The first version Buffered Large Analog Bandwidth (BLAB1) ASIC for high luminosity collider and extensive radio neutrino detectors

Future detectors for high luminosity particle identification and ultra high energy neutrino observation would benefit from a digitizer capable of recording sensor elements with high analog bandwidth and large record depth, in a cost-effective, compact and low-power way. A first version of the Buffered Large Analog Bandwidth (BLAB1) ASIC has been designed based upon the lessons learned from the development of the Large Analog Bandwidth Recorder and Digitizer with Ordered Readout (LABRADOR) ASIC. While this LABRADOR ASIC has been very successful and forms the basis of a generation of new, large-scale radio neutrino detectors, its limited sampling depth is a major drawback. A prototype has been designed and fabricated with 65k deep sampling at multi-GSa/s operation. We present test results and directions for future evolution of this sampling technique.Comment: 15 pages, 26 figures; revised, accepted for publication in NIM

GNSS signal acquisition in the presence of sign transitions

The next generation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Galileo [1] and GPS modernization [2], will use signals with equal code and bit periods, which will introduce a potential sign transition in each segment of the signal processed in the acquisition block. If FFT is used to perform the correlations a sign transition occurring within the integration time may cause a splitting of the main peak of the Cross Ambiguity Function (CAF) into two smaller lobes along the Doppler shift axis [3]. In this paper a method to overcome the possible impairments due to the lobe splitting is proposed and validated by simulatio

Interactive Real-Time Embedded Systems Education Infused with Applied Internet Telephony

The transition from traditional circuit-switched phone systems to modern packet-based Internet telephony networks demands tools to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) development. In this paper, we introduce the XinuPhone, an integrated hardware/software approach for educating users about VoIP technology on a real-time embedded platform. We propose modular course topics for design-oriented, hands-on laboratory exercises: filter design, timing, serial communications, interrupts and resource budgeting, network transmission, and system benchmarking. Our open-source software platform encourages development and testing of new CODECs alongside existing standards, unlike similar commercial solutions. Furthermore, the supporting hardware features inexpensive, readily available components designed specifically for educational and research users on a limited budget. The XinuPhone is especially good for experimenting with design trade-offs as well as interactions between real-time software and hardware components

Fibre segment interferometry using code-division multiplexed optical signal processing for strain sensing applications

A novel optical signal processing scheme for multiplexing fibre segment interferometers is proposed. The continuous-wave, homodyne technique combines code-division multiplexing with single-sideband modulation. It uses only one electro-optic phase modulator to achieve both range separation and quadrature interferometric phase measurement. This scheme is applied to fibre segment interferometry, where a number of long-gauge length interferometric fibre sensors are formed by subtracting pairs of signals from equidistantly placed, weak back reflectors. In this work we give a detailed account of the signal processing involved and, in particular, explore aspects such as electronic bandwidth requirements, noise, crosstalk and linearity, which are important design considerations. A signal bandwidth of ±20 kHz permits the resolution of phase change rates of 2.5 × 104 rad s-1 for each of the four 16.5 m long segments in our setup. We show that dynamic strain resolutions below 0.2 nanostrain Hz-0.5 at 2 m sensor gauge length are achievable, even with an inexpensive diode laser. When used in applications that require only relative strain change measurements, this scheme compares well to more established techniques and can provide high-fidelity yet cost-effective measurements

Noise shaping Asynchronous SAR ADC based time to digital converter

Time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are key elements for the digitization of timing information in modern mixed-signal circuits such as digital PLLs, DLLs, ADCs, and on-chip jitter-monitoring circuits. Especially, high-resolution TDCs are increasingly employed in on-chip timing tests, such as jitter and clock skew measurements, as advanced fabrication technologies allow fine on-chip time resolutions. Its main purpose is to quantize the time interval of a pulse signal or the time interval between the rising edges of two clock signals. Similarly to ADCs, the performance of TDCs are also primarily characterized by Resolution, Sampling Rate, FOM, SNDR, Dynamic Range and DNL/INL. This work proposes and demonstrates 2nd order noise shaping Asynchronous SAR ADC based TDC architecture with highest resolution of 0.25 ps among current state of art designs with respect to post-layout simulation results. This circuit is a combination of low power/High Resolution 2nd Order Noise Shaped Asynchronous SAR ADC backend with simple Time to Amplitude converter (TAC) front-end and is implemented in 40nm CMOS technology. Additionally, special emphasis is given on the discussion on various current state of art TDC architectures.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

The Waveform Digitiser of the Double Chooz Experiment: Performance and Quantisation Effects on PhotoMultiplier Tube Signals

We present the waveform digitiser used in the Double Chooz experiment. We describe the hardware and the custom-built firmware specifically developed for the experiment. The performance of the device is tested with regards to digitising low light level signals from photomultiplier tubes and measuring pulse charge. This highlights the role of quantisation effects and leads to some general recommendations on the design and use of waveform digitisers.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in JINS