Vertilon PhotoniQ Series Installation and operation manual

OEM Manual
Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
PhotoniQ Series
TPC100AM
Trigger Processing Card

OEM Manual
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
© 2008 Vertilon Corporation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No form of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or byany means, electronic or mechanical, for
an
y
purpose without prior, express written consent from Vertilon Corporation.

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com

OEM Manual
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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.....................................................................................................................5
Product Overview.....................................................................................................................................6
Features............................................................................................................................................6
Applications.......................................................................................................................................7
Key Specifications.............................................................................................................................7
Ordering Information.........................................................................................................................7
Specifications....................................................................................................................................8
Theory of Operation ...............................................................................................................................10
Electrical Interface..................................................................................................................................15
Connectors and Jumpers................................................................................................................16
Operation.................................................................................................................................................17
Factory Parameters................................................................................................................................20
Mechanical Information..........................................................................................................................21

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
List of Figures
Figure 1: TPC100AM Printed Circuit Board...............................................................................................6
Figure 2: Block Diagram..........................................................................................................................10
Figure 3: Differential Discriminator Timing...............................................................................................11
Figure 4: Constant Fraction Discriminator Timing....................................................................................12
Figure 5: Analog Output Timing Diagram................................................................................................13
Figure 6: Re-Arm Timing.........................................................................................................................14
Figure 7: PhotoniQ / TPC100AM System................................................................................................15
Figure 8: Connector and Jumper Locations.............................................................................................16
Figure 9: Printed Circuit Board Mechanical Assembly.............................................................................21
List of Tables
Table 1: Applications.................................................................................................................................7
Table 2: Key Specifications .......................................................................................................................7
Table 3: Ordering Information....................................................................................................................7
Table 4: Specifications...............................................................................................................................9
Table 5: Connector Functions..................................................................................................................16
Table 6: Mode Switches (SW1)...............................................................................................................17
Table 7: Current Preamp Gain Adjustment..............................................................................................17
Table 8: Rotary Switch Functions............................................................................................................18
Table 9: Reserved Connector (J15).........................................................................................................19
Table 10: Rotary Switch Factory Functions.............................................................................................20

OEM Manual
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
General Safety Precautions
Warning – High Voltages
The TPC100AM is mounted to the main board of a Vertilon PhotoniQ multi-channel PMT data acquisition system. This
board assembly connects to a Sensor Interface Board (SIB) through a high voltage cable. The TPC100AM, PhotoniQ,
Sensor Interface Board, and sensor power cable are energized with potentially harmful high voltages (up to 2000 Volts)
during operation.
Use Proper Power Source
The TPC100AM is powered with +5V through the PhotoniQ daughtercard expansion connector. Use with any other power
source may result in damage to the product.
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 TPC100AM, PhotoniQ and SIB board set. For these reasons, the
boards are 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.

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Product Overview
The TPC100AM trigger processing card is a circuit board assembly designed for high performance applications requiring
capture and synchronization of charge pulse signals. The card accepts a single charge-based input pulse that is signal
conditioned and processed to provide the pulse integral and pulse peak on two separate analog outputs. Proprietary
circuitry dynamically cancels background current while minimizing baseline drift due to pulse pile-up. Additionally, two
user-selectable discriminators, a differential type and a constant fraction type, are available for triggering on the peak of
the input pulse. Several user adjustments are included for setting preamp bias, system gain, trigger thresholds, and
operational modes. Used in conjunction with a Vertilon PhotoniQ multi-channel PMT data acquisition system, all electrical
and mechanical connectivity to the TPC100AM is established through the PhotoniQ daughtercard expansion interface
connector. The TPC100AM and PhotoniQ assembly allows developers to easily integrate it with other electronics to build
more sophisticated electro-optical instruments.
This guide is intended to be used as a supplement to the PhotoniQ User Manual. It contains information and
specifications relating to TPC100AM only. The user should refer to the PhotoniQ User Manual for all other information
relating to the operation of the PhotoniQ such as performance specifications, mechanical prints, functionality descriptions,
software interfaces, and file formats.
Features
•User-selectable differential or constant fraction
type discriminators
•Adjustable input bias
•Dynamic background current cancellation
circuitry
•Very low baseline drift, virtually no pulse pile-up
•Pulse integral and pulse peak outputs
•Low delay / low distortion 4th-order noise filter
•On-board non-volatile flash memory for
configuration settings
•Programmable thresholds and modes
Figure 1: TPC100AM Printed Circuit Board

OEM Manual
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Applications
Applications
Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Spatial Radiation Detection
High Speed Spectroscopy
Bioaerosol Detection and Discrimination
Flow Cytometry
Particle Physics
Table 1: Applications
Key Specifications
(Typical specifications at room temperature)
Item Specification
Typical Pulse Width (FWHM) Speed Option 010: 10 usec
Minimum Pulse Repetition Time Speed Option 010: 500 usec
Maximum Input Pulse Amplitude Input Option 0020: 20uA
Input Option 0200: 200uA
Input Option 2000: 2000uA
Maximum Background Current 20% of Peak Input Pulse
Dynamic Range 200:1
Analog Output Range +0.10 to +3.00V
Digital I/O 0 to +5V
Input Power +5V
Table 2: Key Specifications
Ordering Information
The TPC100AM trigger processing card comes in three input pulse size options. Custom speed and input pulse size
configurations are also available. Contact Vertilon for details.
Model
Typical FWHM
Pulse Width
(usec)
Minimum Pulse
Repetition Time
(usec)
Maximum Input
Pulse Height
(uA)
TPC100AM-010-2000 10 500 2000
TPC100AM-010-0200 10 500 200
TPC100AM-010-0020 10 500 20
TPC100AM-xxx-xxxx Specify Specify Specify
Table 3: Ordering Information

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Specifications
(Vsupply = +5.0V, TA= +25C, speed option -010, Post amplifier gain set low: J14 loaded)
Description Sym Option Min Typ Max Units
CURRENT PREAMP
Transimpedance Gain Z Input Range
-0020
-0200
-2000
75,000
7,500
750
V/A
Gain Adjustment Range ΔZ -5.0 0.0 +2.5 dB
Bias Vbias +0.100 +1.250 +1.970 V
Background Current Cancellation Ibg Input Range
-0020
-0200
-2000
+4
+40
+400
uA
Threshold Adjustment
(at typical pulse width and nominal gain) Ith Input Range -0020
-0200
-2000
0
0
0
+25
+250
+2500
uA
Baseline Vbl +2.4 +2.5 +2.6 V
Signal Swing Vbl Vbl + 1.5 V
Output Impedance 50 Ω
FILTER
Pulse Gain (for 10 usec FWHM pulse) Af-1.5 -0.8 0.0 dB
Delay 5.6 usec
Attenuation @ 150 KHz 13 dB
Attenuation @ 750 KHz 66 dB
INTEGRATOR
Gain (from Current Preamp Input) Ai61 68 75 uV/pC
Offset Vio +90 +100 +110 mV
Signal Swing Vio Vio + 3.0 V
Output Impedance 50 Ω
SAMPLING PEAK DETECTOR
Gain (from Current Preamp Out) Apd +1.9 +2.0 +2.1 V/V
Offset Vpo +90 +100 +110 mV
Signal Swing Vpo Vpo + 3.0 V
Output Impedance 50 Ω