were designed which play the role of vernier for devices counting clock pulses at a frequency of 100 MHz or higher. In this way, chronometers and multichronometers with resolution of 1 ns or 100 ps were able to be made or are in progress at DAM/DT/DEV/ AnL. It is shown how going from the systems of fine chronometry to low dead time, it is possible to conceive real time samplers. Topics include: (1)the principle and functioning of chronometers for fragments of a line at one, two or n levels; (2)the principle of the real time samplers in amplitude-time conversion; (3)analysis of the head of the amplitude-time conversion; (4)presentation and characteristics of two versions of the "real time samplers", and (5)eventual improvements.