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A High-Speed, Event-Driven, Active Pixel Sensor Readout for Photon-Counting Microchannel Plate DetectorsSilicon array readouts for microchannel plate intensifiers offer several attractive features. In this class of detector, the electron cloud output of the MCP intensifier is converted to visible light by a phosphor; that light is then fiber-optically coupled to the silicon array. In photon-counting mode, the resulting light splashes on the silicon array are recognized and centroided to fractional pixel accuracy by off-chip electronics. This process can result in very high (MCP-limited) spatial resolution for the readout while operating at a modest MCP gain (desirable for dynamic range and long term stability). The principal limitation of intensified CCD systems of this type is their severely limited local dynamic range, as accurate photon counting is achieved only if there are not overlapping event splashes within the frame time of the device. This problem can be ameliorated somewhat by processing events only in pre-selected windows of interest or by using an addressable charge injection device (CID) for the readout array. We are currently pursuing the development of an intriguing alternative readout concept based on using an event-driven CMOS Active Pixel Sensor. APS technology permits the incorporation of discriminator circuitry within each pixel. When coupled with suitable CMOS logic outside the array area, the discriminator circuitry can be used to trigger the readout of small sub-array windows only when and where an event splash has been detected, completely eliminating the local dynamic range problem, while achieving a high global count rate capability and maintaining high spatial resolution. We elaborate on this concept and present our progress toward implementing an event-driven APS readout.
Document ID
20020015531
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kimble, Randy A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Pain, B.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Norton, T. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Haas, P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Fisher, Richard R.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: 199th American Astronomical Society Meeting
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: January 6, 2002
End Date: January 10, 2002
Sponsors: American Astronomical Society
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-01-11
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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