ams AS5912 CT Detector Interface

Description

The AS5912 is an ultra-low noise, 512-channel low power current to digital converter that enables the readout of photodiodes of a CT detector with highest sensitivity. The output currents of 512 photodiodes are converted simultaneously into digital without any dead time resulting in no charge loss on the inputs. The AS5912 combines current-to-voltage integration and A/D conversion for 512-channels in one device. The ADC architecture with its low-noise integrators, coarse quantizer, sample-and-hold and fine quantizer guarantee lowest input related noise of maximum 0.29 fC (low noise mode) at an input current range of 0.5 µA. The input current range of the ADC is selectable between 0.5 µA and 1 µA.

The AS5912 supports two supply concepts: a single analog and true ground supply, in both modes the photodiodes are zero biased for ultra-low dark current of the photodiode. In true ground mode, the AS5912 operates at ±1.5 V dual analog supply while in single supply mode only a single analog supply of +3.0 V is needed. The device detects automatically the chosen supply concept. No external components are required for supply decoupling. To reduce PCB area and simplify the assembly process, decoupling capacitors for supply and reference voltages are integrated in the 23 x 15 mm² FBGA package. The on-chip LDOs, reference voltages and a temperature sensor minimize the external component requirements and reduces the bill of material.

Full-scale range, integration time and power mode are configurable over a SPI-compatible serial interface as well as the digital output modes of the LVDS interface. In low power mode, the power dissipation can be minimized down to 1.25 mW per channel for reduced self-heating of the CT detector. The adjustable integration time down to 51 µs allow very high frame rates.

Details

Features

  • 512-channel in 15 x 23 mm² FBGA package
  • Ultra-low noise of 0.29 fC at 0.5 μA input current in low noise mode
  • Lowest power dissipation of 1.25 mW per channel in low power mode
  • Adjustable integration time down to 51 μs (20 kSPS) at 20-bit resolution. Up to 26-bit at integration times of 1 ms
  • Zero biased photodiodes (true ground concept) for ultra-low dark currents
  • Integral linearity of ±0.080% of reading and ±0.2 ppm of full-scale range (all channels active)
  • Automatic zero offset calibration, input charge calibration and linearity calibration

Benefits

  • No external components required. Integrated capacitors for supply and reference decoupling
  • No charge loss. Continuous charge integration due to zero dead time of ADC architecture
  • Selectable full-scale range of 0.5 μA in low range and 1 μA in high range
  • Adjustable full-scale range, integration time and power consumption via SPI interface as well as adjustable output modes via LVDS
  • Selectable power supply concept between dual ±1.5 V analog supply (true ground concept) or single +3.0 V analog supply
  • On-chip LDOs, voltage references and temperature sensor
  • Built-in diagnostic modes for testing full detector signal chain

Parameters

Channels
input
512
Integration time
min.
51 µs
Input related noise
0.29
Power consumption per channel
min.
1.25 mW
Resolution
26 bit
Package
FBGA (23 x 15mm)
Function
x-ray sensing