FPGA based time-to-digital converters

Richard W. Nock*, Xiao Ai, Yang Lu, Naim Dahnoun, John G. Rarity

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputConference publication

Abstract

Time-to-digital converters are a key component in many photonics systems, ranging from LiDAR, quantum key distribution, quantum optics experiments and time correlated single photon counting applications. A novel efficient timeto- digital converter non-linearity calibration technique has been developed and demonstrated on a Spartan 6 LX150 field programmable gate array (FPGA). Most FPGA based time-to-digital converters either use post processing or have calibration techniques which do not focus on minimizing resource utilization. With the move towards imaging with arrays of single photon detectors, scalable timing instrumentation is required. The calibration system demonstrated minimizes block memory utilization, using the same memory for probability density function measurement and cumulative distribution function generation, creating a look up table which can be used to calibrate the sub-clock timing module of the time-to-digital converter. The system developed contains 16 time-to-digital converters and demonstrates an average accuracy of 21ps RMS (14.85ps single channel) with a resolution of 1.86ps.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationQuantum Technologies 2020
EditorsEleni Diamanti, Sara Ducci, Nicolas Treps, Shannon Whitlock
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510634664
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Mar 2020
EventQuantum Technologies 2020 - None, France
Duration: 6 Apr 202010 Apr 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11347
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceQuantum Technologies 2020
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityNone
Period6/04/2010/04/20

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2020 SPIE. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

Keywords

  • Photon counting
  • Time correlated single photon counting
  • Time-to-digital converters

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