Experimental validation of a Bulk Built-In Current Sensor for detecting laser-induced currents

International audience—Bulk Built-In Current Sensors (BBICS) were developed to detect the transient bulk currents induced in the bulk of integrated circuits when hit by ionizing particles or pulsed laser. This paper reports the experimental evaluation of a complete BBICS architecture, designed to simultaneously monitor PMOS and NMOS transistors, under Photoelectric Laser Stimulation (PLS). The obtained results are the first experimental proof of the efficiency of BBICS in laser fault injection detection attempts. Furthermore, this paper highlights the importance of BBICS tapping in a sensitive area (logical gates) for improved laser detection. It studies the performances of this BBICS architecture and suggests modifications for its future implementation

PS-BBICS: Pulse stretching bulk built-in current sensor for on-chip measurement of single event transients

The bulk built-in current sensor (BBICS) is a cost-effective solution for detection of energetic particle strikes in integrated circuits. With an appropriate number of BBICSs distributed across the chip, the soft error locations can be identified, and the dynamic fault-tolerant mechanisms can be activated locally to correct the soft errors in the affected logic. In this work, we introduce a pulse stretching BBICS (PS-BBICS) constructed by connecting a standard BBICS and a custom-designed pulse stretching cell. The aim of PS-BBICS is to enable the on-chip measurement of the single event transient (SET) pulse width, allowing to detect the linear energy transfer (LET) of incident particles, and thus assess more accurately the radiation conditions. Based on Spectre simulations, we have shown that for the LET from 1 to 100 MeV cm2 mg−1, the SET pulse width detected by PS-BBICS varies by 620–800 ps. The threshold LET of PS-BBICS increases linearly with the number of monitored inverters, and it is around 1.7 MeV cm2 mg−1 for ten monitored inverters. On the other hand, the SET pulse width is independent of the number of monitored inverters for LET > 4 MeV cm2 mg−1. It was shown that supply voltage, temperature and process variations have strong impact on the response of PS-BBICS

PADRE pixel read-out architecture for Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor for the new ALICE Inner Tracking System in TowerJazz 180 nm technolog

ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is the heavy-ion experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. As an important part of its upgrade plans, the ALICE experiment will schedule the installation of a new Inner Tracking System (ITS) during the Long Shutdown 2 (LS2) of the LHC. The new ITS layout will consist of seven concentric layers, ¿ 12.5 Gigapixel camera covering about 10m2 with Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS). This choice of technology has been guided by the tight requirements on the material budget of 0.3% X/X0 per layer for the three innermost layers and backed by the significant progress in the field of MAPS in recent years. The technology initially chosen for the ITS upgrade is the TowerJazz 180 nm CMOS Technology. It offers a standard epitaxial layer of 15 - 18 µm with a resistivity between 1 and 5 k¿ cm¿1 and a gate oxide thickness below 4 nm, thus being more robust to Total Ionizing Dose (TID). The main subject of this thesis is to implement a novel digital pixel readout architecture for MAPS. This thesis aims to study this novel readout architecture as an alternative to the rolling-shutter readout. However, this must be investigated through the study of several chip readout architectures during the R&D phase. Another objective of this thesis is the study and characterization of TowerJazz, if it meets the Non-Ionizing Energy Loss (NIEL) and Single Event Effects (SEE) of the ALICE ITS upgrade program. Other goals of this thesis are: ¿ Implementation of the top-down flow for this CMOS process and the design of multiple readouts for different prototypes up to the assembly of a full-scale prototype. xvii Abstract ¿ Characterization of the radiation hardness and SEE of the chips submitted to fabrication. ¿ Characterization of full custom designs using analog simulations and the generation of digital models for the simulation chain needed for the verification process. ¿ Implementation and study of different digital readouts to meet the ITS upgrade program in integration time, pixel size and power consumption, from the conceptual idea, production and fabrication phase. Chapter 1 is a brief overview of CERN, the LHC and the detectors complex. The ALICE ITS will be explained, focusing on the ITS upgrade in terms of detector needs and design constraints. Chapter 2 explains the properties of silicon detectors and the detector material and the principles of operation for MAPS. Chapters 3 and 4 describe the ALPIDE prototypes and their readout based on MAPS; this forms the central part of this work, including the multiple families of pixel detectors fabricated in order to reach the final design for the ITS. The ALPIDE3/pALPIDE3B chip, the latest MAPS chip designed, will be explained in detail, as well focusing in the matrix digital readout. In chapter 5 the noise measurements and its characterization are presented including a brief summary of detector response to irradiation with soft X-rays, sources and particle beams.El sub detector ITS (Inner Tracking System) del detector ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) es un detector de vértice y es el detector mas cercano al punto de interacción. Se encuentra conformado por 3 tipos de subdetectores, dos capas de pixel de silicio (Silicon Pixel Detectors), 2 capas de acumulación de silicio (Silicon Drift Detectors) y 2 capas de banda de Silicio (Silicon Strip Detectors). La función primaria del ITS es identificar y rastrear las partículas de bajo momentum transversal. El detector ITS en sus dos capas más internas están equipadas con sensores de silicio basados en píxeles híbridos. Para reemplazar esta tecnología de Píxeles, el detector ITS actual será reemplazado por un nuevo detector de una sola tecnología, ampliando su resolución espacial y mejorando el rastreo de trazas. Este nuevo detector constará de siete capas de sensores de píxeles activos monolíticos (MAPS), las cuales deberán satisfacer los requerimientos de presupuesto de materiales y ser tolerantes a mayores niveles de radiación para los nuevos escenarios de incrementos de luminosidad y mayores tasas de colisiones. Los sensores MAPS que integran el sensor de imagen y los circuitos de lectura se encuentran en la misma oblea de silicio, tienen grandes ventajas en una buena resolución de posición y un bajo presupuesto material en términos de bajo coste de producción. TowerJazz ofrece la posibilidad de una cuádruple-WELL aislando los transistores pMOS que se encuentran en la misma nWELL evitando la competencia con el electrodo de recolección, permitiendo circuitos mas complejos y compactos para ser implementados dentro de la zona activa y además posee una capa epitaxial de alta resistividad. Esta tecnología proporciona una puerta de óxido muy delgado limitando el daño superficial por la radiación haciéndolo adecuado para su uso denxiii Resúmen tro del experimento ALICE. En los últimos cuatro años se ha llevado a cabo una intensiva I+D en MAPS en el marco de la actualización del ITS de ALICE. Varios prototipos a pequeña escala se han desarrollado y probado exitosamente con rayos X, fuentes radioactivas y haces de partículas. La tolerancia a la radiación de ALICE ITS es moderada con una tolerancia de irradiación TID de 700 krad y NIEL de 1 × 1013 1 MeV neqcm¿2 , MAPS es una opción viable para la actualización del ITS. La contribución original de esta tesis es la implementación de una nueva arquitectura digital de lectura de píxeles para MAPS. Esta tesis presenta un codificador asíncrono de direcciones (arquitectura basada en la supresión de ceros transmitiendo la dirección de los píxeles excitados denominada PADRE) para la arquitectura ALPIDE, el autor también hizo una contribución significativa en el ensamblaje y veri- ficación de circuitos. PADRE es la principal investigación del autor, basada en un codificador de prioridad jerárquica de cuatro entradas y es una alternativa a la arquitectura de lectura rolling-shutter. Además de los prototipos a pequeña escala, también se han desarrollado prototipos a escala completa a las necesidades del detector ITS (15 mm y 30 mm) empleando un nuevo circuito de lectura basado en la versión personalizada del circuito PADRE. El pALPIDEfs fue el primer prototipo a escala completa y se caracterizó obteniendo un tiempo de lectura de la matriz por debajo de 4 µs y un consumo de energía en el orden de 80 mWcm¿2 . En general, los resultados obtenidos representan un avance significativo de la tecnología MAPS en cuanto al consumo de energía, velocidad de lectura, tiempo de recolección de carga y tolerancia a la radiación. El sensor pALPIDE2 ha demostrado ser una opción muy atractiva para el nuevo detector ITS, satisfaciendo los requerimientos en términos de eficiencia de detección, fake-hit rate y resolución de posición, ya que su rendimiento no puede alcanzarse mediante prototipos basados en la arquitectura de lectura tradicionales como esEl subdetector ITS (Inner Tracking System) del detector ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) és un detector de vèrtex i és el detector mes proper al punt d'interacció. Es troba conformat per 3 tipus de subdetectors, dues capes de píxel de silici (Silicon Pixel Detectors), 2 capes d'acumulació de silici (Silicon Drift Detectors) i 2 capes de banda de Silici (Silicon Strip Detectors). La funció primària del ITS és identificar i rastrejar les partícules de baix moment transversal. El detector ITS en les seues dues capes més internes estan equipades amb sensors de silici basats en píxels híbrids. Per a reemplaçar aquesta tecnologia de Píxels, el detector ITS actual serà reemplaçat per un nou detector d'una sola tecnologia, ampliant la seua resolució espacial i millorant el rastreig de traces. Aquest nou detector constarà de set capes de sensors de píxels actius monolítics (MAPS), les quals hauran de satisfer els requeriments de pressupost de materials i ser tolerants a majors nivells de radiació per als nous escenaris d'increments de lluminositat i majors taxes de col·lisions. Els sensors MAPS que integren el sensor d'imatge i els circuits de lectura es troben en la mateixa hòstia de silici, tenen grans avantatges en una bona resolució de posició i un baix pressupost material en termes de baix cost de producció. TowerJazz ofereix la possibilitat d'una quàdruple-WELL aïllant els transistors pMOS que es troben en la mateixa nWELL evitant la competència amb l'elèctrode de recol·lecció, permetent circuits mes complexos i compactes per a ser implementats dins de la zona activa i a més posseeix una capa epitaxial d'alta resistivitat. Aquesta tecnologia proporciona una porta d'òxid molt prim limitant el dany superficial per la radiació fent-ho adequat per al seu ús dins de l'- experiment ALICE. En els últims quatre anys s'ha dut a terme una intensiva R+D en MAPS en el marc de l'actualització del ITS d'ALICE. Diversos prototips a petita escala s'han desenvolupat i provat ix Resum reeixidament amb rajos X, fonts radioactives i feixos de partícules. La tolerància a la radiació d'ALICE ITS és moderada amb una tolerància d'irradiació TID de 700 krad i NIEL d'1× 1013 1MeV neqcm¿2 , MAPS és una opció viable per a l'actualització del ITS. La contribució original d'aquesta tesi és la implementació d'una nova arquitectura digital de lectura de píxels per a MAPS. Aquesta tesi presenta un codificador asíncron d'adreces (arquitectura basada en la supressió de zeros transmetent l'adreça dels píxels excitats denominada PADRE) per a l'arquitectura ALPIDE, l'autor també va fer una contribució significativa en l'assemblatge i verificació de circuits. PADRE és la principal recerca de l'autor, basada en un codificador de prioritat jeràrquica de quatre entrades i és una alternativa a l'arquitectura de lectura rolling-shutter. A més dels prototips a petita escala, també s'han desenvolupat prototips a escala completa a les necessitats del detector ITS (15 mm i 30 mm) emprant un nou circuit de lectura basat en la versió personalitzada del circuit PADRE. El pALPIDEfs va ser el primer prototip a escala completa i es va caracteritzar obtenint un temps de lectura de la matriu per sota de 4 µs i un consum d'energia en l'ordre de 80 mWcm¿2 . En general, els resultats obtinguts representen un avanç significatiu de la tecnologia MAPS quant al consum d'energia, velocitat de lectura, temps de recol·lecció de càrrega i tolerància a la radiació. El sensor pALPIDE2 ha demostrat ser una opció molt atractiva per al nou detector ITS, satisfent els requeriments en termes d'eficiència de detecció, fake-hit rate i resolució de posició, ja que el seu rendiment no pot aconseguir-se mitjançant prototips basats en l'arquitectura de lectura tradicionals com és el rolling-shutter dissenyat en la mateixa tecnologia. Per aquesta raó, la R+D en els prototips ALPIDE ha continuat amb l'objectiu d'optimitzaMarín Tobón, CA. (2017). PADRE pixel read-out architecture for Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor for the new ALICE Inner Tracking System in TowerJazz 180 nm technolog [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/86154TESI

