Digital Pulse Processor, MCA andPower SupplyPX5Features• Includes digital pulse shaping amplifier, MCA, andpower supplies• Compatible with all Amptek SDD, Si-PIN, andCdTe-diode detectors• Supports detectors from other manufacturers, andboth reset and feedback preamplifiers of either
polarity• Highly configurable• Trapezoidal, and new Cusp shaping withwide range of peaking times to optimize
performance• High count rate capability with excellent baseline
stability, throughput, and pile-up rejection• Up to 8k output MCA channels• Oscilloscope mode - DAC output for pulse
monitoring and adjustment• 8 single channel aalyzer outputs

Communications• Interfaces: RS-232, USB, Ethernet, I C, auxiliary• Software for PC data acquisition and control• Software Developer’s Kit included (SDK)
2

Front

Back
Photograph of the front and back of the PX5Applications• X-ray and gamma ray detectors• Nuclear Instrumentation• Portable, battery operated systems

Power• High voltage bias adjustable ±100V to ±1.5 kV(Higher voltages available as a custom option.)• Thermoelectric cooler with feedback• Operates from +5 V DC supply (AC power adapterincluded)• OEM & Special Applications• Process Control• Research and Teaching

Overview
The Amptek PX5 interfaces between (1) an X-ray and gamma-ray detector with its preamplifierand (2) a computer running data acquisition and control software. Designed principally to support
Amptek s XR100 series of SDD, Si-PIN, and CdTe detectors, it can be used with many other radiation
detectors and preamplifiers, including HPGe detectors. It is compatible with both reset and feedback
preamplifiers of either polarity. The PX5 includes (1) a high performance digital pulse processor(replacing a conventional shaping amplifier), (2) a multichannel analyzer, and (3) both low and highvoltage power supplies (±10).
The PX5 offers several advantages over traditional systems, including improved performance(very high resolution, reduced ballistic deficit, higher throughput, and enhanced stability), many more
configuration options to optimize the system, and many communications and output options. The PX5
is based on Amptek’s latest generation of digital pulse processing technology, also used in the DP5family of products.
The PX5 is compatible with both 32 and 64 bit operating systems, including Windows 7.

Amptek, Inc.

Tele: +1 781-275-2242

14 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford MA 01730

Fax: +1 781-275-3470 sales@amptek.com

www.amptek.com

Specifications
Pulse Processing Performance

Connections

Gain Settings

Combination of coarse and fine gain yields overall gain
continuously adjustable from x0.75 to x516.

Analog Input (BNC)

The analog input accepts positive or negative going pulses
from a charge sensitive preamplifier.

Coarse Gain

16 log spaced coarse gain settings from x0.75 to x413.

PowerFine Gain

Adjustable between 0.75 and 1.25, 10 bit resolution.

+5 VDC. Mates with a center positive
5.5 mm x 2.1 mm power plug.

Full Scale1000 mV input pulse @ x1 gain.

USB

Standard USB mini-b jack.

Gain Stability<30 ppm/°C (typical)

Ethernet

Standard Ethernet jack.

ADC Clock Rate

20 or 80 MHz, 12 bit ADC

AUX-1 (BNC)

Pulse Shape Trapezoidal or Cusp

Semi-Gaussian amplifier with shaping time τ has a peaking timeof 2.4 τ and is comparable in performance with the trapezoidal
shape of the same peaking time.

Configured in software as (1) an analog output, to view
shaped pulses or diagnostic signals, (2) a digital output,
to view a discriminator output or diagnostic signals, or(3) a digital input.

Peaking Times

30 software selectable peaking times between 0.1 and 102 µs,
corresponding to semi-Gaussian shaping times of 0.04 to 42.5 µs.

AUX-2 (BNC)

Flat Top Times

16 software selectable values for each peaking time(depends on the peaking time), >0.05 µs.

Configured in software as (1) a digital output, to view adiscriminator output or diagnostic signals, or (2) a digital
input, to gate or synchronize data acquisition.

Max Count Rate

With a peaking time of 0.2 µs, 4 MHz periodic signal canbe acquired.

AUX-3 (BNC) (15 pin D Includes: (a) the lines for a serial RS232 interface, (b) two
connector female)lines which can be configured for digital inputs or outputs,(c) 8 single channel analyzer (SCA) outputs, (d) a control
line to command the power on or off remotely.

Dead Time Per Pulse

1.05x peaking time. No conversion time.

XR100 Power: 6-Pin Lemo Connector

Fast Channel Pulse Pair 120 nsResolving Time
Pile-Up Reject

Pulses separated by more than the fast channel resolving
time, 120 ns, and less than 1.05x peaking time arerejected.

Baseline Restoration - 16 software selectable slew rate settings.
Asymmetric
Rise Time Discriminator The dpp can be programmed to select input pulses based(RTD)
on their rise time properties.

MCA Performance
Number of channels

Commandable to 256, 512, 1k, 2k, 4k, or 8k channels.

Bytes per channel

3 bytes (24 bits), 16.7 M counts.

Preset Acquisition Time 10 ms to 466 days.

1Temperature

2Bias (up to ±1500 V)

3-8.5 or -5 VDC

4+8.5 or +5 VDC

5Cooler - (grounded)

6Cooler +­Ground on Shield

Power+5 V+5 VDC at 500 mA (2.5 W) typical. Current depends
strongly on Tdet, ranging from 300 to 800 mA at 5 VDC.

Input Range+4 V to +5.5 V (0.4 to 0.7 A typical)

Initial Transient

2 A for <100 ns

Data Transfer Time

USB: 1k channels in 12 ms; RS-232: 280 ms

Auxiliary Inputs and Outputs

Conversion TimeNone

PresetsTime, total counts, counts in an ROI, counts in a channel.

