Splitter/Mixer


The Splitter/Mixer boxes allow monitoring of PM-tubes of some trigger planes in CHORUS. Two boxes have been built, for a total of 128 PM tubes.

The general idea is, to have a pulse-height monitor ADC on groups.gz of 8 Photomultipliers on those Trigger planes, that do not need individual ADC readout (like the Veto counter, that only uses TDC's). In this way, the gain of these PM's can be checked, e.g. with the Gain monitoring system.

From each signal, a negligeable fraction is coupled out, and summed by a current amplifier, which keeps.gz its input virtually to Ground-level. This Sum input monitors a group of 8 PM's. The amplified sum of 8 signals is output on the 9th Lemo below of each row of 8 Lemo outputs. A design drawing ((1859-byte PSfile, gzipped) is available, as well as a detailed electronics schematic (10718-byte PSfile, gzipped) for one of the 16 identical 8-channel boards, and a PCB-layout (2773-byte PSfile, gzipped) for such a board.

Functional Description

The 64 BNC inputs on the backside of the box should receive the Photo Multiplier signals. They are connected internally to the corresponding 64 Lemo connectors on the front-panel, which serve as signal outputs. Below each row of 8 Lemo's, there is a 9th Lemo, giving the summed (and amplified) output of the 8 channels above it.

Specifications

Input level: 0 to -12 Volts (abs max)
Output level: equal to Input
Sum level: 0 to -1 Volts (max)
Sum gain: 1:1 (when only one input driven)
Sum rise/fall time: ~20 ns.
Sum amplifier: CLC 401 AJP of Comlinear Inc.
Sum output DC offset < 5 mV
Sum inline delay 2.2 ns

Warning

Input levels should not exceed 0..-1 Volt for normal summing operation.
All outputs should be terminated in 50 Ohms. This also holds for un-used outputs (put a 50Ohm terminator in), otherwise the Sum-signal will suffer from reflections.

Back to NIKHEF/CHORUS home page.
JV / 4 May 1994