latest developments in silicon photomultiplier (spm

Latest Developments in Silicon Photomultiplier (SPM) Technology

John Murphy, PhD

Director of Sales, SensL

Photonex 2012

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www.aptechnologies.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 1225 780 400 E: [email protected]

SensL Quick Facts

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Business: Silicon Photomultipliers, Measurement Instruments, Photon Counting

Markets: Medical Imaging Biophotonics, Hazard & Threat Detection, LiDAR, Process Inspection, Academic Research

Mfg Model: Fabless

Founded: 2004

SensL Family:

BostonCork,

Ireland

Beijing



SensL’s Breakthrough

3

SensL Enables:Performance

Uniformity

Large Area

Form Factor

Low Cost

PhotomultiplierVacuum Tube

SensLSilicon Photomultiplier

SensL is the leading developer of Silicon Photomultiplier (SPM) technology manufactured in standard CMOS foundries to replace the industry standard

Photomultiplier Tube (PMT), APD and PIN Photodiode



Low Light Detection

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Low Light Detection

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Detector Technologies

PMTPIN Diode

APD

SPM



Low Light Detection – The Silicon Photomultiplier

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� Gain ≥≥≥≥ 106

� Op. Voltage ~ 30 V

� Temp. sensitivity Low

� Mech. Robustness High

� Ambient light OK

� Spectral range Tunable – UV ~ IR

� Readout Simple

� Infrastructure Simple

� Form factor Compact

� Cost Low

� Large area Scalable

� Magnetic field sensitivity No

� Noise Low

� Response time Fast

SensL Silicon Photomultiplier



Silicon Photomultipliers

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SPM - Principle of Operation

APD

1. Miniaturize

2. Operate in “Geiger Mode”

SPM micro-

cell (“PCD”)

� Single photon sensitivity

� Proportional response

� High gain

� UV through IR sensitivity

� Low voltage operation

� CMOS process

� Low cost

0.1 ~ 6.0 mm

~50µm =

=



SPM Concept

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Time

Time

Array of Photon Counting Sensors in parallel

Single Photon Counting Sensor



Geiger Mode Operation

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• Breakdown/Quench-Reset cycles per microcell

• Output is a pulse of charge for each photon

• All SensL devices operate ~ 30V

Time

Avalanche Breakdown

Quenching



Product Overview

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SensL Product Families

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Micro-SM

PCDMini

Micro-FM

MiniSL

ArraySL-4 ArraySL-4p9 ArraySM-8

Micro-SL

MatrixSL-9 MatrixSL-9X1

HRMT-TDCHRMT-CFD



Packaging capabilities

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Detector Packaging



MicroSL – Discrete SPM Detectors

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� The MicroSL is a family of detectors that are available in a variety of miniature packages

� Designed to suit a wide range of applications

� Three detector sizes available (1mm, 3mm and 6mm)

� Range of microcell sizes available representing different performance trade-offs

� Low power, low voltage operation

� Readout & power supply options available

� Cooled and uncooled options available

� Package styles include: TO18, X13, TO5, TO39 (cooled)

� The MicroSL-EVB is designed for use with all uncooled MicroSL series detectors



ScintPack-SL

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� Demonstrator kit featuring 3 MicroSL SPM detectors

� Allows users to become familiar with the readout of SPM detectors in radiation detection applications

� Includes 4 scintillating crystals (LYSO, CsI, BGO)

� Two detector sizes included (3mm and 6mm)

� Range of microcell sizes included representing different performance trade-offs


� Power supply and readout electronics included

� Syringe of index-matching optical grease included

� Entry-level or undergraduate laboratory focus



MiniSL – Cooled SPM & PCD Modules

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� The MiniSL is a family of detector modules that are designed as turnkey evaluation modules

� Thermoelectrically cooled

� Designed to suit a wide range of applications, but particularly aimed at bio-photonics markets

� Two detector sizes available (1mm, 3mm)

� 35um microcell


� Features integrated readout, cooling & power supply

� c-mount and Fiber coupler options (FC) available

� The PCDMini is a family of detector modules that are designed as turnkey Photon Counting modules

� Thermoelectrically cooled to -15C

� Two detector sizes available (100um, 20um)

� Counting up to 10MHz photon rate, USB and TTL outputs

� Simple functional GUI & low power, low voltage operation

� Features integrated quench, cooling & power supply

� c-mount option available.



SensL 4x4 arrays: ArraySL-4 and ArraySL-4p9

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� ArraySL-4 is 4-side scalable design

� 16 channels – single 30V power supply

� Optical Response Non-Uniformity <10%

� Designed for simultaneous MRI compatibility

� Full system electronics available for bias control and pre-amplifier

� The ArraySL-4P9 is a compact and Low Cost Replacement for the Position Sensitive Photomultiplier Tube, and is based on the ArraySL-4

� 4-side scalable design

� 144 channels

� Single 30 Volt power supply

� Optical response non-uniformity <10% (equivalent to a PMT max:min <1:1.2)

� Solid-state alternative to the H8500, R8900-C12 and H9500 position sensitive photomultiplier tubes



MatrixSL-9 – Module for PET research

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A Scalable, Large Area Module for

