Logo Caen

A2795

Liquid Argon TPC Readout Board

Features

  • Complete detector readout system, designed for liquid Argon TPC
  • 64 Channels
  • Preamplifiers on hybrid circuits (sold separately)
  • 16 buffer (4K samples)
  • TT-Link: synchronization and trigger distribution over a single wire
  • Up to 85MB/s Readout via daisy chainable optical link
  • Libraries and Software tools for Windows and Linux

Overview

The A2795 is a readout board, ideally suited for liquid Argon TPC (Time Projection Chamber).
The board is housed in a custom crate that contains 9 acquisition modules A2795, with 64 channels each. In total, one crate can read up to 576 channels. The analog signals coming from the detector can feed directly the inputs of the A2795s, in which the preamplifiers are arranged in arrays of plug-in hybrid circuits (8 channels each). This solution allows the preamplifier, which is detector and application dependent, to be re-designed or adapted to match the specific requirements.

Thanks to the feature of preamplifier on socket, the A2795 is also ready to use also in “Cold Option” configuration, using charge preamplifier front-end into the Liquid Argon and housing on board a custom voltage translators/amplifiers just for ADC dynamic range matching.

The preamplifier outputs are digitized by 12 bit 2.5MS/s ADCs and processed by the internal acquisition logic, implemented in a programmable FPGA, which provides the trigger logic, the data storage in local memory buffers and the readout through a proprietary optical link, controlled by the CAEN PCI express board A3818.
Thanks to this compact and modular solution, the readout electronics can be positioned very close to the detector, allowing the user to minimize the interconnecting cable length and its corresponding capacitance, reducing the noise. The optical fiber allows the system to be connected to the host PC as far as few dozens meters; the fiber guarantees easy cabling and absence of ground loops. One optical link of the PCI express card A3818 can control up to eight A2795 connected in daisy chain with the fibers. Because the A3818 owns four optical links, one single commercial PC can control and readout up to 2048 channels.
The system has been designed for the scalability: growing from a single crate with 576 channels up to experiments with thousands of channels is made easy by the TT-Link. This is a single wire bus (over a coaxial cable) connecting as many crates as needed, that distributes the same sampling clock to all the ADCs of the whole system and the same global commands, like triggers, start/stop acquisition, etc. thus keeping all the acquisition boards synchronized.
From the output of the preamplifier, the system operates as a waveform digitizer: the 64 serial outputs of the ADCs are connected to one FPGA which continuously reads the digital samples and writes them into an array of circular memory buffers. When the board is triggered, the FPGA saves the current buffer (i.e. an acquisition window); the event data are completed by a header and a time tag. The acquisition can continue without dead-time in a new circular buffer. A global trigger common to all the channels can be issued using software commands or an external signal.
CAEN provides a software package that contains the drivers for the PCI express board A3818, the libraries (in C) for the access to the optical link and some demos and examples of readout programs. Windows and Linux are both supported.

Technical Specifications

Number of Channels

64 for one A2795; 576 for the full crate.

Preamplifier

Plug-in hybrid circuits with 8 channels each

Output Offset Adjust

Programmable 0÷3.3V 16 bit DAC for common DC offset adjust of the preamplifiers output

Test Pulse

External from a LEMO connector. Internal from the FPGA.

ADC resolution

12 bit (FSR = 3.3V)

Sampling frequency

2.5MHz.

Number of buffers

Programmable from 16 (4K samples) to 4096 (16 samples).

Trigger

Global trigger for all the channels coming from the TT-Link, Front panel connector or SW command.

Trigger Time Stamp

32 bit counter synchronous with the sampling clock.

Optical Link

Daisy chainable from 1 to 8 A2795s. Maximum data throughput = 85MB/s.

