SpacePix2: SOI MAPS detector for space radiation monitoring

Abstract

The SpacePix2 monolithic active pixel sensor (MAPS) is a novel ASIC for space radiation monitoring designed in a 180 nm SOI CMOS technology. The active sensor area is 3.84 × 3.84 mm2, pixel matrix is arranged as a 64 × 64 array with 60 µm pitch. The pixel front-end amplifier signal range is 2–80 ke−, extended up to 30 Me− using a backside channel. Diodes integrated in the handle wafer in each pixel are biased at −150 V. Impinging particle generates a charge pulse converted to voltage pulse by charge sensitive amplifier (CSA). Maximum voltage memorized by the peak detector hold (PDH) circuit is digitized using on-chip 10-bit asynchronous column SAR ADCs. Two readout interfaces are available, 400 MHz LVDS and 50 MHz SPI. Total power consumption is 43 mA from a 1.8 V power supply. The ASIC has been tested in space in low Earth orbit (LEO) and sample data are shown.