Found results matching for:
Author: Joaquín Ceballos Cáceres
Year: Since 2002
Journal Papers
The diverse meteorology of Jezero crater over the first 250 sols of Perseverance on Mars
J.A. Rodriguez-Manfredi, M. de la Torre Juarez, A. Sanchez-Lavega, R. Hueso, G. Martinez, M.T. Lemmon, C.E. Newman, A. Munguira, M. Hieta, L.K. Tamppari, J. Polkko, D. Toledo, E. Sebastian, M.D. Smith, I. Jaakonaho, M. Genzer, A. de Vicente-Retortillo, D. Viudez-Moreiras, M. Ramos, A. Saiz-Lopez, A. Lepinette, M. Wolff, R.J. Sullivan, J. Gomez-Elvira, V. Apestigue, P.G. Conrad, T. Del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, N. Murdoch, I. Arruego, D. Banfield, J. Boland, A.J. Brown, J. Ceballos, M. Dominguez-Pumar, S. Espejo, A.G. Fairén, R. Ferrandiz, E. Fischer, M. Garcia-Villadangos, S. Gimenez, F. Gomez-Gomez, S.D. Guzewich, A.-M. Harri, J.J. Jimenez, V. Jimenez, T. Makinen, M. Marin, C. Martin, J. Martin-Soler, A. Molina, L. Mora-Sotomayor, S. Navarro, V. Peinado, I. Perez-Grande, J. Pla-Garcia, M. Postigo, O. Prieto-Ballesteros, S.C.R. Rafkin, M.I. Richardson, J. Romeral, C. Romero, H. Savijärvi, J. T. Schofield, J. Torres, R. Urqui, S. Zurita & the MEDA team
Journal Paper · Nature Geoscience, 2023
abstract
doi
NASA’s Perseverance rover’s Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is collecting data at Jezero crater, characterizing the physical processes in the lowest layer of the Martian atmosphere. Here we present measurements from the instrument’s first 250 sols of operation, revealing a spatially and temporally variable meteorology at Jezero. We find that temperature measurements at four heights capture the response of the atmospheric surface layer to multiple phenomena. We observe the transition from a stable night-time thermal inversion to a daytime, highly turbulent convective regime, with large vertical thermal gradients. Measurement of multiple daily optical depths suggests aerosol concentrations are higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Measured wind patterns are driven mainly by local topography, with a small contribution from regional winds. Daily and seasonal variability of relative humidity shows a complex hydrologic cycle. These observations suggest that changes in some local surface properties, such as surface albedo and thermal inertia, play an influential role. On a larger scale, surface pressure measurements show typical signatures of gravity waves and baroclinic eddies in a part of the seasonal cycle previously characterized as low wave activity. These observations, both combined and simultaneous, unveil the diversity of processes driving change on today’s Martian surface at Jezero crater.
A Customizable Thermographic Imaging System for Medical Image Acquisition and Processing
J.A. Leñero-Bardallo, R. de la Rosa-Vidal, R. Padial-Allué, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, A. Rodríguez-Vázquez and J. Bernabéu-Wittel
Journal Paper · IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 22, no. 17, pp 16730-16741, 2021
abstract
doi
A custom system has been developed for medical image acquisition and processing in both the visible and the infrared (IR) bands. Unlike some non-customizable commercial devices, this system can easily be adapted to different application scenarios by adding new peripherals and/or custom image processing algorithms. Portable, autonomous, and easy to use, it offers immediate results at the moment of examination and has a competitive cost. The system comprises a Single Board Computer (SBC) controlling a group of sensors and peripherals. The hardware implementation, described in detail in this paper, was adapted for two different application scenarios. First, the system was employed to differentiate between different kinds of vascular anomalies. The clinical results obtained are reported. The device was then redesigned to automatically detect people with high body temperatures in public environments. The system’s real-time image processing capabilities in both scenarios are demonstrated. Specific algorithms were implemented by the authors for each case study.
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Mission
J.A. Rodriguez-Manfredi, M. de la Torre Juárez, A. Alonso, V. Apéstigue, I. Arruego, T. Atienza, D. Banfield, J. Boland, M.A. Carrera, L. Castañer, J. Ceballos, H. Chen-Chen, A. Cobos, P.G. Conrad, E. Cordoba, T. del Río-Gaztelurrutia, A. de Vicente-Retortillo, M. Domínguez-Pumar, S. Espejo, A.G. Fairen, et al. & The MEDA team
Journal Paper · Space Science Reviews, vol. 217, no. 3, article 48, 2021
abstract
doi pdf
NASA’s Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ∼1.5 m and ∼0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.
