Peak Track-and-Hold Circuit for Low-Power Radiation Pulse Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for detecting cosmic rays and sub-atomic particles are hindered by the high cost, complexity, and power consumption of systems using high-speed ADCs and high-performance microcontrollers, particularly in applications requiring accurate pulse height measurements.
Innovation Solution
A pulse detection circuit and method that utilize a peak track/hold circuit and a baseline track/hold circuit, enabled by a microcontroller, to efficiently detect peak and baseline values from analog signals, reducing the need for high-speed ADCs and microcontrollers, and incorporating a low sample rate ADC and operational amplifiers with shutdown capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed ADC and high-performance microcontroller are used to detect peak pulse values, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a peak detect circuit to identify and hold the peak voltage value before ADC conversion. The track/hold circuit captures the peak signal in advance, allowing a low-speed ADC to accurately measure the held voltage without missing the peak, thus eliminating the need for high-speed ADC while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a peak detect circuit and track/hold circuit as intermediary components between the analog signal and the ADC. These intermediary circuits process the signal to extract and hold the peak value, enabling a low-performance ADC to achieve high measurement precision that would otherwise require a high-speed ADC
2Measurement precision
If high-speed ADC and high-performance microcontroller are used to detect peak pulse values, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peak detect circuit performs preliminary detection and holding of the peak voltage before ADC conversion. This allows the system to use a low-power, low-speed ADC that consumes minimal energy while still achieving accurate peak measurement through the pre-processed held signal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, high-power high-performance microcontrollers and high-speed ADCs with simpler, lower-cost components including a basic microcontroller and low-speed ADC. The peak detect circuit and track/hold circuit compensate for the lower performance, achieving the same measurement precision with significantly reduced power consumption
3Measurement precision
If specialized analog front-end instrumentation modules are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function into separate modular components: a peak detect circuit for identifying peak voltage, a track/hold circuit for capturing and holding the peak value, and a basic ADC for conversion. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and inexpensive while collectively achieving high measurement precision, avoiding the need for complex specialized instrumentation modules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal solution using standard, off-the-shelf components that can be applied to various radiation detection applications. The peak detect circuit and track/hold circuit are general-purpose signal processing modules that work with any pulsed signal, making the system versatile and avoiding application-specific customized instrumentation
4Use of energy by moving object
If SiPMs are used to replace PMTs, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to dark current and temperature sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements temperature compensation by monitoring the SiPM temperature and adjusting the measurement or calibration accordingly. This feedback mechanism compensates for temperature-induced variations in SiPM performance, maintaining measurement precision across different operating conditions while preserving the low power consumption advantage of SiPMs
Solution Approach 2:
The peak detect circuit and track/hold circuit act as intermediary signal processing stages that enhance the SiPM output signal. By accurately detecting and holding the peak voltage before ADC conversion, these intermediary circuits improve the signal-to-noise ratio and measurement precision, compensating for the inherent noise characteristics of SiPMs while maintaining low power operation
Data Source
AI summary
A pulse detection circuit configured to detect peak pulse values from pulses contained in an input analog signal includes a control circuit to generate a peak control signal based on input from a microcontroller and/or a peak detector, and a peak track/hold circuit to produce an output peak analog signal responsive to the input analog signal and peak control signal. The peak track/hold circuit includes a peak-detect operational amplifier having first and second input terminals to receive the input analog signal and the peak control signal respectively, and a peak-hold capacitor connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The pulse detection circuit includes an analog to digital converter to produce an output peak digital signal from the output peak analog signal. The peak track/hold circuit switches from a tracking mode to a hold mode upon the arrival of the peak control signal generated from the control circuit.