Power requirements

External Power Supply (A2795 without preamps):

  • +9.0V ±5%, 0.3A (analog power)
  • -5.0V ±10%, 0.0A (analog power)
  • +3.3V ±5%, 0.9A (analog power)

Available Analog Power Supplies for preamps:

  • +7.0V, 1.5A
  • ±3.3V, 0.32A
  • ±2.5V, 0.25A
  • -2.5V, 0.3A

A2795

Liquid Argon TPC Readout Board
Product page
A2795
  • Documentation
  • Software
  • Firmware

Manuals

Name File extension File size Revision Last update
Safety Information and Product Support Service (ENG/ITA) PDF 1.84 MB - October 24th, 2022

Changelog:  

Note:  
Requirements:  

License  
Download

Release Notes: 
Release_Notes.txt

Build:  

Application SW

Name File extension File size Revision Last update OS OS Version
A2795upgrader GZ 107.74 kB 1.1 February 23rd, 2023 Linux -

Changelog: [View]

Fixed missing A2795Upgrade.h file

Requirements: [View]

Name Extension Size
CAENComm libraryTGZ30.00 kB

Readme: [View]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

--- CAEN SpA - Computing Division ---

www.caen.it

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Program: A2795Upgrade


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Content
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

README : This file.

ChangeLog : Revision History and notes.

src : Source files
include : Include files


System Requirements
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Linux 32/64Bit
- CAENComm Library version 1.1 or greater
- A2795 Liquid Argon TPC Readout Board


How to get support
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Login to CAEN website by your MyCAEN+ account and open a ticket.
All the instructions are available at the followig link:
https://www.caen.it/support-services/getting-started-with-mycaen-portal/


Description:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------



Syntax
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A2795Upgrade [standard|backup] [FlashFile]


Free

Release Notes: Release_Notes.txt

Build:
License  

PUBLIC BETA VERSION Disclaimer
WEB PUBLISHED BETA FIRMWARE/SOFTWARE VERSIONS MAY CONTAIN DEFECTS AS THEY ARE PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR BETA TESTING PURPOSES AND BUG IDENTIFICATION.
CAEN DOES NOT GUARANTEE FULL FUNCTIONALITY AND STABILITY OF BETA FIRMWARE/SOFTWARE, AND DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REAL OR POTENTIAL, DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGES DUE TO THE USE OF THIS FIRMWARE/SOFTWARE. THE USER MUST BE CONSCIOUS THAT BETA FIRMWARE/SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND HE MUST BE CONSIDERED THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS USAGE.

TAKE AN ACTIVE PART AND HELP US TO IMPROVE OUR PRODUCTS!
SEND YOUR FEEDBACK OR REPORT A BUG BY FILLING IN THE ONLINE FORM AT:
https://www.caen.it/support-services/support-form

Free – Software License

Copyright © 1998-2018 C.A.E.N. S.p.A

Licence Agreement for “CAEN Software or Firmware” (collectively, the “CAEN SwFw”)

By using or distributing this CAEN SwFw (or any work based on the CAEN SwFw) you shall be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions set out below.

C.A.E.N. S.p.A (“C.A.E.N.”) is making this CAEN SwFw freely available on the basis that it is accepted as found and that the user checks its fitness for purpose prior to use.

The CAEN SwFw is provided ‘as-is’, without any express or implied warranties whatsoever. In no event will the authors, partners or contributors be held liable for any damages, claims or other liabilities direct or indirect, arising from the use of this CAEN SwFw or any derivative work.

C.A.E.N. will from time to time make CAEN SwFw updates available. However, C.A.E.N. accepts no obligation to provide any support to free licence holders.C.A.E.N. grants you a limited non-exclusive licence to use this CAEN SwFw for any purpose, including commercial applications and redistribute it freely, subject to the following restrictions:

  1. The origin of this CAEN SwFw must not be misrepresented; you must not claim that you wrote the original CAEN SwFw.
  2. You must not alter the CAEN SwFw, user licence or installer in any way.
  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any distribution.
  4. You may not resell or charge for the CAEN SwFw.
  5. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, derive the source code of or modify the CAEN SwFw in order to resell, rent, lease, loan, derivative works.
  6. You must not use CAEN SwFw to engage in or allow others to engage in any illegal activity.
  7. You may not claim any sponsorship by, endorsement by, or affiliation with our company.
  8. You acknowledge that C.A.E.N. owns the copyright and all associated intellectual property rights relating to the CAEN SwFw except to the extent that the CAEN SwFw includes identifiable separate components originating from the CAEN SwFw.

1.           Licensed Uses and Restrictions.

CAEN SwFw applications, documentation, and local computer files installed or utilised by the installer application are owned by C.A.E.N., and are licensed to you on a worldwide (except as limited below), non-exclusive, non-sublicenseable basis on the terms and conditions set forth herein. This CAEN SwFw Licence defines legal use of the CAEN SwFw, all updates, revisions, substitutions, and any copies of the CAEN SwFw made by or for you. All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved by C.A.E.N. or their respective owners.

