Vertilon SIB1064 User manual

User Guide
Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
SIB1064
8 x 8 MPPC Sensor Interface Board
Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08

User Guide
Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Disclaimer
Vertilon Corporation has made every attempt to ensure that the information in this document is accurate and complete.
Vertilon assumes no liability for errors or for any incidental, consequential, indirect, or special damages including,
without limitation, loss of use, loss or alteration of data, delays, lost profits or savings, arising from the use of this
document or the product which it accompanies.
Vertilon reserves the right to change this product without prior notice. No responsibility is assumed by Vertilon for any
infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication
or otherwise under the patent and proprietary information rights of Vertilon Corporation.
Copyright Information
© 2020 Vertilon Corporation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Table of Contents
General Safety Precautions .....................................................................................................................6
Product Overview .....................................................................................................................................7
Specifications ...........................................................................................................................................9
Typical Radiation Detection Setup........................................................................................................10
S13615-1025N-08 Detector Mounting....................................................................................................10
Detector Channels..................................................................................................................................11
Detector Channel Mapping ....................................................................................................................12
High Voltage Interface............................................................................................................................12
Preamplifier.............................................................................................................................................13
Discriminator .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Discriminator Threshold..................................................................................................................14
Trigger Delay .................................................................................................................................. 14
Trigger Holdoff ................................................................................................................................ 15
Trigger Polarity ...............................................................................................................................15
LED Disabled..................................................................................................................................15
Top / Bottom Views ................................................................................................................................16
Component Locations and Functions ..................................................................................................17
SIB Connector Pinout.............................................................................................................................19
Mechanical Information.......................................................................................................................... 20

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
List of Figures
Figure 1: Functional Block Diagram...........................................................................................................8
Figure 2: Typical Radiation Detection Setup............................................................................................10
Figure 3: S13615-1025N-08 Detector Mounting ......................................................................................10
Figure 4: PhotoniQ IQSP582 Graphical User Interface............................................................................11
Figure 5: MPPC High Voltage Interface Circuit........................................................................................12
Figure 6: SIB1064 Dialog Box..................................................................................................................13
Figure 7: Leading Edge Discriminator Timing..........................................................................................14
Figure 8: PCB Top and Bottom Views .....................................................................................................16
Figure 9: Top Component Locations and Functions ................................................................................17
Figure 10: Bottom Component Locations and Functions .........................................................................17
Figure 11: SIB1064 Printed Circuit Board Dimensions ............................................................................20
List of Tables
Table 1: Specifications...............................................................................................................................9
Table 2: MPPC Array Channel Mapping..................................................................................................12
Table 3: Connectors ................................................................................................................................18
Table 4: LEDs and Switches....................................................................................................................18
Table 5: Test Points.................................................................................................................................18
Table 6: Sensor Interface Board (SIB) Connectors..................................................................................19