MCS Timebase

10 ms/channel to 300 s/channel

The connectors bring out logic signals which are not required for the primary
use of the PX5: acquiring spectra and transmitting them over the serial interface. These are generally “low level” logic signals associated with each pulse
processed by the PX5; used for synchronizing the PX5 data acquisition to external hardware and for direct counter/timer outputs from the PX5. The signals
are described below.

External MCA Controls - Pulses accepted only when gated on by external logic.
Gate Input
Input can be active high or active low.
Counters

Slow channel events accepted by MCA. Incoming counts (fastchannel counts above threshold), event rejected by selection
logic, and external event counter.

HardwareSingle Channel
Analyzers

8 SCAs, independent software selectable LLDs and ULDs,
LVCMOS (3.3 V) level (TTL compatible).

Digital Outputs

2 independent outputs, software selectable between 8 settings including INCOMING_COUNT, PILEUP, MCS_TIMEBASE,etc. LVCMOS (3.3V) levels (TTL compatible).

Microprocessor

Silicon Labs 8051F340 8051-compatible core.

External Memory

512 kb low-power SRAM

Digital Inputs

FirmwareSignal processing is programmed via firmware, can beupgraded in the field.

2 independent inputs, software selectable for MCA_GATE,EXTERNAL_COUNTER.

DAC Output

Used in oscilloscope mode to view the shaped pulse andother diagnostic signals. Range: 0 to 1 V.

Digital Oscilloscope

Displays oscilloscope traces on the computer. Software selectable to show shaped output, ADC input, etc., to assist indebugging or optimizing configurations.

Communications
RS-232Standard serial interface, 115 or 56 Kbaud.

USB

Standard 2.0 full speed (12 Mbps).

Ethernet

Standard 10base-T.

Software

PX5 Waveforms

DPPMCA data acquisition, display, and control software is included. Also available fordownload and updates on Amptek’s Software Download page.

PX5 waveforms, showing from the preamp output to theshaped pulse etc.

• Full control of all hardware features, including acquisition presets, gain, peaking time, detector HV, detector temperature, number of channels, risetime discrimination parameters, and many more.
• Live display of the spectrum with many options. Can show up to 8k channels,
with either integrating or delta mode. Includes linear and logarithmic verticalscaling, manual or auto-ranging, and zoom on the horizontal scale. Displays
live spectrum and multiple stored or processed spectra.
• Spectral analysis features include energy calibration, setting regions of interest(ROI), computing ROI information (centroid, total area, net area, FWHM), spectrum smoothing, summing of spectra, subtraction and scaling of background
spectra.
• Active link to the XRF-FP Quantitative Analysis Software Package using fundamental parameters, which can be purchased separately.
• Supports Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

Preamp Output

Shaped Output

ADC Input

For users wishing to write custom software, a software developer’s kit is available.

ADC Input

General and Environmental
Operating Temperature -40 °C to +85 °C.
Warranty Period

1 yearTypical Device Lifetime

5 to 10 years, depending on use

Long-term Storage

10+ years in dry environment

Typical Storage andShipping-40 °C to +85 °C, 10 to 90% humidity non-condensing

Compliance

RoHS Compliant
TUV Certification
Certificate #: CU 72072412 01
Tested to: UL 61010-1: 2004 R7 .05
CAN/CSA-C22.2 61010-1: 2004

PhysicalSize6.5” x 5.5” x 1.5” / 165 x 135 x 40 mm

Weight

1.6 lbs / 750 g

Digital I/O: 15 pin D connector (female)
1Ground

2RS232-TX

3RS232-RX

4

SCA 6 Out

5SCA 5 Out

6Ground

7Aux 38

Aux49

SCA 8 Out

10

External Power On

11

SCA 7 Out12

SCA 1 Out13

SCA 2 Out14

SCA 3 Out15

SCA 4 Out

Shaped Output

ICRSCAPX5 cusp waveform

The PX5 complete pulse processing systemand power supply

PX5 Throughput vs. Peaking Time
1,0000.2 µs
0.8 µs
1.6 µs2.4 µs4.8 µsOCR (kcps)

100

10

9.6 µs25.6 µs

111.

Digitizes the preamp signal

2.

Implements trapezoidlifieral shaping

3.

Creates a multichannel analyzer (MCA) typeoutput spectrum

4.

Provides all necessary power for Amptek
XR100 detectors.

10ICR (kcps)

100

1000

Block Diagram
Detector Hybrid
AXR

PX5Preamplifier
XR100

FPGAFeedback

10Fast Channel

Pulse
Selection

Digital Pulse
Shaping

MCA
Logic

CF

0.05 pF
DrainOUTAMP INADC

7X-RAYS
Detector

MCAMemoryPC

Analog Prefilter
Source6Be
Window+8.5V

44+8.5V-8.5V

33-8.5VUSB

Microcontroller

Ethernet
Controller

Ethernet

Reset Logic

Bias
TEC +2 Stage
Thermoelectric
Cooler22366155AUX-1

DAC+100 to + 1500 VDC

Aux I/O
Control

DigitalSCAs

4 Vmax, 0.4Amax

AUX-2

Oscilloscope(Optional)

AUX-3
TEC Temperature

1N914

12Low Pass Filter(several MΩ)

Case

21

1730 µA, 740 mV

TEC
SupplyHVPS

LVPS

PowerInput

5 VDC

AC/DC110 VAC(isolated)

GND

11Shield

Polarity
Plug

Block diagram of a typical system using the PX5 and an Amptek XR100SDD detector. Several different detector
and preamp configurations are available from Amptek, Inc., with different pinouts and voltages.

Amptek, Inc.

Tele: +1 781-275-2242

14 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford MA 01730

Fax: +1 781-275-3470 sales@amptek.com

www.amptek.com