TACImager: a high frame rate 320 x 256 SPAD time to amplitude converter array with adjustable time zoom

Neil Finlayson; Luca Parmesan; Neale A. W. Dutton; Neil J. Calder; Robert K. Henderson

doi:10.1117/12.2241381

25 October 2016 TACImager: a high frame rate 320 x 256 SPAD time to amplitude converter array with adjustable time zoom

Neil Finlayson, Luca Parmesan, Neale A. W. Dutton, Neil J. Calder, Robert K. Henderson

Proceedings Volume 9992, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies; 99920O (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2241381
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) in the form of high-resolution imaging pixel arrays are used in 3D cameras, motion-tracking, biomedical and time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) applications. Rapid spatial and temporal zoom onto objects of interest is an attractive feature. We present here novel high-speed time-zoom functionality achieved with the digital readout mode of the TACImager, a 256 x 256 TCSPC image sensor array based on sample and hold Time to Amplitude Converter (TAC) pixels. A column-parallel flash Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) is implemented in the TACImager to support fast digital readout, allowing per-pixel, 3-bin TCSPC histogramming at frame rates of 4 kfps. New results related to this high-speed mode of operation are presented. The TACImager utilises a global ramp voltage as a timing reference, allowing time-zoom to be achieved through dynamic adjustment of comparator voltages, ramp offset voltages and ramp waveforms. We demonstrate the influence of fixed pattern noise in the pixels and column parallel ADCs on the results.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Neil Finlayson, Luca Parmesan, Neale A. W. Dutton, Neil J. Calder, and Robert K. Henderson "TACImager: a high frame rate 320 x 256 SPAD time to amplitude converter array with adjustable time zoom", Proc. SPIE 9992, Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies, 99920O (25 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2241381

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