Sensor Network Synchronization With Picosecond Time Digitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor systems for applications like PET, LiDAR, and FLIM face challenges in achieving picosecond time measurement accuracy due to manufacturing variations, temperature, and power supply voltage mismatches, which lead to desynchronization of sensor chips, and existing networking protocols like PTP and White Rabbit do not provide sufficient synchronization for these applications.
Innovation Solution
A sensor network with a sensor controller and daisy-chained sensor modules that use custom integrated circuits with a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for picosecond time digitization, allowing for precise synchronization across multiple chips and compensating for voltage and temperature variations, along with a master-slave algorithm for fine time control and synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive synchronization approach with matched-length traces is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to manufacturing variations and temperature mismatches causing desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an active synchronization system where each sensor chip includes a phase detector that continuously monitors timing skew between chips and generates feedback signals. This feedback drives phase adjusters to dynamically correct timing mismatches, maintaining picosecond-level synchronization accuracy despite manufacturing variations and environmental changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization system transitions from a static passive approach to a dynamic active system. Phase adjusters continuously modify timing characteristics based on real-time conditions, allowing the system to adapt to temperature drifts, voltage variations, and manufacturing tolerances while maintaining precise synchronization.
2Productivity
If sensor chips are distributed in arbitrary physical configurations to improve system sensitivity and measurement throughput, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in maintaining synchronization across chips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the synchronization function into independent modules distributed across each sensor chip. Each chip contains its own phase detector, phase adjuster, and timing circuitry, allowing autonomous operation and synchronization without requiring centralized control or matched trace lengths, thus enabling arbitrary physical configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts timing parameters (phase shifts, delay values) for each individual chip based on measured skew. This parameter tuning allows chips in arbitrary configurations to achieve and maintain picosecond-level synchronization, ensuring reliable operation regardless of physical layout.
3Measurement precision
If extensive calibration is performed to achieve picosecond time measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in implementation and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization system performs self-calibration through its built-in phase detectors and feedback mechanisms. Each chip automatically measures timing skew relative to others and adjusts its own phase without external intervention, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures while maintaining picosecond accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs continuous preliminary synchronization adjustments through its active feedback loop before measurements are taken. Phase correctors constantly pre-adjust timing offsets based on real-time monitoring, ensuring synchronization is already optimized when measurement operations begin, eliminating the need for separate calibration steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables reliable synchronization of sensor modules to picosecond accuracy, improving system sensitivity and measurement throughput by maintaining precise timing across multiple sensor chips despite variations, enhancing spatial resolution and detection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
custom integrated circuits with a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for picosecond time digitization
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor network, which includes a sensor controller serially coupled to a plurality of sensor modules, is configured to program the sensor modules so as to transfer measurement data to the sensor controller and to synchronize the sensor modules to picosecond accuracy via on-chip or on-module custom circuits and a physical layer protocol. The sensor network has applications for use in PET, LiDAR or FLIM applications. Synchronization, within picosecond accuracy, is achieved through use of a picosecond time digitization circuit. Specifically, the picosecond time digitization circuit is used to measure on-chip delays with high accuracy and precision. The delay measurements are directly comparable between separate chips even with voltage and temperature variations between chips.