CMOS Rad-Hard Front-End Electronics for Precise Sensors Measurements
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutierrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Journal Paper · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 2379-2389, 2016
abstract
doi
This paper reports a single-chip solution for the implementation of radiation-tolerant CMOS front-end electronics (FEE) for applications requiring the acquisition of base-band sensor signals. The FEE has been designed in a 0.35 μm CMOS process, and implements a set of parallel conversion channels with high levels of configurability to adapt the resolution, conversion rate, as well as the dynamic input range for the required application. Each conversion channel has been designed with a fully-differential implementation of a configurable-gain instrumentation amplifier, followed by an also configurable dual-slope ADC (DS ADC) up to 16 bits. The ASIC also incorporates precise thermal monitoring, sensor conditioning and error detection functionalities to ensure proper operation in extreme environments. Experimental results confirm that the proposed topologies, in conjunction with the applied radiation-hardening techniques, are reliable enough to be used without loss in the performance in environments with an extended temperature range (between -25 and 125 °C) and a total dose beyond 300 krad.
Comparative study by IBIC of Si and SiC diodes irradiated with high energy protons
J. Garcia Lopez, M.C. Jimenez-Ramos, M. Rodriguez-Ramos, J. Ceballos, F. Linez and J. Raisanen
Journal Paper · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, vol. 372, pp 143-150, 2016
abstract
doi
The transport properties of a series of Si and SiC diodes have been studied using the Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) technique. Structural defects were induced into the samples during the irradiation with 17 MeV protons. The experimental values of the charge collection efficiency (CCE) vs bias voltages have been analyzed using a modified drift-diffusion model, which takes into account the recombination of carriers in the neutral and depletion regions. From these simulations, we have obtained the values of the carrier's lifetime for pristine and irradiated diodes, which are found to degrade faster in the case of the SiC samples. However, the decrease of the CCE at high bias voltages is more important for the Si detectors, indicative of the lower radiation hardness of this material compared to SiC. The nature of the proton-induced defects on Si wafers has been studied by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) and Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (DBS). The results suggest that the main defect detected by the positrons in p-type samples is the divacancy while for n-type at least a fraction of the positron annihilate in another defect. The concentration of defects is much lower than the number of vacancies predicted by SRIM.
An upgraded drift-diffusion model for evaluating the carrier lifetimes in radiation-damaged semiconductor detectors
J. Garcia Lopez, M.C. Jimenez-Ramos, M. Rodriguez-Ramos, J. Forneris and J. Ceballos
Journal Paper · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, vol. 371, pp. 294-297, 2016
abstract
doi
The transport properties of a series of n- and p-type Si diodes have been studied by the ion beam induced charge (IBIC) technique using a 4MeV proton microbeam. The samples were irradiated with 17MeV protons at fluences ranging from 1×10(12) to 1×10(13) p/cm2 in order to produce a uniform profile of defects with depth. The analysis of the charge collection efficiency (CCE) as a function of the reverse bias voltage has been carried out using an upgraded drift-diffusion (D-D) model which takes into account the possibility of carrier recombination not only in the neutral substrate, as the simple D-D model assumes, but also within the depletion region. This new approach for calculating the CCE is fundamental when the drift length of carriers cannot be considered as much greater that the thickness of the detector due to the ion induced damage. From our simulations, we have obtained the values of the carrier lifetimes for the pristine and irradiated diodes, which have allowed us to calculate the effective trapping cross sections using the one dimension Shockley-Read-Hall model. The results of our calculations have been compared to the data obtained using a recently developed Monte Carlo code for the simulation of IBIC analysis, based on the probabilistic interpretation of the excess carrier continuity equations.
A Front-End ASIC for a 3-D Magnetometer for Space Applications by Using Anisotropic Magnetoresistors
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz,A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Journal Paper · IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vo. 51, no. 1, article 4001804, 2015
abstract
doi pdf
This paper presents an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) aimed for an alternative design of a digital 3-D magnetometer for space applications, with a significant reduction in mass and volume while maintaining a high sensitivity. The proposed system uses magnetic field sensors based on anisotropic magnetoresistances and a rad-hard mixed-signal ASIC designed in a standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The ASIC performs sensor-signal conditioning and analogue-to-digital conversion, and handles calibration tasks, system configuration, and communication with the outside. The proposed system provides high sensitivity to low magnetic fields, down to 3 nT, while offering a small and reliable solution under extreme environmental conditions in terms of radiation and temperature.