Silicon Photomultiplier Integration, based

on the ArraySL4

� Optimized for L(Y)SO readout

� 144 channels of 9mm2 SPM

� Full digitization and coincidence

processing for 2304 channels

per board

� Temperature stabilization

� Available as research or OEM

version

� 1x9 linear version available

� Cable length options available

Electronics Partnership:



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MatrixSL-9



SensL Silicon Families/Generations

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L Series

• Base technology

• 495nm peak sensitivity

• N on P Architecture

M Series

• Improved PDE over L Series


• High resolution timing using fast output*

• N on P Architecture

B Series

• Maximum PDE and fast timing


• High resolution timing using fast output*

• P on N Architecture

Released ReleasedQ1 2013 Release

* Not available in all packages



Markets & Applications

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Markets for SensL Technology

Medical Imaging

Radiation Detection / Security

Biophotonics

LIDAR

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10/12/2012 Sensl Confidential 22

Markets – Nuclear Medicine

Commercial Customers

� Brain PET System (US)

– FDA Trials now @ 2 hospitals

� Full Body PET/CT System (US)

– Active development

� Small Animal PET (Asia)

– Field Trials

Research Customers

� Imaging Probe (WVU)

� Lab PET Scanner (Stanford)

� Lab PET Scanner (MD Anderson)

� Lab PET Scanner (Samsung Research)




Markets – Radiation Detection/Security

~30V

CsI (Tl)

SPM

IntegratingAmplifier

RadiationDetector

Comparator

Power

Supply

Pulse Shaper

Customer Oscilloscope

� Handheld dosimeters

� Large cargo scanners

� Surgical probes

� Scintillation detectors

� Food safety

� Baggage scanners

Typical SPM & scintillator-based radiation detection system




Markets – Biophotonics/Analytical Instruments

SPM detectors are in use in a variety of bio-related applications:

• Point of care blood analysis systems• Point of use drug detection• ATP luminometer applications• Fluorescence systems• CEF detectors• Cell sorting & cytometry applications• Confocal microscopy• Retinal imaging• Spectroscopy• Environmental monitoring




Markets – LiDAR & Distance sensing

SPM detectors are now in test in a number of LiDAR / time-of-flight style applications:

• Dynamic positioning• Handheld range finding• Logistics management (warehousing)• Industrial distance sensors• Time-of-flight sensors• Collision avoidance• 3D mapping• Space-based distance/alignment systems



Markets – Industrial & Academic


• High Energy Physics• Steel production (nucleonic level measurement)• Glass sheet production• Plastic bottle production• Cherenkov radiation detection• Data communications (high speed fiber optic detectors)• Food sorting systems• Pre-clinical nuclear medicine systems• Gamma-ray astronomoy• Nuclear waste storage



Packaging Capabilities

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M Series DetectorsHigher PDE with SensL 3-terminal fast output architecture

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SL V’s SM PDE Comparison

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0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800

PD

E (

%)

Wavelength (nm)

PDE Comparison SL/SM 60035-X13 Type

P2MicroSL-60035-X13

P2MicroSM-60035-X13



ArraySM-8 and MicroSM-60035

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• 8x8 6mm large area detector package

• 6mm pixel, SM family – slightly improved PDE over SL family.

• Initially designed to meet the demands of BGO crystals

SM silicon available in 6x6mm pixels

only in two formats:

� 6x6mm discrete detector

� ArraySM-8 (64 channel array)



FM – Surface Mount Packages (3mm, 1mm, 6mm)

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� Full documentation

– Datasheet

– User Manual

� Robust testing options

– SMA Board

– Pin Adapter Board

– Complete EVB

– -SMT devices in volume

MicroFM-SMA-xxxxx MicroFM-SMTPA-xxxx



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FM Concept – Fast V’s Conventional SPMs

Standard SPM with 2 terminals for Power and Ground.

Fast SPM device detailing 3 terminal operation, Power, Signal and Ground.



FM Series – Fast SPM for Improved Timing

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Significantly faster output signals:- rise times 100ps – 2ns (size dependant)- fast decay times- optimal for timing applications- provides higher count rates- ability to distinguish the first photon

• Data published at Photodet2012 (June 2012)



B Series DetectorsTo be available with both standard 2-terminal and SensL3-terminal fast output architecture

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“FB” Goals and Development Status

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GOALS:

� ToF Timing Performance <250ps

� 420nm peak sensitivity with >40% PDE

� Same bias uniformity, low voltage, and temperature stability as L and M Series detectors

� Produced in high volume CMOS Foundry

� Packaging compatibility* with L and M series family of detectors (*requires voltage polarity change)

DEVELOPMENT STATUS:

� Current status : Sampling with advance customers



Target Spectral Response

Target B series wavelength response compared to L & M series

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0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Ph

oto

n D

ete

cti

on

Eff

icie

nc

y

wavelength (nm)

SL simulation

SM simulation

SB simulation

P2MicroSL-60035-X13

P2MicroSM-60035-X13



www.sensl.com

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� Datasheets

� User manuals

� Product Briefs

� Application Notes

� Research Library

� E-Store

� Thank You!

[email protected]

SensL is represented

in the UK by



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