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
General Safety Precautions
Use Proper Power Source
The SIB1064 is powered with a +5V power source directly from Vertilon’s PhotoniQ multi-channel data acquisition
systems. A separate -100V power source from the PhotoniQ is used to generate the high voltage bias signal to the
S13615 MPPC array. Use with any other power sources may result in damage to the SIB1064 or the MPPC array.
Operate Inputs within Specified Range
To avoid electric shock, fire hazard, or damage to the product, do not apply a voltage to any input outside of its
specified range.
Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive
Electrostatic discharges may result in damage to the SIB1064. For this reason, the SIB1064 board is intended to be
operated in a user’s conductive instrument enclosure.
Do Not Operate in Wet or Damp Conditions
To avoid electric shock or damage to the product, do not operate in wet or damp conditions.
Do Not Operate in Explosive Atmosphere
To avoid injury or fire hazard, do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Product Overview
The SIB1064 sensor interface board allows the Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08 8 x 8 multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC)
array to easily interface to a Vertilon PhotoniQ multichannel data acquisition system. The MPPC device is attached to the
bottom side of the printed circuit board where the 64 cathode output signals are routed directly to the sensor interface
board (SIB) connectors. The SIB connectors conform to Vertilon’s standard, low-noise, multi-channel, cable
interconnection system. The connectors mate to a micro-coaxial cable assembly that passes the 64 device outputs to the
PhotoniQ. Bias to MPPC array is provided on a high voltage cable by the PhotoniQ where it can be enabled and
configured through the PhotoniQ graphical user interface. A special current-sense output from the bias interface circuitry
is routed to the input of a variable gain preamplifier on the SIB1064 indicating the total AC current signal to all 64 MPPC
channels. This signal, which is available to the user on an SMB jack, is fed into a leading edge discriminator with a user-
programmable threshold. The discriminator generates a trigger signal on an SMB jack when an event exceeding a
predefined energy threshold is detected on the S13615-1025N-08 device. The trigger output is typically connected to the
trigger input on the PhotoniQ data acquisition system where it is used to initiate the collection of the energy signals from
the MPPC array connected to the DAQ system’s inputs. Alternatively, it can be connected to external digital timing
hardware such as a coincidence detector. A temperature sensor located on the SIB1064 provides a continuous readout
of the ambient temperature near the S13615-1025N-08. The full functionality and operation of the SIB1064 is
conveniently controlled through the PhotoniQ’s graphical user interface. Intelligent software in the PhotoniQ constantly
monitors the status of its SIB connectors to determine the type of sensor interface board attached to them. Once
recognized, a dialog box specific to the recognized SIB is made available in the GUI through which the user has complete
control over its operation.
The various functions on the SIB1064 are described in greater detail on the following pages. When necessary, refer to
the functional block diagram shown in Figure 1 below.
Interface board for Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08 8 x 8 MPPC array
Supports 64 parallel charge output channels from MPPC array
Leading edge discriminator for event trigger and timing
Adjustable gain and threshold for discriminator channel
High voltage circuitry to bias the S13615 device
Integrated temperature sensor
100% compatible with Vertilon’s PhotoniQ 64 channel DAQs
Simplified control through PhotoniQ graphical user interface

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Figure 1: Functional Block Diagram
VERTILON SIB1064
S13615-1025N-08
SENSOR INTERFACE BOARD
HAMAMATSU
S13615-1025N-08
8 X 8 MPPC ARRAY
H1 P1
P2
P3
P31
P32
P35
P63
P64
P34
P33
MPPC
CATHODE
OUTPUTS
J2
SIB CONNECTOR
CONTROL/
STATUS
J1
SIB CONNECTOR
TEMPERATURE
SENSOR CONTROLLER SYSTEM CONTROL
AMP
THRESHOLD
COMP
PREAMP
OUT
TRIG
HV
POWER
HIGH
VOLTAGE
INTERFACE
J4
J5
J6
GAIN
CURRENT
TRIGGER
LOGIC
EXT IN
J3
CONFIG
G1
F1
B4
A4
H5
G5
F5
B8
A8
MPPC
ANODES

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Specifications
(TA= +25C, unless otherwise noted)
Description Sym Min Typ Max Units Notes
INPUT CHANNELS
Quantity 64 64 direct coupled channels to PhotoniQ channels 1 to 64.
Cathode Bias Voltage VB +0.25 V Detector cathode voltage supplied from PhotoniQ data
acquisition system
Cathode Pulldown Resistance R N/A The cathodes do not have on-board pulldown resistors.
PREAMPLIFIER
Transimpedance (Low Gain) Rin 249 Gain selected through GUI interface.
Transimpedance (Med Gain) Rin 374 
Transimpedance (High Gain) Rin 750 
Nominal Baseline Voltage +2.50 V
Signal Range +0.50 +2.50 V Maximum signal amplitude is 2.0V below baseline. Note:
these levels are halved when the preamplifier SMB output is
terminated into 50 ohms.
LEADING EDGE DISCRIMINATOR
Threshold Adjustment Range Vth 1.5 2.5 V Nominal baseline level at discriminator input is 2.5V.
Threshold (0 to 50%) controlled through GUI interface.
Threshold to Output Delay td40 nsec Tested with a 375 mV rectangular pulse measured at the
preamplifier output. Discriminator threshold set at 10%.
TRIGGER OUTPUT
Additional Delay tad 390 nsec Enabled through GUI interface.
Holdoff Time thoff 5.5 usec Enabled through GUI interface.
Pulse Width ttpw 200 nsec
Output Impedance 50 
Logic High Output Level VOH +4.3 +4.8 V (IOH = -32mA)
Logic Low Output Level VOL +0.2 +0.6 V (IOL = 32mA)
DIMENSIONS
Width W 57.4 mm
Length L 57.4 mm
Thickness T 1.57 mm (printed circuit board only)
Table 1: Specifications

