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

OEM Manual
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Description Sym Option Min Typ Max Units
TRACKING PEAK DETECTOR
Gain (from Current Preamp Out) Apd +1.9 +2.0 +2.1 V/V
Offset Vpo +60 +100 +140 mV
Signal Swing Vpo Vpo + 3.0 V
Output Impedance 50 Ω
POWER
Supply Voltage Vsupply +4.9 +5.0 +5.1 V
Supply Current Isupply 250 mA
ANALOG OUTPUT TIMING
Data Ready to Re-Arm Time t14.0 usec
Integrator Pre-Threshold Time t20.2 usec
Trigger to Sample Time t31.0 10 20 usec
Sample to Data Ready Time t44.0 usec
Data Ready Period trdy 2 10 200 usec
DIFFERENTIAL DISCRIMINATOR TIMING
Pulse Width (FWHM) tpw 8.0 10 12 usec
Pulse Repetition Time trep 500 usec
Discrimination to Trigger Delay
(measured over the signal input range of 0dB to -46dB) td5.5 5.75 6.0 usec
Delay Jitter
(measured at -46dB from peak signal input) 400 nsec
CONSTANT FRACTION DISCRIMINATOR TIMING
Pulse Width (FWHM) tpw 8.0 10 12 usec
Pulse Repetition Time trep 500 usec
Discrimination to Trigger Delay
(measured over the signal input range of 0dB to -46dB) td3.5 5 6.5 usec
Delay Jitter
(measured at -46dB from peak signal input) 3.5 usec
Table 4: Specifications

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Theory of Operation
The architecture of the TPC100AM is shown in Figure 2. It consists of several analog processing functions for signal
conditioning, discrimination, peak detection, and integration of the input charge pulse as well as programmable digital
circuitry to set the operational modes and thresholds for the analog functions and control the system timing.
Figure 2: Block Diagram
Current Preamp
The current input signal is amplified by a low noise, high speed transimpedance preamplier followed by a straight
voltage amplifier. The high speed of the current preamp preserves the input pulse shape while minimizing delay.
The feedback configuration holds the input of the TPC100AM at bias voltage, BIAS.
Baseline Restorer
Fixed background currents are dynamically canceled by the baseline restorer such that the resulting pulse signal
is placed on a nearly constant baseline. The proprietary circuit significantly reduces the baseline drift in conditions
of large amplitude pulses at high repetition rates (pulse pile-up).
Pulse Filter
The amplified and baseline restored current signal is filtered by a 4th-order Bessel filter that provides very tight
noise filtering. This function minimizes pulse distortion and delay resulting in more accurate timing discrimination.
DIFFERENTIAL
DISCRIMINATOR EIC
BASELINE
RESTORER
USER
SELECT
AMP
4th ORDER
BESSEL
FILTER
IN
TIMING
&
RESET
CONTROL
-
+
CONSTANT
FRACTION
DISCRIMINATOR
BIAS CF LEVEL
INTEGRATOR
PEAK DETECTOR
BIAS
CF LEVEL
THRESHOLD
&
MODE
CONTROL
BL MODE
BL MODE
+
-
RSVD
TIM MODE
TIM MODE
TRIG
+
-
+5V
+5V
DRDY
RST
PD MODE
PD MODE
THRESHOLD
COMPARATOR
PREAMP
OUT

