Developing the Timepix Telescope

Planning a Future Timepix Telescope

Richard Plackett – VELO Testbeam MeetingCERN, 7th October 09

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Overview

Strengths and Weaknesses of Current Telescope

New Telescope Concept

New Readout SystemsRelaxed (PAN)Relaxed (NIKHEF)RUIN (Prague)MAXIPIX (ESRF)

New PCBSoftware

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Current Telescope

Strengths• High resolution• Adaptability• Ease of use – Currently borrowed by SPS collimator

group

Weaknesses• Small number of Timepix assemblies available• Scattering from PCB mount• Low readout rate (1Hz)• Large jitter on timing (500ns)• Low rate for ToA measurements

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Future Timepix Telescope

New Readout

Timing Unit

DUT+ readout

New Readout

Timing Signals collected by a timing unit provide flexible software synchronisation

Telescope arms and timing unit read back to PC via Ethernet or USB 2.0

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New Readouts - RELAXD• high REsolution Large Area X-ray Detector• Designed to tile large areas, currently PAN and NIKHEF flavors

due to parallel FPGA development

~kHz readout over ethernet

150MHz for multiple chips

Prototype (PAN) presented last week at Medipix collaboration meeting

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New Readouts - RUIN~kHz readout over USB2 (ethernet coming later)

~150MHz for multiple chips

Full prototype boards awaiting delivery

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New Readouts - Maxipix• Developed by ESRF• Available six months after

firm order• ~1kHz readout, although

Timepix slower• Readout by optical link• Comes with PC as complete

system• Can read multiple chips in

parallel mode, but may need to do some work to make this fit with the telescope

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New Readouts - Summary

Rate Available InterfaceRELAXD (NIKHEF)

150Hz quad1kHz single

~1 month Gb Ethernet

RELAXD (PANalytical)

150Hz quad1kHz single

~1 month Gb Ethernet

RUIN (CTU) 150Hz quad1kHz single

USB 2

MAXIPIX (ESRF)

5 chips 1kHz 6 months from order

Optical?

MARS (Canterbury )

100Hz 10 chips ~12 months Custom IO

In summer testbeams we ran with 5 to 10ms shutter times to get ~200 tracks per frame

With 1ms readout time from 10MHz clock and 150Hz readout we get 15% active time

With 1ms readout time from 10MHz clock and 1kHz readout we get ~50% active time

With 250us readout time from 40MHz clock and 1kHz readout we get 25% active time

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LHCb Telescope Proposal

New Readout

Timing Unit

New Readout

Timing Signals collected by a timing unit provide flexible software synchronisation

Telescope arms and timing unit read back to PC via Ethernet or USB 2.0

TELL1

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New ‘Single’ PCBsData IO – Backward compatibility with current chipboards

Serial IO – connecting boards as a ‘quad’ to be read out together

Sensor Bias – moved to a more convenient place

Sutter Output – An easy connector for monitoring and measuring the actual shutter signal

On board voltage regulators to ensure stable operation

Mounting Holes to accurately position chipboard

Cutout behind chip to reduce scattering

Chip positioning guides to ensure accurate mounting

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Software…• Timing unit programming and file output• Control numerous output files – one file per spill? (hardware?)• More convenient control panel (not 8 individual panels)• Keep it compatible with Pixelman (as a plugin??)• Keep fast display of frames (not so trivial)

• Add TELL1 & LHCb functionality• Add automatic track finding• Need to be careful not to make it too hard to use the data

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To Do• Choose a flavour of new readout RUIN, RELAXD, MaxiPix• Choose or develop timing unit • Develop new ‘quad’ PCBs with cutouts• Design mechanics (although can test in current system)

• Integrate TELL1 and LHCb DAQ• Software…

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Conclusions• Telescope has been successful and already borrowed by

SPS collimator group• Would like to up frame rate and add accurate timing• Improve control and readout software• Work to do on a new PCB• A number of options for new readout• Need to integrate TELL1 for LHCb use