PS-BBICS: Pulse stretching bulk built-in current sensor for on-chip measurement of single event transients

The bulk built-in current sensor (BBICS) is a cost-effective solution for detection of energetic particle strikes in integrated circuits. With an appropriate number of BBICSs distributed across the chip, the soft error locations can be identified, and the dynamic fault-tolerant mechanisms can be activated locally to correct the soft errors in the affected logic. In this work, we introduce a pulse stretching BBICS (PS-BBICS) constructed by connecting a standard BBICS and a custom-designed pulse stretching cell. The aim of PS-BBICS is to enable the on-chip measurement of the single event transient (SET) pulse width, allowing to detect the linear energy transfer (LET) of incident particles, and thus assess more accurately the radiation conditions. Based on Spectre simulations, we have shown that for the LET from 1 to 100 MeV cm2 mg−1, the SET pulse width detected by PS-BBICS varies by 620–800 ps. The threshold LET of PS-BBICS increases linearly with the number of monitored inverters, and it is around 1.7 MeV cm2 mg−1 for ten monitored inverters. On the other hand, the SET pulse width is independent of the number of monitored inverters for LET > 4 MeV cm2 mg−1. It was shown that supply voltage, temperature and process variations have strong impact on the response of PS-BBICS

Readout technologies for directional WIMP Dark Matter detection

The measurement of the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a compelling but technologically challenging strategy to provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter. Most directional detectors aim to reconstruct the dark-matter-induced nuclear recoil tracks, either in gas or solid targets. The main challenge with directional detection is the need for high spatial resolution over large volumes, which puts strong requirements on the readout technologies. In this paper we review the various detector readout technologies used by directional detectors. In particular, we summarize the challenges, advantages and drawbacks of each approach, and discuss future prospects for these technologies

Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration for Dependable Systems

Moore’s law has served as goal and motivation for consumer electronics manufacturers in the last decades. The results in terms of processing power increase in the consumer electronics devices have been mainly achieved due to cost reduction and technology shrinking. However, reducing physical geometries mainly affects the electronic devices’ dependability, making them more sensitive to soft-errors like Single Event Transient (SET) of Single Event Upset (SEU) and hard (permanent) faults, e.g. due to aging effects. Accordingly, safety critical systems often rely on the adoption of old technology nodes, even if they introduce longer design time w.r.t. consumer electronics. In fact, functional safety requirements are increasingly pushing industry in developing innovative methodologies to design high-dependable systems with the required diagnostic coverage. On the other hand commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices adoption began to be considered for safety-related systems due to real-time requirements, the need for the implementation of computationally hungry algorithms and lower design costs. In this field FPGA market share is constantly increased, thanks to their flexibility and low non-recurrent engineering costs, making them suitable for a set of safety critical applications with low production volumes. The works presented in this thesis tries to face new dependability issues in modern reconfigurable systems, exploiting their special features to take proper counteractions with low impacton performances, namely Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration

Readout technologies for directional WIMP Dark Matter detection

The measurement of the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a compelling but technologically challenging strategy to provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter. Most directional detectors aim to reconstruct the dark-matter-induced nuclear recoil tracks, either in gas or solid targets. The main challenge with directional detection is the need for high spatial resolution over large volumes, which puts strong requirements on the readout technologies. In this paper we review the various detector readout technologies used by directional detectors. In particular, we summarize the challenges, advantages and drawbacks of each approach, and discuss future prospects for these technologies

Photonic Crystal Directional Coupler Based Optomechanical Sensor

An extremely small ($6.5\times6.5\mu$m) optomechanical sensor is proposed that utilizes a photonic crystal (PC) etched onto silicon-on-insulator (SOI) using adapted complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor fabrication technology. The destructive interference of light with the periodic structure can forbid its propagation inside the crystal across a range of frequencies and can be used to confine light near edge of a PC slab. By placing two PC edges near each other, a directional coupler is formed where light is periodically exchanged between the two waveguides. Wet-etching away the buried oxide residing beneath the photonic crystal directional coupler (PCDC), a membrane is formed. Exerting force on the PCDC alters the separation between the two PC edges and modulates the observed transmission at the coupler outputs. Buckle-mitigating structures are also demonstrated here which relieve the unpredictable compressive stress built into the top silicon layer of SOI during wafer fabrication. The PCDC sensors attempt to overcome some of the shortcomings of existing micromechanical sensors such as area constraints, material restrictions, stiction, and EM interference. PCDC sensors are also highly parallelizable due to their small size and wide optical bandwidth. PCDC sensors are envisaged to be used in microfluidic integration and are capable of 149kPa full scale pressure measurement ranges