SBIR-STTR Award

Multichannel Scaler (MCS) electronics are currently used in lidar-based remote sensing applications for photon counting and histogramming functions. As front-end photon detector technology improves, the need for advanced, high-performance multichannel scalers will increase so as to not limit system performance. This proposal describes a high-speed, low power MCS chip design and circuit board that incorporates multiple, popular processor interfaces and other on-chip functionality such as storage memory. The proposed innovation will provide improved time resolution, smaller size, and lower power than comparable industry implementations. By integrating multiple interfaces in a single device, the proposed chip could be used as a building block for other MCS programs wherein specific program needs dictate size constraints, data transfer rates, or performance criteria. Phase-I provides a two-fold opportunity. First, it provides for a study to determine current industry trends and user needs and to trade-off design issues so as to provide the most useful functionality in the Phase-II development. Second, it provides for the development of a prototype in order to validate the conceptual basis for the final Phase-II proposal. The proposed innovation will aid in expanding the measurement capabilities of current airborne, spaceborne, and ground-based lidar systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:
Atmospheric Studies by LidarTime-of-Flight Ion Mass SpectroscopyTime-Correlated Single-Photon CountingLaser-Induced Chemical ReactionsPhosphorescence Lifetime MeasurementsMössbauer ExperimentsNeutron Time of Flight

Multichannel Scaler (MCS) electronics are used in lidar-based photon counting applications. Phase-I resulted in a highly integrated, low power, USB-based MCS hardware prototype and Windows-based software. Phase-II will focus on creating a flexible lidar data acquisition system using the Phase-I MCS as a basis. This complete system will meet the needs of multiple programs due to the array of functionality provided. For example, one program might require a single channel with high resolution and little memory space, while another program might require many channels, moderate resolution, and large memory space. In addition to the primary objective of building a complete system, ASRC Aerospace intends to develop several "stand-alone" MCS cards which can each be used in a customer's own data acquisition system. These cards may offer: higher resolution, multiple user-selectable bin size settings, more memory per channel, or more channels. Additionally, card-level changes may result in the inclusion of a higher throughput bus implementation. The developed system may use all or some of these cards, thereby providing maximum flexibility for the end-user. POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS Multichannel Scaler (MCS) electronics are used in ground-based, airborne, and space-based lidar photon counting applications such as: Atmospheric studies Sub-surface carbon studies Portable analysis of toxic plumes Time-of-flight ion mass spectroscopy Time-correlated single-photon counting Phosphorescence lifetime measurements Due to the programmable nature of the proposed lidar data system, the Phase-II developments will be applicable across many different programs in both commerical and government institutions.