A fast readout electronic system for accurate spatial detection in ion beam tracking for the next generation of particle accelerators
A. Garzón-Camacho, B. Fernández, M.A.G. Álvarez, J. Ceballos and J.M. de la Rosa
Journal Paper · IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 64 , no. 2, pp 318-327, 2015
abstract
doi pdf
This paper presents the design, implementation, and measurements of a complete electronic frontend intended for high-resolution spatial detection of ion beams at counting rates higher than 106 particles per second (p/s). The readout system is made up of three main multichannel building blocks, namely, a transimpedance preamplifier, a signal-conditioning line receiver, and a charge-to-digital converter, as well as some off-the-shelf components. The preamplifier and the line receiver have been specifically designed and optimized to minimize the overlapping probability of ion beams tracking, at high counting rates, in low-pressure gaseous secondary electron detectors. Experimental results are shown, considering α particles sources and particles beams, featuring an adaptive shaping time frame of 170-230 ns with a peak signal-to-noise ratio of up to 25 dB. These performance metrics are competitive with the state of the art, demonstrating the suitability of the reported data acquisition and instrumentation system for precise and fast particle tracking detection.
Four-channel self-compensating single-slope ADC for space environments
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, S. Espejo-Meana, B. Piñero-García, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, M. Muñoz-Díaz, L. Carranza-González, A. Arias-Drake, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, M.A. Lagos-Florido and J. Ramos-Martos
Journal Paper · Electronics Letters, vol. 50, no.8, pp 579-581, 2014
abstract
doi pdf
A multichannel high-resolution single-slope analogue-to-digital converter (SS ADC) is presented that automatically compensates for process, voltage and temperature variations, as well as for radiation effects, in order to be used in extreme environmental conditions. The design combines an efficient implementation by using a feedback loop that ensures an inherently monotonic and very accurate ramp generation, with high levels of configurability in terms of resolution and conversion rate, as well as input voltage range. The SS ADC was designed in a standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. Experimental measurements of the performance and stability against radiation and temperature are presented to verify the proposed approach.
Design and experimental results of a preamplifier for particles tracking in secondary electron detectors
A. Garzón-Camacho, B. Fernández, Marcos A.G. Álvarez, J. Ceballos and J.M. de la Rosa
Journal Paper · Microelectronics Journal, vol. 44, pp 1-5, 2013
abstract
doi pdf
This paper presents the design and experimental characterization of a preamplifier used in the electronic front-end of low-pressure gaseous secondary electron detectors. The circuit-implemented in a printed circuit board as a proof of concept has been designed to cope with the specifications of the readout electronics used in spatial (beam particle position) measurements. Experimental results show a transimpedance gain of 80 dBΩ, an overall voltage gain of 18 dB, a peak signal-to-noise ratio of 36.5 dB and a shaping time frame of 140-170 ns. These features improve the performance of previous reported approaches to the problem, and allow us to minimize the overlapping probability in secondary electron detections for radioactive ion beams tracking, achieving a counting rate higher than 10(6) particles per second.
A precise 90 degrees quadrature OTA-C oscillator tunable in the 50-130-MHz range
B. Linares-Barranco, T. Serrano-Gotarredona, J. Ramos-Martos, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora and A. Linares-Barranco
Journal Paper · IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I-Regular Papers, vol. 51, no. 4, pp 649-663, 2004
abstract
doi pdf
We present a very-large-scale integration continuous-time sinusoidal operational transconductance amplifiers quadrature oscillator fabricated in a standard double-poly 0.8-mum CMOS process. The oscillator is tunable in the frequency range from 50 to 130 MHz. The two phases produced by the oscillator show a low-quadrature phase error. A novel current-mode amplitude control scheme is developed that allows for very small amplitudes. Stability of the amplitude control loop is studied as well as design considerations for its optimization. Experimental results are provided.
