The Need

In today's fast-paced world, industries like medical imaging, aerospace and defense, and automotive are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology. These sectors require highly accurate and reliable electronic systems to perform critical tasks. However, current technologies often struggle with issues such as signal noise, timing errors, and the ability to operate reliably in harsh environments. These challenges can compromise the performance and reliability of essential systems.

.

The Technology

This new technology is a specialized electronic circuit known as an analog front-end (AFE) integrated circuit. It is designed to work with radiation detectors and can function as either a high-gain amplifier, which boosts weak signals, or a low-gain amplifier, which handles stronger signals with high accuracy. The circuit includes several components that work together to process signals from the radiation detectors, ensuring precise measurements of energy and timing. Key features include a low-noise amplifier to reduce signal interference, a variable gain amplifier to adjust signal strength, and a constant fraction discriminator to improve timing accuracy.

.

Commercial Applications

• Medical Imaging: enhanced accuracy means better clarity in medical images generated from PET/CT scanners and x-ray imaging.
• Automotive and Transportation: LiDAR particularly for autonomous vehicle technologies.
• Aerospace and Defense or Semiconductor Manufacturing: Ensure mission success with more accurate data and ability to operate in harsh environments, such as high radiation environment

.

Benefits

• Better Accuracy and Reliability: Reduced signal noise and timing errors means more precise measurements and data; everything from clearer medical images to more detailed and insightful intel for aerospace and defense missions.
• Enhanced Performance in Harsh Environments: Thanks to the radiation-hardened design, this circuit is reliable in high-radiation environments, such as space or semiconductor manufacturing.
• Versatility: The ability to adjust each channel for different radiation levels makes this technology suitable for a wide range of applications.
• Compact and Efficient: The multi-channel design reduces overall size and power consumption, allowing for compact and scalable systems designs when space and power are limited, such as in mobile devices, satellites, and high-density semiconductor fabrication facilities.
• Faster Response Times: the precise timing measurements enabled by this technology can significantly improve the response times

.

Patent

Published Patent Application WO2025038716A2