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Typical Radiation Detection Setup
A typical radiation detection setup using a SIB1064 is shown below. The Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08 multi-pixel
photon counter array is attached to the SIB1064 which is positioned in an optical assembly to detect incoming radiation.
The 64 outputs from the MPPC array are routed on the SIB1064 to the SIB connectors that connect to a PhotoniQ
IQSP482 or IQSP582 multichannel data acquisition system. The discriminator channel on the SIB1064 produces a trigger
to the PhotoniQ whenever a radiation event is detected on any of the MPPCs in the array. The energy level threshold for
the radiation event is set by the user through the PhotoniQ graphical user interface. Charge signals from the 64 cathodes
of the S13615-1025N-08 device are acquired by the PhotoniQ for each trigger produced by the SIB1064. Digitized output
data from the PhotoniQ is sent through a USB 2.0 connection to a PC for display, logging, or real time processing. In the
figure below, the PhotoniQ GUI is set to display an 8 x 8 image of the energy levels for each event captured.
Figure 2: Typical Radiation Detection Setup
S13615-1025N-08 Detector Mounting
The SIB1064 supports the Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08 8 x 8 multi-pixel photon counter array. This particular model of
the device is soldered directly to the bottom of the sensor interface board. The MPPC device attached to a SIB1064 is
shown below. The Hamamatsu S13615-1050N-08 can also be mounted to the board with no change in fucntionality.
Figure 3: S13615-1025N-08 Detector Mounting

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Detector Channels
The 64 cathode signals from the S13615-1025N-08 device are routed directly on the SIB1064 to the SIB connectors.
These signals connect to channels 1 through 64 of a Vertilon PhotoniQ IQSP482 or IQSP582 charge integrating data
acquisition system. The PhotoniQ utilizes DC-coupled high speed transimpedance amplifiers that maintain a DC bias
voltage of +0.250 volts on each of its inputs. Because the S13615-1025N-08 is configured on the SIB1064 as a common
anode type, the polarity of the current to the PhotoniQ preamplifiers is out of the inputs. For this reason, the Input Polarity
under the Data Configuration menu in the PhotoniQ GUI should be set to positive. See the PhotoniQ user’s manual for
more details. The figure below shows a typical SIB1064 display of random particle signals on the 8 x 8 MPPC array.
Figure 4: PhotoniQ IQSP582 Graphical User Interface

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Detector Channel Mapping
The 64 MPPC channels from the S13615-1025N-08 are labeled in Hamamatsu’s datasheet as channels A1 through H8.
These channels map to Vertilon’s PhotoniQ data acquisition system channels according to the table below.
Hamamatsu MPPC Array Channel Number Vertilon DAQ Channel Number
A1, A2, …, A8 57, 58, …, 64
B1, B2, …, B8 49, 50, …, 56
C1, C2, …, C8 41, 42, …, 48
D1, D2, …, D8 33, 34, …, 40
E1, E2, …, E8 25, 26, …, 32
F1, F2, …, F8 17, 18, …, 24
G1, G2, …, G8 9, 10, …, 16
H1, H2, …, H8 1, 2, …, 8
Table 2: MPPC Array Channel Mapping
High Voltage Interface
The SIB1064 employs the interface circuit shown below between the high voltage input connector, J3, and the common
anodes of the S13615 device. The monitor output (HVMON) allows the high voltage anode bias to the MPPCs to be
indirectly monitored at a reduced voltage level. Voltage readings at the monitor point should be scaled by a factor of 21.
Calibration of the scale factor may be required for very accurate measurements.
Warning: The high voltage section of the SIB1064 contains signals at voltage levels
near negative 100 volts. Never touch a component or signal in this area.
Figure 5: MPPC High Voltage Interface Circuit