Precise 90 degrees quadrature current-controlled oscillator tunable between 50-130 MHz
B. Linares-Barranco, T. Serrano-Gotarredona, J. Ramos-Martos, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora and A. Linares-Barranco
Journal Paper · Electronics Letters, vol. 39, no. 11, pp 823-825, 2003
abstract
doi pdf
A VLSI continuous time sinusoidal OTA-C quadrature oscillator fabricated in a standard double-poly 0.8 mum CMOS process is presented. The oscillator is tunable in the frequency range from 50-130 MHz. The two phases produced by the oscillator show an extremely low phase difference error (less than 2degrees over the whole frequency range). A novel current mode amplitude control scheme is developed that allows for very small amplitudes. Experimental results are provided.
Conferences
Demo: A system for image acquisition and processing operating in the visible and the IR bands
J.A. Lenero-Bardallo, J. Bernabeu-Wittel, J. Ceballos-Caceres and A. Rodriguez-Vazquez
Conference · International Conference on Distributed Smart Cameras ICDSC 2020
abstract
This demo displays an autonomous image acquisition and processing system that operates simultaneously with two image sensors either in the visible and the Long Wave Infrared Band (LWIR), inside the Infrared (IR) band. The entire system is controlled a Raspberry Pi board that allows to easily program image processing algorithms to process the images acquired with each sensor. It is a competitive alternative to conventional commercial closed systems with infrared cameras. The proposed imaging system can be easily adapted to different operation scenarios by adding new peripherals, sensors and full custom image processing algorithms.
INTA′s Mars miniature sensors: synergies for Ice Giants exploration
V. Apéstigue, I. Arruego, D. Toledo, J. Martínez-Oter, M. González-Guerrero, J. Rivas, J.R. de Mingo, J. Manzano, F. Serrano, E. García-Menéndez, A. Martín-Ortega, N.S. Montalbo, J. Núñez, L. Gómez, M. Yela, S. Espejo, J. Ceballos and D. Vázquez
Conference · Ice Giants Systems 2020 (Royal Society)
abstract
INTA′s Space Sensors Engineering Area (AISE) has been involved in Martian exploration during the last decade, developing four different radiometers, one magnetometer, one nephelometer (in cooperation with INAF, Italy) and one dust sensor (together with University Carlos III, Spain) for different missions (MetNet penetrator, Schiparelli Lander, Mars 2020 Rover and ExoMars 2020 Surface Platform).
That is the result of a long-term strategy established ten years ago, named InMARS, devoted to the development of high performance, low power, miniature sensors capable of operating in the extreme Martian atmospheric conditions. Within this program we have developed an intensive selection, qualification and screening activity (CERES-Compact Electronic Resources for the Exploration of Space) that allowed us to acquire key enabling technologies, components (including ASICs), materials and procedures.
Taking advantage of the experience and heritage accumulated during this decade, we propose an early concept of a lightweight radiometer for future probes to Ice Giants or other moons with rich atmospheres for the study of the suspended aerosols scattering properties, the particles number density, constraining the aerosol shape, size and opacity. The limited resources that our technology demands from the platform allow it to be used as a complement to other atmospheric instrumentation included in future missions.
InMARS: a comprehensive program for the development of compact atmospheric probes for Mars
I. Arruego, V. Apéstigue, J. Martínez, J.J. Jiménez, A. Martín-Ortega, J.R. de Mingo, M. González-Guerrero, J. Azcue, N. Andrés, F.J. Álvarez, J. Rivas, J. Manzano, F. Serrano, I. Martín, A. Gonzalo, H. Guerrero, S. Espejo, J. Ceballos, A. Ragel, D. Vázquez, F. López, A.J. de Castro and F. Cortés
Conference · International Planetary Probes Workshop IPPW 2018
abstract
The Space Sensors Engineering Area of INTA (the National Institute of Aerospace Technology, Spain) maintains a continuous activity aimed at the development of different resources and enabling capabilities, to allow the construction of compact instruments for atmospheric science on Mars and, in the long term, complete miniature atmospheric probes that could be used to deploy networks of meteorological stations on the red planet. InMARS (Instrumentation for Martian Atmospheric Research on Surface) program is part of this strategy. Under this program, we are presently developing one instrument for the JPL/NASA Mars 2020 Rover, two different sensors for the METEO package on board the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2020 surface Platform (one of them led by a partner team from the Carlos III University, Madrid), and another instrument for the Dust Complex on board the same lander. We also developed a radiometer for the DREAMS payload on board the ill-fated Schiaparelli Descent Module of ExoMars 2016. This program is complemented by another initiative we named CERES (Compact Electronic Resources for the Exploration of Space), devoted to develop horizontal capabilities for the aforementioned purpose, and also supported by our own inorbit test-beds (INTA ′s Small Satellites Program). Amongst them, we include the development of Radiation-Hardened By design (RHBD) mixed-signal ASICs developed by another partner, the Institute for Microelectronics in Seville (IMSE).
