title: Toward VIP-PIX: A Low Noise Readout ASIC for Pixelated CdTe Gamma-Ray Detectors for Use in the Next Generation of PET Scanners.
abstract: VIP-PIX will be a low noise and low power pixel readout electronics with digital output for pixelated Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) detectors. The proposed pixel will be part of a 2D pixel-array detector for various types of nuclear medicine imaging devices such as positron-emission tomography (PET) scanners, Compton gamma cameras, and positron-emission mammography (PEM) scanners. Each pixel will include a SAR ADC that provides the energy deposited with 10-bit resolution. Simultaneously, the self-triggered pixel which will be connected to a global time-to-digital converter (TDC) with 1 ns resolution will provide the event's time stamp. The analog part of the readout chain and the ADC have been fabricated with TSMC 0.25μm mixed-signal CMOS technology and characterized with an external test pulse. The power consumption of these parts is 200μW from a 2.5 V supply. It offers 4 switchable gains from ±10 mV/fC to ±40 mV/fC and an input charge dynamic range of up to ±70 fC for the minimum gain for both polarities. Based on noise measurements, the expected equivalent noise charge (ENC) is 65 e-RMS at room temperature.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Fisica d'Altes Energies (IFAE), Barcelona E-08193, Spain ( jgmacias@ifae.es ).
authors.forename: Jose-Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Macias-Montero
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarraj
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chmeissani
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puigdengoles
authors.forename: Gianluca De
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez
keywords: Analog-digital conversion; application specific integrated circuits; energy resolution; gamma-ray detectors; low-power electronics; positron emission tomography; semiconductor radiation detectors