A. (i) YOU MAY install and personally use the CAEN SwFw and any updates provided by C.A.E.N. (in its sole discretion) in object code form on a personal computer or on board on CAEN Products owned or controlled by you and may use the CAEN SwFw for your own non commercial use or benefit. Your licence to the CAEN SwFw under this CAEN SwFw Licence continues until it is terminated by either party. You may terminate the CAEN SwFw Licence by discontinuing use of all or any of the CAEN SwFw and by destroying all your copies of the applicable CAEN SwFw. This CAEN SwFw Licence terminates automatically if you violate any term of this CAEN SwFw Licence, C.A.E.N. publicly posts a written notice of termination on C.A.E.N.ís web site, or C.A.E.N. sends a written notice of termination to you.

A. (ii) You may make a CAEN SwFw copy only if it is necessary for its use.

B. YOU MAY NOT:

(i) decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify the CAEN SwFw or any portion thereof in order to resell, rent, lease, derivative works (as defined by the Italian Copyright Act, l.22 April 1941, n.633 and following amendments) or improvements (as defined by Italian patent law), without C.A.E.N.ís prior, express, written permission.

(ii) incorporate the CAEN SwFw into any computer chip or the firmware of a computing device manufactured by or for you except in those where you have received.

(iii) use the CAEN SwFw in any unlawful manner, for any unlawful purpose.

(iv) you may not use the CAEN SwFw to operate nuclear facilities, life support, or other mission critical application where human life or property may be at stake. You understand that the CAEN SwFw is not designed for such purposes and that its failure in such cases could lead to death, personal injury, or severe property or environmental damage for which C.A.E.N. is not responsible.

(v) use or export the CAEN SwFw in violation of applicable Italian laws or regulations

(vi) sell, lease, loan, distribute, transfer, or sub-license the CAEN SwFw or access thereto or derive income from the use or provision of the CAEN SwFw, whether for direct commercial or monetary gain or otherwise, without C.A.E.N.ís prior, express, written permission.

C. As provided from Berna Convention concerning the Protection of Works of Art and Literature acknowledged in Italy with Law 20 June 1978, n. 399, the provisions of this agreement can not be interpreted to allow their application is a jeopardizing event for the owner of the rights or is in conflict with the ordinary use of the CAEN SwFw

2.           Ownership and Relationship of Parties.

The CAEN SwFw is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, international treaties, and/or other proprietary rights and laws of the U.S. and other countries. You agree to abide by all applicable proprietary rights laws and other laws. C.A.E.N. owns all rights, title, and interest in and to their applicable contributions to the CAEN SwFw. This CAEN SwFw Licence grants you no right, title, or interest in any intellectual property owned or licensed by C.A.E.N., including (but not limited to) the CAEN SwFw and the C.A.E.N. trademarks, and creates no relationship between you and C.A.E.N. other than that of C.A.E.N. to licensee.

You agree that you will use the CAEN SwFw, and any data accessed through the CAEN SwFw, for your own personal non-commercial use only. You agree not to assign, copy, transfer, or transmit CAEN SwFw. Your licence to use the CAEN SwFw will terminate if you violate these restrictions. If your licence terminates, you agree to cease any and all use of the CAEN SwFw. All rights in any third-party data, any third-party CAEN SwFw, and any third-party data servers, including all ownership rights are reserved and remain with the respective third parties. You agree that these third parties may enforce their rights under this Agreement against you directly in their own name.

3.           Support and CAEN SwFw Updates.

C.A.E.N. may elect to provide you with customer support and/or CAEN SwFw upgrades, enhancements, or modifications for the CAEN SwFw (collectively, “Support”), in its sole discretion, and may terminate such Support at any time without notice to you. C.A.E.N. may change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the CAEN SwFw at any time, including the availability of any CAEN SwFw feature, database, or content. C.A.E.N. may also impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to parts or all of the CAEN SwFw or the C.A.E.N. web site without notice or liability.

4.           Fees and Payments.

C.A.E.N. reserves the right to charge fees for future use of or access to the CAEN SwFw in C.A.E.N.’s sole discretion. If C.A.E.N. decides to charge for the CAEN SwFw , such charges will be disclosed to you 28 days before they are applied.