InMARS: a comprehensive program for the development of key-technologies for miniature Martian probes
I. Arruego, V. Apéstigue, J. Martínez, J.J. Jiménez, A. Martín-Ortega, J.R. de Mingo, M. González-Guerrero, J. Azcue, N. Andrés, F.J. Álvarez, J. Rivas, J. Manzano, F. Serrano, I. Martín, A. Gonzalo, H. Guerrero, S. Espejo, J. Ceballos, A. Ragel, D. Vázquez, F. López, A.J. de Castro and F. Cortés
Conference · International Planetary Probes Workshop IPPW 2018
abstract
1.- The need for miniaturization: Synergy between Planetary Exploration & Small Satellites
2.- Starting from the basic building blocks
3.- Gaining In-Orbit Experience
4.- Going to Mars - Scientific instruments
5.- Future? - Synergies between our 3 present lines of work
SIS20: A CMOS ASIC for Solar Irradiance Sensors in Mars Surface
D. Vázquez, J. Ceballos and S. Espejo
Conference · Int. Workshop on Analogue and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits For Space Applications AMICSA 2018
abstract
This paper reports the design and characterization of the ASIC SIS20, planned for an instrument aimed to
measure Solar Irradiance on the surface of Mars. It has been designed using the AMS0.35u CMOS technology
and with the rad-hard digital library developed at IMSE (Spain). The ASIC is intended for flying with the
ExoMars2020 mission.
Characterization, Screening and Qualification of the MEDA Wind-Sensor ASIC
S. Espejo, J. Ceballos, A. Ragel, L. Carranza, J.M. Mora, M.A. Lagos, J. Ramos, S. Sordo, E. Cordero and D. López
Conference · Int. Workshop on Analogue and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits For Space Applications AMICSA 2018
abstract
The paper describes the final characterization results of the MEDA-WS ASIC, which was described in a previous paper in AMICSA-2016. It describes as well the qualification and the screening processes that have been carried out, and the present status of its integration and calibration in the final engineering and flying modules of the wind-sensor instrument.
Using Arduino and On-Chip Serial-to-Parallel Register to Test Widely-Programmable ADCs
L.A. García-Lugo, E.C. Becerra-Alvarez, J. Ceballos-Cáceres and J.M. de la Rosa
Conference · Conference on Design of Circuits and Integrated Systems DCIS 2016
abstract
This paper presents an experimental set-up that combines on-chip digital techniques with off-chip Arduino-based hardware to simplify the test of widely-programmable analog-to-digital converters. The presented methodology is specially intended for analog and mixed-signal circuits which require a large number of digital signals to reconfigure their performance to different electrical specifications, environment signal conditions, battery status, etc. To this end, a serial-to-parallel register is implemented on chip in order to generate the required number of digital control signals from an input serial data provided offchip. Such serial data can be generated by using an Arduino-based hardware set-up, which can be easily programmed in MATLAB, with no additional test instruments required. As an application, the proposed method is applied to the experimental characterization of a fourth-order band-pass continuous-time ΣΔ modulator, integrated in a 65-nm CMOS technology, which can digitize signals placed at programmable carrier frequencies for software defined radio.
A modified drift-diffusion model for evaluating the carrier lifetimes in radiation-damaged semiconductor detectors
J. Garcia-Lopez, C. Jimenez-Ramos, M. Rodriguez-Ramos, J. Fornieris and J. Ceballos
Conference · International Conference on Ion Beam Analysis IBA 2015
abstract
The transport properties of a series of n and p-type Si diodes have been studied by the Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) technique using a 4 MeV proton microbeam. The samples were irradiated with 17 MeV protons and fluences ranging from 1x1012 to 1x1013 p/cm2 in order to produce a uniform profile of defects with depth. The analysis of the charge collection efficiency (CCE) as a function of the reverse bias voltage has been carried out using a modified drift-diffusion (D-D) model which takes into account the possibility of carrier recombination not only in the neutral substrate, as the simple D-D model assumes, but also within the depletion region. This new approach for calculating the CCE is fundamental when the drift length of carriers cannot be considered much greater that the thickness of the detector due to the ion induced damage. From our simulations, we have obtained the values of the carrier lifetimes for the pristine and irradiated diodes, which have allowed us to calculate the effective trapping cross sections using the one dimension Shockley-Read-Hall model. The results of our calculations have been compared to the data obtained using a recently developed Monte Carlo code for the simulation of IBIC analysis, based on the probabilistic interpretation of the excess carrier continuity equations.
