41
Novel 8-bit Ultrasensitive Signal Digitizer for Reduced-Cost Nuclear Physics Instrumentation--Hypres, Inc., 175 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-1109; 914-592-1190
Dr. Deepnarayan Gupta, Principal Investigator
Dr. Elie K. Track, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82594
Amount: $750,000
Many detectors used in nuclear physics produce low-level signals. Making full use of the information contained in such signals requires digitizing them with as much resolution and speed as possible. Since pre-amplifiers and analog transmission lines deteriorate the signal quality, direct digitization with high sensitivity is desired. In addition, because these systems have a large number of detectors, reductions in power consumption and in the number of interconnects is important to reduce total system cost. This project will develop a complete multi-channel, ultrasensitive, low power, serial digitizer system for direct digitization of 1 microamp signals with 8 bits of resolution at a 100 MHz sample rate. This flexible digitizer offers both fast, low resolution and slower, high (16-bit) resolution output with a wide range of front-end sensitivities. The feasibility of the proposed digitizer scheme was demonstrated in Phase I. A digitizer with the high-linearity front-end with a full scale range of 1 microamp and an asynchronous binary counter with parallel readout was designed, fabricated, and successfully tested up to 100 MHz sample rates. In Phase II, a complete multi-channel digitizer system will be demonstrated. The digitizer output will be serialized and multiple channels will be integrated on one chip. Room-temperature interface and supporting electronics modules will be built. System installation studies, including cryogenics, multi-chip module, and multiplexing schemes, will be undertaken for future product development.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: This high-sensitivity, modular digitizer technology could be used as digital readout of a variety of detectors in nuclear and high-energy physics, spectroscopy, astronomy, and biomedical imaging. The sensitivity, resolution, and speed of the digitizer can be customized to serve diverse applications.