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Threshold Comparator
The threshold comparator compares the incoming signal to a user-adjustable threshold to set the noise sensitivity
of the TPC100AM. Once the input signal crosses the threshold and fires the threshold comparator (the threshold
point) the system goes through a complete timing cycle and cannot be re-triggered. For this reason, the threshold
level should be set just above the noise level so that the system does not trigger on the noise. The timing cycle
can be interrupted by the user by momentarily asserting the RE-ARM external input.
Differential Discriminator
The differential discriminator is one of two types of discriminators selectable by the user. It operates by indicating
when the peak of the pulse is detected. This discriminator has a discrimination point that occurs at the first zero-
slope transition of the input pulse after the threshold point. For Gaussian, sinusoidal, and triangular pulses, the
discrimination point corresponds to the pulse peak. The differential discriminator is very accurate for pulses that
are predominantly Gaussian (or uniform) in shape but may not be appropriate for applications where the pulse
has several large transitions (ringing). An additional benefit of this type of discriminator is that provided the input
pulses are uniform, the discrimination point is relatively insensitive to the input pulse width and amplitude.
Figure 3 below illustrates a typical timing cycle for the differential discriminator. The cycle begins with the unit in
an armed state where it waits for the signal input to cross the user-adjustable threshold, Ith. When the threshold
point is reached, the BUSY output goes high and the TPC100AM enters a highly sensitive state where it looks for
the discrimination point. For the differential discriminator, this point is at the pulse peak. After a delay of td
seconds, the discriminator output, DISC OUT, goes high indicating the trigger point. The data ready signal, DRDY
OUT, is then asserted after the trigger point and remains asserted for duration, trdy. During this time the integrator
and peak detector outputs are available for sampling. Once the data ready period expires and BUSY returns low,
the system is re-armed and can again be triggered to capture the next input event.
Figure 3: Differential Discriminator Timing
INPUT
DISC
OUT
Ith
DRDY
OUT trdy
td td
BUSY
t1
DISCRIMINATION
POINT
TRIGGER
POINT
THRESHOLD
POINT
DISCRIMINATION
POINT
TRIGGER
POINT
THRESHOLD
POINT

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Constant Fraction Discriminator
A second type of discriminator called the constant fraction type is available for applications where the input pulse
may contain several transitions. This discriminator operates by comparing the integral of the input signal to a (user-
adjustable) fraction of the input signal. If the fraction is set to 50% of the integral, the discrimination point for
Gaussian and other uniformly shaped pulses occurs at the peak of the signal. Quasi-Gaussian pulses with multiple
transitions can also be reliably discriminated with the constant fraction discriminator provided that the transitions
are small relative to the pulse height. By setting the fraction to less than 50% of the integral, “pre-peak”
discrimination is possible. One drawback however is that the discrimination point is strongly dependent on the input
pulse width. For this reason, the constant fraction discriminator is most useful in applications of fixed pulse width.
A typical event timing cycle for the constant fraction discriminator is shown in Figure 4 below. Like the differential
type, the cycle begins with the unit armed and waiting to reach the threshold point. When this occurs, BUSY is
asserted and the unit goes into a lockout period, tlo, where the constant fraction discriminator ignores all potential
discrimination points. This feature dramatically reduces false triggers under low pulse amplitude conditions. To
utilize this feature, the user needs to pre-program the lockout period. For 50% discrimination points, the lockout
period should be set approximately to the FWHM period of the pulse. A certain amount of experimentation is
likely to be required.
In most applications the discrimination point is set to occur at the peak of the input pulse. While the differential
discriminator naturally operates under this condition, the constant fraction discriminator gives the user added
flexibility to set the discrimination point to be before or after the pulse peak. In the example below it is assumed that
the fraction is set to less than half of the integral so that the discrimination point precedes the pulse peak. The benefit
is that delay, td, can be adjusted out so that the trigger point coincides exactly with the pulse peak. Once DISC OUT
goes high at the trigger point, the subsequent timing behaves identically to that of the differential discriminator.
Figure 4: Constant Fraction Discriminator Timing
INPUT
Ith
DRDY
OUT trdy
td
t1
DISCRIMINATION
POINT
TRIGGER
POINT
THRESHOLD
POINT
DISC
OUT
BUSY
tlo
LOCKOUT
PERIOD
tlo
LOCKOUT
PERIOD
td
DISCRIMINATION
POINT
TRIGGER
POINT
THRESHOLD
POINT