User Guide
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Preamplifier
The anodes from each MPPC device in the S13615 array are bussed together and connected to the input of a single
current-sensitive preamplifier on the SIB1064. The preamplifier generates a voltage signal in response to the current
signal on its input from any of the 64 MPPCs in the array. This voltage signal is available on an SMB output connector on
the SIB1064 and is also fed to the input of the discriminator. There are three settings for the preamplifier gain — low,
medium, and high — which are selected through the SIB1064 configuration dialog box in the PhotoniQ graphical user
interface shown below.
Figure 6: SIB1064 Dialog Box

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Discriminator
The discriminator generates a logic signal when a pulse from the preamplifier exceeds a user-defined threshold. The
SIB1064 GUI dialog box allows the user to set this threshold as well as other trigger-specific features.
Figure 7 shows the operation of the leading edge discriminator. A positive-going current pulse into the preamplifier results
in a negative-going pulse on its output. This pulse is compared to a threshold that is adjusted using the SIB1064
configuration dialog box in the PhotoniQ GUI. A logic high (for positive polarity control) is generated after a small delay
(td) from when the pulse first crosses the threshold, Vth. The discriminator switches back to a logic low when the pulse
crosses the threshold from the opposite direction as it returns back to the baseline level.
Figure 7: Leading Edge Discriminator Timing
Discriminator Threshold
The threshold can be set between 0 and 50% (equivalent to a one volt threshold) where 50% is equal
to one half of the maximum possible signal amplitude in the discriminator channel. When a pulse
crosses the threshold, the trigger output from the board becomes active. Typically this level is
empirically determined by the user. It should be set high enough to minimize false triggering on noise.
Additionally, the threshold can be set to correspond to a particular energy level as in radiation detection
applications that use single channel analyzers (SCA).
Trigger Delay
When set to On, this feature adds an additional delay of tad to the trigger output signal. The extra delay
is useful in applications that generate very short (<50 nsec) light signals into a Vertilon PhotoniQ data
acquisition system operating in Pre-trigger mode. This allows the PhotoniQ DAQ to be operated at the
shortest Integration Time possible and with zero Integration Delay.
Vth
tdTRIGGER
POINT
THRESHOLD
POINT
DISCRIMINATOR
OUTPUT
INPUT
CURRENT
PREAMP
OUTPUT
TRIGGER
OUTPUT
tad ttpw

User Guide
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Trigger Holdoff
This feature reduces excessive triggers that occur from noise or from very high event rates by holding
off additional triggers within a preset time period. The trigger holdoff time, Thoff, is internally set to
optimally match the Vertilon IQSP582 DAQ maximum trigger rate.
Trigger Polarity
The output trigger polarity can be set to either positive or negative.
LED Disabled
An additional feature of the discriminator is a status LED that can be selectively enabled and disabled
in the SIB1064 GUI dialog box. Under normal triggering conditions, this LED blinks green when an
event is detected, and is off when no event is detected.

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Top / Bottom Views
Figure 8: PCB Top and Bottom Views
1. S13615-1025N-08 Mounting Location 7. Preamplifier Output (J6)
2. SIB Connector, Channels 1 to 32 (J1) 8. Trigger Output (J4)
3. SIB Connector, Channels 33 to 64 (J2) 9. External Input (Unused) (J5)
4. Configuration Switches 10. Test Input Jack (Factory Use Only)
5. MPPC Negative Bias Input (J3) 11. Temperature Sensor
6. Trigger Status LED 12. JTAG Interface (Factory Use Only)
6 9
2
7 3
5 8
10 1
4
12

