Electronic timing channel readout with multiplexing capabilities
AssigneesThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
InventorsShirin POURASHRAF, Joshua W. CATES, Craig S. LEVIN
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Abstract
An electronic fast timing multiplexing readout for multiplexing a plurality of LVDS timing signals from a plurality of timing channels. First groups of balun transformers convert received LVDS timing signals from the timing channels to single-ended output voltage signals. One or more balun transformers convert the single ended output signals to one or more differential mode output signals. A comparator (digitizer) produces a multiplexed LVDS timing signal along a multiplexed output channel.
Claims20
An electronic fast timing multiplexing readout for multiplexing a plurality of LVDS timing signals from a plurality of timing channels, the readout comprising:
- a first group of balun transformers being respectively fed by each of the LVDS timing channels, each of the balun transformers in the first group being configured to receive LVDS timing signals from the respective timing channel and convert the received LVDS timing signal to a single-ended output voltage signal;
- and
- one or more second balun transformers configured to convert the single ended output signals from the first group of balun transformers to differential mode output signals;
- and
- a comparator or digitizer configured to receive the differential mode output signals and produce a multiplexed differential timing signal along a multiplexed output channel.
A detector of emitted photons comprising:
- a readout comprising:
- a first group of balun transformers being respectively fed by each of the LVDS timing channels, each of the balun transformers in the first group being configured to receive LVDS timing signals from the respective timing channel and convert the received LVDS timing signal to a single-ended output voltage signal;
- and
- one or more second balun transformers configured to convert the single ended output signals from the first group of balun transformers to differential mode output signals;
- and
- a comparator or digitizer configured to receive the differential mode output signals and produce a multiplexed differential timing signal along a multiplexed output channel;
- detectors for receiving photons emitted from a patient and to generate timing and energy signals in response, the detectors being arranged in detector arrays;
- and
- a plurality of timing channels, each being respectively coupled to one of the detector arrays and generating one of the LVDS timing signals.
A method for multiplexing a plurality of LVDS fast timing signals from a plurality of timing channels, the method comprising:
- for each of the timing channels, receiving the LVDS fast timing signals from the respective timing channel and converting the received LVDS fast timing signals to a single-ended output signal;
- converting the single ended output signals to one or more differential mode output signals;
- and
- digitizing the combined differential mode outputs to produce a multiplexed LVDS timing signal along a multiplexed output channel.
The method of claim 20, further comprising:
- receiving, by each of the plurality of timing channels, a plurality of fast outputs from a set of coupled fast timing sensors;
- amplifying the received fast outputs using a low noise RF amplifier;
- transforming the amplified fast outputs to differential signals using a balun transformer;
- and
- digitizing the transformed fast outputs to generate the LVDS timing signals for the respective timing channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.