OEM Manual
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Pulse Integrator Timing
The pulse integrator computes the integral of the input pulse within a fixed time window positioned relative to the
pulse trigger point. The result is output in single-ended form on the expansion interface connector (EIC) and in
differential form on the reserved connector (RSVD). The TPC100AM is designed to start integrating the triggering
pulse just prior in time to the threshold point. This is denoted in by time t2in Figure 5. Integration continues for t3
seconds after the trigger point with the resulting integrated signal ready for external sampling t4seconds after the
end of the integration period. The data ready period, trdy, is indicated by DRDY OUT in the high state. At the end
of this period, the integrator is reset.
Pulse Peak Detector Timing
The pulse peak detector determines the peak of the input pulse within the same time window used by the
integrator. Two peak detection modes are available. In tracking mode, the peak detector continuously follows the
input pulse and holds the peak value when reached. An alternative mode called sampling mode operates by
sampling the pulse at the trigger point. Because the peak detector operates on a delayed version of the input
pulse, the effective sampling point of the pulse occurs tdseconds prior to the trigger point. When using the
differential discriminator this has the advantage of placing the peak detector sampling point very near the peak of
the pulse. It is recommended that the sampling mode be used with the differential discriminator and the tracking
mode with the constant fraction discriminator. The output from the peak detector is available in single-ended form
on the expansion interface connector (EIC) and in differential form on the reserved connector (RSVD). Like the
pulse integrator, the data ready signal indicates when the peak detector result is ready for sampling. The peak
detector is also reset after the data ready signal is de-asserted.
Figure 5: Analog Output Timing Diagram
IN P U T
DISC
OUT
IN TEG R ATIO N
WINDOW
DRDY
OUT
PULSE
IN T EG R A L
PULSE
PEAK
(TRACKING)
TRIGGER
POINT
tint
t3
THRESHOLD
POINT
t2
PULSE
PEAK
(SAMPLING)
PEAK
DETECT
POINT
td
PEAK
DETECT
POINT
t4

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Timing Generator
Timing to the integrator and peak detector is derived from the programmable timing generator. It consists mainly
of the integration and peak detection windows as well as reset control.
Re-Arm
The RE-ARM input allows the user to interrupt the timing cycle of the TPC100AM and return it to an armed state.
It is most useful in applications where the analog outputs are unused or are sampled very quickly. By applying a
re-arm signal to the unit during the data ready period, the TPC100AM cycle time can be minimized and as a
result the time between successive events can be reduced. The figure below illustrates operation with an external
re-arm signal.
Figure 6: Re-Arm Timing
Expansion Interface Connector (EIC)
The expansion interface connector on the TPC100AM is used as the main electrical connectivity path to the
PhotoniQ main board. Power to the TPC100AM is provided from the PhotoniQ on this connector. Depending on
which discriminator type is selected by the user, the TPC100AM passes either the differential or constant fraction
discriminator output through the EIC to trigger the PhotoniQ. The integrator and peak detector outputs also pass
through the EIC to the PhotoniQ. Display and logging of these signal is currently unsupported in the PhotoniQ.
Reserved Connector (RSVD)
This connector is reserved for expansion.
INPUT
DRDY
OUT
trdy
t1t2
DISC
OUT
BUSY
RE-ARM
UNIT
RE-ARMED

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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Electrical Interface
The photo below shows the TPC100AM mated to PhotoniQ. All electrical connections to the PhotoniQ are made through
the expansion interface connector (EIC). The TPC100AM is mechanically mounted to the PhotoniQ at each of its four
corners using a captive 5/8” long spacer and a one inch long #4-40 machine screw.
Figure 7: PhotoniQ / TPC100AM System
1. Current Input (J1) 6. Discriminator Out (J6)
2. Preamp Monitor Output (J2) 7. Busy Output (J7)
3. Integrator Output (J3) 8. Data Ready Output (J8)
4. Peak Detector Output (J4) 9. Re-Arm Input (J9)
5. Spare Input (J5) 10. Expansion Interface Connector (J17)
4 7 8
3 5 6 9
10
1 2

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Connectors and Jumpers
The locations of all interface connectors and jumpers are shown below.
Figure 8: Connector and Jumper Locations
The connector and jumper functions are described in the table below.
Name Function Manufacturer P/N Mating P/N
J1 Current Input Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J2 Preamp Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J3 Integrator Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J4 Peak Detector Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J5 Spare1 Input Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J6 Discriminator Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J7 Busy Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J8 Data Ready Output Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J9 External Re-arm Input Johnson 142-0701-321 SMA Plug
J10 Preamp Gain1 Jumper - - -
J11 Preamp Gain2 Jumper - - -
J12 Baseline Restore Jumper - - -
J13 Post Amp Gain1 Jumper - - -
J14 Post Amp Gain2 Jumper - - -
J15 Reserved Connector (not installed) AMP 745781-2 D-sub Plug, 9 Pos
J16 Spare Header (unused) - - -
J17 Expansion Interface Connector (EIC) Samtec SQT-135-03-L-Q SQT-135-03-L-Q
J18 Factory Programming Header - - -
J19 Input Power Select Jumper - - -
J20 Auxiliary Power Input (unused) - - -
J21 LED Jumper - - -
Table 5: Connector Functions

