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Project

RADTIME (Radiation hardened Time-to-Digital Conversion)

In this research proposal, we aim to strengthen and mature our radiation tolerant Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) chip and address several technical challenges to successfully begin commercialization. Multiple channel integration and power saving are two key research topics envisaged in this project which limits the current technology in practice, since radiation tolerance was the main objective for research in the past. Multi-channel TDCs impose several scientific challenges with channel synchronization (matching) most critical. Understanding radiation effects on channel matching and adequate calibration circuitry will play an important role to success. Secondly, to achieve good resolution, rather power hungry timing cells were used, exceeding limitations in practical systems. We aim to optimize our current timing circuits and develop a novel power saving TDC core architecturAe. A few minor technical adjustments like interfacing and packaging will be addressed too. We foresee digital radiation detector readout systems as primary valorization track but consider Time-of-Flight LIDAR, imaging and medical PET scanners as viable application domains.
Date:1 Jan 2021 →  31 Dec 2023
Keywords:mixed-signal, chip design, time-to-digital converter, radiation hardening, space electronics
Disciplines:Analogue, RF and mixed signal integrated circuits, Digital integrated circuits, Electronic circuit and system reliability