The High-speed Array Controller (HIAC) was developed at NRC to operate high-speed multi-channel imaging detectors. Originally developed to operate the large (512x512 pixel) SAPHIRA infrared APD array, which requires 64 channels at 10 Mpx/s each, it is also being used in other projects, including tests of a large format CMOS imager for the CASTOR space telescope. The design is based around a Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ system on chip (SoC) device, which makes the system very powerful and flexible.
KEYWORDS: Interfaces, Electronics, Control systems, Logic, Field programmable gate arrays, Radio optics, Analog electronics, Telescopes, Electromagnetic coupling, Optical design
The Single Pixel Feed Receiver (SPFRx) is a Sub-Element of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Dish Element. Its main function is receiving RF signals captured by the SKA-mid Dish (DSH) and pre-amplified by the Single Pixel Feed (SPF) Sub-Element components. The main tasks of the SPFRx hardware, firmware, and software is to perform analog to digital conversion on the incoming RF signals and to send the digital RF samples to the SKA Central Signal Processing (CSP) Element as 100G Ethernet packets. For analog to digital conversion, of SKA-mid Bands 1-3 a 12-bit Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) is used. The ADC and its supporting electronics reside on an electronic board placed within a metal box on the telescope’s indexer. A number of measures are taken to minimize Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) created by the switching elements on the board. One of the major measures is using an optical link for performing monitor and control function of the internal electronics by the Local Monitor Control (LMC) module residing within the telescope’s base.
NRC has been involved in the ongoing development of the SAPHIRA infrared APD arrays from Leonardo MW. We present results from our characterization testing on the original 320x256 pixel device, including response speed at frame rates up to 1 kHz. We have also been working on the support electronics, including cryogenic preamplifiers and a readout system that is capable of operating a new 512x512 pixel, 64-output SAPHIRA device at 10 Mpx/s.
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