IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science · 2013 · 49 citations · 7 references
EngineeringComputer EngineeringElectrical EngineeringField-programmable Gate ArraysInstrumentationReconfigurable ComputingDigital Signal ProcessingField-programmable Gate Array ArchitectureFpga ArchitectureMedical InstrumentationTime MeasurementTiming AnalysisDevice CalibrationField-programmable Gate Arrays (Fpgas)System CalibrationTime ConversionTime-of-flight ImagingTime-of-flight MeasurementTime-of-flight PetTime-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography
This contribution describes an accurate approach implementing a Time-to-Digital Converter using a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device. Time differences with a FWHM better than 100 ps for 24 pairs of channels working simultaneously have been achieved. This was possible through the proper management of FPGA internal resources and by an accurate device calibration process minimizing the effect of temperature and voltage fluctuations. The system calibration results and the time differences between multiple channels are presented. The current approach suggests the possibility of carrying out precise Time of Flight (TOF) measurements with, for instance, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) systems.
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