Time-correlated single-photon counting system based on a monolithic time-to-amplitude converter

Antonioli, Sebastiano; Crotti, Matteo; Cuccato, Andrea; Rech, Ivan; Ghioni, M.

doi:10.1080/09500340.2012.706324

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Downstream the ADC, the FPGA must subtract the dithering contribution from the sampled digital value. The effectiveness of this technique was tested and demonstrated in a single-channel TCSPC system developed in our research group [25], and in order to minimize the area occupation, a 10-bit counter is integrated with the DAC to generate a triangular shaped dithering signal. The DAC contribution is added to the four TAC outputs using four integrated adder stages that also adapt the resulted voltages to the ADC input dynamic range.…”

Section: Eight-channel Boardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements

et al. 2013

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Single-photon detectors play a key role in many research fields such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and space technology, and in recent years, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) have become a valid alternative to photo multiplier tubes (PMTs). Moreover, scientific research has recently focused on single-photon detector arrays, pushed by a growing demand for multichannel systems. In this scenario, we developed a compact 32-channel system for time-resolved single-photon counting applications. The system is divided into two independent modules: a photon detection head including a 32 Â 1 SPAD array built in custom technology, featuring high time resolution, high photon detection efficiency (44% at 550 nm), and low dark count rate (mean value G 400 cps at À10 C) at 6-V excess bias voltage and a 32-channel acquisition system able to perform timecorrelated single-photon counting (TCSPC) measurements. The TCSPC module includes eight four-channel time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) arrays, built-in 0.35-m Si-Ge BiCMOS technology, characterized by low differential non-linearity (rms value lower than 0.15% of the time bin width) and variable full-scale range. The system response function of this TCSPC instrumentation achieves a mean time resolution of 63 ps FWHM , considering a mean count rate of 1 Mcps.

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Section: Eight-channel Boardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements

et al. 2013

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“…A random dithering signal is added to the TAC output voltage through a D/A converter and subsequently subtracted from the digital value resulting from the ADC conversion. The dithering technique implemented here is known as sliding scale [113], and we have previously demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing the overall DNL [114]. To minimize dimensions, the adder stages and the integrated D/A converter (based on a 10-bit resolution current-steering segmented architecture [115,116]) are included in the TAC chip too.…”

Section: Eight-channel Tcspc Modulementioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects on Time-Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography Based on Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting for Small Animal Imaging

Bérubé-Lauzière

Crotti

Boucher

et al. 2016

Journal of Spectroscopy

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This paper discusses instrumentation based on multiview parallel high temporal resolution (<50 ps) time-domain (TD) measurements for diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and a prospective view on the steps to undertake as regards such instrumentation to make TD-DOT a viable technology for small animal molecular imaging. TD measurements provide information-richest data, and we briefly review the interaction of light with biological tissues to provide an understanding of this. This data richness is yet to be exploited to its full potential to increase the spatial resolution of DOT imaging and to allow probing, via the fluorescence lifetime, tissue biochemical parameters, and processes that are otherwise not accessible in fluorescence DOT. TD data acquisition time is, however, the main factor that currently compromises the viability of TD-DOT. Current high temporal resolution TD-DOT scanners simply do not integrate sufficient detection channels. Based on our past experience in developing TD-DOT instrumentation, we review and discuss promising technologies to overcome this difficulty. These are single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors and fully parallel highly integrated electronics for time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC). We present experimental results obtained with such technologies demonstrating the feasibility of next-generation multiview TD-DOT therewith.

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“…In this range of applications, we can also find timeof-flight analysis [14] and time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) measurements [15], [16], where a pulse generator is mainly used as a testing device for the electrical circuits downstream from the detector. These applications exploit repetition rates of tens of megahertz, and therefore a first requirement for the generator is to meet this frequency range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eight-Channel Fully Adjustable Pulse Generator

Miari

Antonioli

Labanca

et al. 2015

IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas.

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This paper describes an eight-channel differential pulse generator based on a fast differential bipolar transistor output stage. It has been designed specifically to test new multichannel time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) instruments, while maintaining a wide range of regulation possibilities in terms of frequency, amplitude, delay, and duty cycle. The input signal for each channel can be provided either by an on-board programmable frequency synthesizer or by an external reference shared by all channels. The chosen input is delivered to a delayer loop controlled by a field programmable gate array (FPGA), which provides the desired delay, minimizing the jitter contribution. The delayed signal is fed to an analog differential stage that provides the fast output, whose amplitude and offset are adjusted by a digital-to-analog converter, controlled by the FPGA. The experimental results on the instrument show an output slew rate of 1600 V/$mu text{s}$ over the complete full-scale range, which is between -2 and 6 V. The feedback delayer regulates the delay between 0 ns and 30 $mu text{s}$ whereas the high time is adjustable from a minimum of 10 ns to a maximum of 30 $mu text{s}$ . Finally, the frequency range is from 2 kHz to 50 MHz. All these adjustable parameters are managed by a microcontroller that works as an interface between the FPGAs and dedicated PC software. The implemented structure allows the system to achieve a time resolution down to 6 ps across all channels, making this instrument perfect for testing high time resolution TCSPC systems

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Time-correlated single-photon counting system based on a monolithic time-to-amplitude converter

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements

Complete and Compact 32-Channel System for Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting Measurements

Prospects on Time-Domain Diffuse Optical Tomography Based on Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting for Small Animal Imaging

Eight-Channel Fully Adjustable Pulse Generator

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