Two VLSI CMOS ICs for digital X-ray 2-D imaging system: low noise front-end amplifier and 80 MHz digital encoder interface

Objective: To optimize the minimum detectable difference (MDD) of a cardiac X-ray imaging system using the Taguchi L8(27) analysis and a precise line pair (LP) gauge. Methods: The optimal combination of the four critical factors of the cardiac X-ray imaging system, namely X-ray focus, kilovoltage (kVp), milliamper-seconds (mAs) and source image distance (SID), providing the MDD was calculated via the Taguchi analysis and experimentally verified. Two (low and high) levels were assigned for each factor, and eight combinations of four factors were used to acquire instant X-ray images using an NDT commercial LP gauge (with a gauge length of 64[Formula: see text]mm and a width of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm). The latter had five lines and was split gradually from top to bottom for the inspection of X-ray images, whose quality was ranked by three well-trained radiologists according to the double-blind criterion. The ranking grade was given by sharp contrast, low noise and precision to distinguish the LP. Accordingly, the MDD was derived to represent the spatial resolution of instant X-ray images by the revised Student’s [Formula: see text]-test analysis. The optimal combination of factors was experimentally identified and clinically verified in the follow-up inspections. Results: For the conventional setting, Group No. 7 (which obtained the highest grade among eight groups) and the optimal setting, the obtained MDD values were [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm, respectively, while the LP (line pair/mm) interpolated from the gauge scale amounted to [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]LP/mm, respectively. Conclusion: The Taguchi L8 analysis was proved to be instrumental in optimizing the cardiac X-ray imaging system MDD and is recommended to be used jointly with the revised Student’s [Formula: see text]-test analysis for improving the spatial resolution of instant X-ray images.

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Miniaturized 0.13-μm CMOS Front-End Analog for AlN PMUT Arrays

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20041205 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 1205 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iván Zamora ◽

Eyglis Ledesma ◽

Arantxa Uranga ◽

Núria Barniol

Keyword(s):

Integrated Circuit ◽

Imaging System ◽

Ultrasonic Transducer ◽

Low Noise ◽

Oxide Semiconductor ◽

Cmos Process ◽

Axial Distance ◽

Cmos Integrated Circuit ◽

Front End ◽

Analog Front End

This paper presents an analog front-end transceiver for an ultrasound imaging system based on a high-voltage (HV) transmitter, a low-noise front-end amplifier (RX), and a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor, aluminum nitride, piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMOS-AlN-PMUT). The system was designed using the 0.13-μm Silterra CMOS process and the MEMS-on-CMOS platform, which allowed for the implementation of an AlN PMUT on top of the CMOS-integrated circuit. The HV transmitter drives a column of six 80-μm-square PMUTs excited with 32 V in order to generate enough acoustic pressure at a 2.1-mm axial distance. On the reception side, another six 80-μm-square PMUT columns convert the received echo into an electric charge that is amplified by the receiver front-end amplifier. A comparative analysis between a voltage front-end amplifier (VA) based on capacitive integration and a charge-sensitive front-end amplifier (CSA) is presented. Electrical and acoustic experiments successfully demonstrated the functionality of the designed low-power analog front-end circuitry, which outperformed a state-of-the art front-end application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in terms of power consumption, noise performance, and area.

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The LCLS variable-energy hard X-ray single-shot spectrometer

Journal of Synchrotron Radiation ◽

10.1107/s1600577515022559 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 3-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

David Rich ◽

Diling Zhu ◽

James Turner ◽

Dehong Zhang ◽

Bruce Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Imaging System ◽

Low Noise ◽

Single Shot ◽

X Ray ◽

Performance Improvements ◽

Spatially Resolved ◽

Optical Imaging System ◽

And Performance ◽

Thin Crystal ◽

Variable Energy

The engineering design, implementation, operation and performance of the new variable-energy hard X-ray single-shot spectrometer (HXSSS) for the LCLS free-electron laser (FEL) are reported. The HXSSS system is based on a cylindrically bent Si thin crystal for dispersing the incident polychromatic FEL beam. A spatially resolved detector system consisting of a Ce:YAG X-ray scintillator screen, an optical imaging system and a low-noise pixelated optical camera is used to record the spectrograph. The HXSSS provides single-shot spectrum measurements for users whose experiments depend critically on the knowledge of the self-amplified spontaneous emission FEL spectrum. It also helps accelerator physicists for the continuing studies and optimization of self-seeding, various improved mechanisms for lasing mechanisms, and FEL performance improvements. The designed operating energy range of the HXSSS is from 4 to 20 keV, with the spectral range of order larger than 2% and a spectral resolution of 2 × 10−5or better. Those performance goals have all been achieved during the commissioning of the HXSSS.

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