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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Operation
The TPC100AM is configured by applying a signal to the input and monitoring the analog and digital outputs on the SMA
connectors. Adjustments to the operating parameters are made using a combination of dip switches, jumpers, pots, and
rotary switches. The dip switches are used to set the modes of the TPC100AM and the jumpers are used to set the
current preamp gain. The threshold point and the discrimination point for the constant fraction discriminator are set using
multi-turn pots. The preamp input bias level and TPC100AM timing parameters are adjusted using the three digital rotary
switches.
Mode Switches
The operating modes of the TPC100AM are set using DIP switch SW1 and are summarized in Table 6 below.
The default configuration is all switches on. Switch SW2 is for factory functions and should be configured with all
switches off.
SW # Function Switch On Switch Off
1 System Operate Reset
2 Baseline Restorer Active Disabled
3 Discriminator Type Differential Constant Fraction
4 Peak Detector Type Sampling Tracking
Table 6: Mode Switches (SW1)
Current Preamp Gain
Adjustment of the current preamp gain is made using jumpers according to Table 7. Under normal conditions the
gain should not have to be changed. However, if the discriminator output is unreliable over the range of input
pulse sizes, the gain may have to be adjusted to better match the input conditions. The gain should be set so that
the maximum input pulse results in approximately 1.5 volts of signal swing (0.75 volts into 50 ohms) at the
preamp output (J2).
Gain J10 J11
+2.5 dB Out In
0.0 dB In Out
-5.0 dB In In
Table 7: Current Preamp Gain Adjustment
Post Amp Gain
The post amplifier that follows the preamplifier is factory configured with jumper J14 loaded. Under normal
conditions it should not be necessary to change its gain. However an additional 10 dB of gain can be added by
removing jumper J14 and loading jumper J13.

TPC100AM Trigger Processing Card
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Vertilon Corporation, 66 Tadmuck Road, Westford, MA 01886 /Tel: [phone] /Fax: [phone] /www.vertilon.com
Background Current Cancellation Range
Jumper J12 sets the range of the background current cancellation circuit. The factory default setting is pins 1, 2,
and 3 connected together. This jumper should not be removed.
Threshold
The threshold point is adjusted with potentiometer R138 by applying an input to the TPC100AM while monitoring
the BUSY output (J7). Potentiometer R138 should be set just beyond the point where the system no longer
triggers on noise.
Constant Fraction Discriminator Threshold
Potentiometer R120 sets the discrimination point and hence the trigger point for the constant fraction
discriminator. This adjustment should be made while monitoring the discriminator output (J6). It is only applicable
when the constant fraction discriminator is selected.
Rotary Switches
The rotary switch functions are listed in Table 8. To use the switches, select the desired function using the eight
position SELECT rotary switch. The program LED (D14) will illuminate indicating that the value switches, labeled
as COARSE and FINE, are active and that the selected function can be updated. The value switches correspond
to the most significant and least significant decimal digits of a two digit parameter. Enter the desired value for the
selected function. Any time the value switches are changed (rotated), the selected function will automatically be
updated with the new value and stored in non-volatile memory. To prevent accidental changes to stored values,
the SELECT switch should be set to the “Safe”position (position 0). When in this position the program LED is off.
It is recommended that the SELECT switch be set to position 0 when not updating functions.
Pos Function
0 Safe
1 Trigger to Sample Time (t3)
2 Data Ready Period (trdy)
3 Constant Fraction Lockout Period (tlo)
Table 8: Rotary Switch Functions
Trigger to Sample Time (t3)
This timing parameter is adjusted with the SELECT rotary switch in position 1. The trigger to sample time (in
microseconds) is equal to the two digit decimal value of the value rotary switches.
Data Ready Period (trdy)
Position 2 on the SELECT rotary switch is used to set the data ready period. This parameter (in microseconds) is
equal to the two digit decimal value of the value rotary switches times two.