USB interface
Medipix2 is a collaboration between number of
European Universities and Research Institutes.
The aim of the collaboration is to carry out the design and evalutation of the
Medipix2 read-out chip for semiconductor pixel detectors.
USB interface is an alternative interface to MUROS2 (developed in
NIKHEF)
for Medipix2 data readout and acquisition control. It was designed with accent
to the independence to the external power supplies and to the reduction of interface
dimensions for maximum portability. The interface can be controlled via
Pixelman software.
Features:
- Serial readout speed: 5 fps.
- Integrated source of variable detector bias (5 - 100V)
with leakage current monitor.
- 12-bit fast ADC and DAC.
- 4kB EEPROM for interface configuration + 128kB of optional EEPROM.
- Temperature monitoring.
- Advanced triggering and hardware
timer (50ns precision).
- Trigger output to notify the end of the acquisition to the other devices
(stepper motor, X-ray tube controlling...).
- Cables with length up to 5m (depends on the cable quality,
USB host controller capabilities and Medipix2 power consumption).
- Power consumption from USB about 350mA (100mA with Medipix2 device turned off,
5mA in CPU power-down mode).
- Open system architecture - internal analog and digital
interface for "plug-in" PCB modules connection.
- Ability to flash a firmware directly via USB cable.
- Ability of back-side pulse monitoring for spectroscopic
applications.