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Component Locations and Functions
Figure 9: Top Component Locations and Functions
Figure 10: Bottom Component Locations and Functions
TJ1
J3
J7
LD1
SW1
1
ON
234
P21
P12
P20
P19
P18
P16
P15
P11
P10
P8
P7P6P5
P13
P9
P4
P3
P1
P17
P2
J6 J5
J4
39
40
1
2
J2
39
40
1
2
J1
H1
G1
F1
E1
D1
C1
B1
A1
H3H2
G3G2
F3F2
E3E2
D3D2
C3C2
B3B2
A3A2
H5H4
G5G4
F5F4
E5E4
D5D4
C5C4
B5B4
A5A4
H7H6
G7G6
F7F6
E7E6
D7D6
C7C6
B7B6
A7A6
H8
G8
F8
E8
D8
C8
B8
A8

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Name Function Description
J1 CHANNELS 1 - 32 Sensor interface board connector, PhotoniQ channels 1 through 32.
J2 CHANNELS 33 - 64 Sensor interface board connector, PhotoniQ channels 33 through 54.
J3 -HV External high voltage power input for bias to the MPPC array
J4 TRIG OUT Trigger output
J5 EXT IN External Input (unused, reserved for expansion)
J6 PREAMP Preamplifier output
J7 JTAG JTAG interface (for factory use only)
TJ1 TEST Test input (for factory use only)
Table 3: Connectors
Name Function Description
LD1 STATUS Green LED indicator for SIB1064 trigger status.
SW1: 1-2 DEV ADDR 1:0 Sets the device address for control by the PhotoniQ. Set both switches to “ON”.
SW1: 3-4 DEV TYPE 1:0 Sets the device type for control by the PhotoniQ. Set both switches to “ON”.
Table 4: LEDs and Switches
Name Ref # Description
+5.0V P3 +5.0V power supply from the PhotoniQ
+5.0V P13 +5.0V power supply from the PhotoniQ
+3.3V P15 +3.3V internal power supply
+1.8V P14 +1.8V internal power supply
+2.5VREF P19 +2.5V reference voltage
VB P1 Bias voltage from PhotoniQ to MPPC anodes. Normally at +0.250V when PhotoniQ set to positive input polarity.
-HV P12 MPPC array common anode voltage.
VTH P18 Adjustable discriminator threshold
Table 5: Test Points

User Guide
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
SIB Connector Pinout
The SIB1064 connectors and cables are fully compatible with all Vertilon PhotoniQ systems. For applications utilizing
data acquisition systems other than Vertilon’s PhotoniQ series, the pinouts for connectors J1 and J2 are provided in
Table 6 as a reference.
J1 J2
Signal
Name
Pin
#
Signal
Name
Pin
#
Signal
Name
Pin
#
Signal
Name
Pin
#
VB 1 HVMON0 2 VB 1 HVMON1 2
SIB_DIN0 3 SIB_CLK0 4 SIB_DIN1 3 SIB_CLK1 4
P16 5 P32 6 P48 5 P64 6
P15 7 P31 8 P47 7 P63 8
P14 9 P30 10 P46 9 P62 10
P13 11 P29 12 P45 11 P61 12
P12 13 P28 14 P44 13 P60 14
P11 15 P27 16 P43 15 P59 16
P10 17 P26 18 P42 17 P58 18
P9 19 P25 20 P41 19 P57 20
P8 21 P24 22 P40 21 P56 22
P7 23 P23 24 P39 23 P55 24
P6 25 P22 26 P38 25 P54 26
P5 27 P21 28 P37 27 P53 28
P4 29 P20 30 P36 29 P52 30
P3 31 P19 32 P35 31 P51 32
P2 33 P18 34 P34 33 P50 34
P1 35 P17 36 P33 35 P49 36
SIB_DOUT0 37 SIB_NCS0 38 SIB_DOUT1 37 SIB_NCS1 38
SIBDAC0 39 +5V 40 SIBDAC1 39 +5V 40
Table 6: Sensor Interface Board (SIB) Connectors
Power (+5V) supplied through pin 40 if PhotoniQ is not used
Pins 3, 4, 37, 38 used by PhotoniQ and should be left unconnected
Ground supplied through SIB cable shielding

SIB1064 Sensor Interface Board Hamamatsu S13615-1025N-08
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Mechanical Information
Figure 11: SIB1064 Printed Circuit Board Dimensions