Design and Construction of Programmable Time-to- Amplitude Converter

Abstract

A method of implementation of programmable time- to-amplitude converter is reported in this paper. It employs a 16-bit multiplying digital-to-analog converter which outputs a precise current equivalent to the digital code applied. An integrator circuit using an operational amplifier having a low input bias current with a very high-speed analog switch in its feedback is used that governs the charging and discharging of the ramp. The start and stop pulses are applied to this switch. As per the change in the digital code applied, the slope varies thus changing the time interval measurement range. The time in this case is programmable due to the incorporation of 16- bit multiplying DAC. The digital code provided to the digital-to-analog converter is through a graphical user interface developed using python 3.7 software. A teensy 3.6 board is used for PC interface and to generate required input code to digital- to-analog converter.