5.           Disclaimer of Warranties by C.A.E.N.

Use of the CAEN SwFw and any data accessed through the CAEN SwFw is at your sole risk. They are Provided “as is.”

Any service or otherwise obtained through the use of the CAEN SwFw is done at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download and/or use of any such material or service.

C.A.E.N., its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, and assigns (collectively, “C.A.E.N. Entities”), and C.A.E.N.ís Licensors do not represent that the CAEN SwFw or any data accessed therefrom is appropriate or available for use outside Italy.

The C.A.E.N. Entities and C.A.E.N. Licensors expressly disclaim all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, relating to the CAEN SwFw and any data accessed therefrom, or the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, or adequacy of the CAEN SwFw and any data accessed therefrom, including the implied warranties of title, merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

If the CAEN SwFw or any data accessed therefrom proves defective, you (and not the C.A.E.N. Entities, or the C.A.E.N. Licensors) assume the entire cost of all repair or injury of any kind, even if the C.A.E.N. Entities, or C.A.E.N. Licensors have been advised of the possibility of such a defect or damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow restrictions on implied warranties so some of these limitations may not apply to you.

6.           Limitation of liability.

Notwithstanding any other provision, nothing in this CAEN SwFw Licence shall exclude or limit either party’s liability for the tort of deceit, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence.

The C.A.E.N. Entities and C.A.E.N. Licensors will not be liable to you for claims and liabilities of any kind arising out of or in any way related to the use of the CAEN SwFw or any derivative work by yourself or by third parties, to the use or non-use of any brokerage firm or dealer, or to the sale or purchase of any security, whether such claims and liabilities are based on any legal or equitable theory.

The C.A.E.N. Entities and C.A.E.N. Licensors are not liable to you for any and all direct, incidental, special, indirect, or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the CAEN SwFw or any derivative work, arising out of or related to any third-party CAEN SwFw or any derivative work , any data accessed through the CAEN SwFw or any derivative work, your use or inability to use or access the CAEN SwFw or any derivative work, or any data provided through the CAEN SwFw or any derivative work , whether such damage claims are brought under any theory of law or equity. Damages excluded by this clause include, without limitation, those for loss of business profits, injury to person or property, business interruption, loss of business or personal information. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of incidental or consequential damages so this restriction may not apply to you.

Information provided through the CAEN SwFw , may be delayed, inaccurate, or contain errors or omissions, and the C.A.E.N. Entities and C.A.E.N. Licensors will have no liability with respect thereto. C.A.E.N. may change or discontinue any aspect or feature of the CAEN SwFw or the use of all or any features or technology in the CAEN SwFw at any time without prior notice to you, including, but not limited to, content, hours of availability.

7.           Indemnification.

You are solely responsible for compliance with agreements you have executed with third parties. You agree to indemnify and hold the C.A.E.N. Entities harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable legal fees, made by any third party in connection with or arising out of your use of the CAEN SwFw, your violation of any terms or conditions of this CAEN SwFw Licence, your violation of applicable laws, or your violation of any rights of another person or entity.

8.           Controlling Law.

This CAEN SwFw Licence and the relationship between you and C.A.E.N. is governed by the laws of Italy.
This Agreement shall be construed and governed by Italian Law.
The United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods does not apply to this CAEN SwFw Licence.
Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be referred to and finally resolved by Arbitration under the provisions of Italian Law (c.p.c. art 816 and following.) by one Arbitrator.
The Arbitrator shall be nominated from Chairman of the Court of Milan.
The place of Arbitration shall be Milan, Italy and the language shall be English.

9.           Precedence.

This CAEN SwFw Licence constitute the entire understanding between the parties respecting use of the CAEN SwFw, superseding all prior agreements between you and C.A.E.N.. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of this CAEN SwFw Licence, the terms and conditions of this CAEN SwFw Licence will control

10.           Surviving Provisions.

Sections 2, and 4 through 10, will survive any termination of this Agreement.

————————————————————————

Tel No: +39.0584.388398 , Fax No.: +39.0584.388959, E-mail: support.computing@caen.it

————————————————————————

Compare

Compare with Read-Out Liquid Argon TPC detector.

Loading...

Ordering Options

Code Description
WA2795XAAAAA A2795 TPC Readout system   RoHS
WA2795COMPXA Accessorio compressione per A2795   RoHS

Contacts

Great to have you back!