Spatial Detection System for Mini-Secondary Electrons Detectors
A. Garzón-Camacho, B. Fernández, M.A.G. Alvarez, J. Ceballos and J.M. de la Rosa
Conference · Conference on Design of Circuits and Integrated Systems DCIS 2014
abstract
This paper describes the design and experimental characterization of an electronic front-end intended for spatial detection of ion beams at counting rates over 10^6 particles per second (pps). A multi-channel system architecture is considered, which is essentially made up of three main sub-systems: a TIA, a line receiver and a charge-to-digital converter. A number of experiments have been carried out considering different particles sources and physical conditions, demonstrating that the presented readout electronics is very appropriate for fast and precise particle tracking in secondary electrons detectors.
Readout Electronics System for Particle Tracking in Secondary Electron Detectors
A. Garzón-Camacho, B. Fernández, M.A.G. Alvarez, J. Ceballos and J.M. de la Rosa
Conference · IEEE Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems MWSCAS 2014
abstract
This paper presents the design and implementation of an electronic front-end intended for spatial detection of ion beams at counting rates higher than 10^6 particles per second. The readout system is made up of three main multi-channel building blocks, namely: a transimpedance preamplifier, a signalconditioning line receiver and a charge-to-digital converter, which are properly combined with some off-the-shelf components. Several experiments have been carried out, considering α particles sources and particles beams, featuring an adaptive shaping time frame of 170-to-230 ns with a peak signal-to-noise ratio of up to 25.2dB. These performance metrics are competitive with the state of the art, showing the suitability of the proposed data acquisition system for accurate and fast particle tracking detection.
A Front-End ASIC for a 3-D Magnetometer for Space Applications Based on Anisotropic Magnetoresistors
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · European Conference on Magnetic Sensors and Actuators EMSA 2014
abstract
Abstract not avaliable
A Rad-Hard Multichannel Front-End Readout ASIC for Space Applications
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace METROAEROSPACE 2014
abstract
This paper presents a single-chip solution for sensor-signals conditioning and digitalization in space applications. The rad-hard ASIC implements a set of 6 generic instrumentation channels that are highly configurable in terms of resolution, conversion rate, and input voltage range, providing a flexible solution for space applications requiring the digital acquisition of slow input signals with medium-to-high resolutions. The resolution can be configured between 12 bits at 19.6 kS/s and 16 bits at 2.6 kS/s. The differential input voltage range can be extended up to 4 Vpp. The instrumentation channels combine a programmable-gain, high input impedance instrumentation amplifier and dual-slope analog-to-digital converters with radiation hardening by design (RHBD) techniques in a standard 0.35 μm CMOS technology. Experimental results demonstrate the performance of the ASIC across an operating temperature range of -90 ºC to +125 ºC and its robustness against radiation effects up to 318 krad of TID, absence of latch-up up to at least 81.8 MeV·cm2/mg, and a SEUs LETth of 22.5 MeV·cm2/mg.
SEE Characterization of a Magnetometer Front-End ASIC using a RHBD Digital Library in AMS 0.35μm CMOS
J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, L. Carranza-González, S. Sordo-Ibáñez, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, S. Espejo-Meana and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · Int. Workshop on Analogue and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits For Space Applications AMICSA 2014
abstract
A radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) digital library, developed for the Austria Microsystems (AMS) 0.35μm CMOS technology has been applied in a mixedsignal ASIC that operates as a multi-channel data acquisition system for magnetometers using anisotropic magnetoresistances (AMR). The circuit has been tested in the Heavy-Ion facilities of the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (HIF-UCL). The experimental results demonstrate a LET threshold of 22.5 MeV·cm2/mg and absence of latchup up to 81.8 MeV·cm2/mg. This radiation-tolerant performance is obtained at the cost of a penalty in area and power with respect to the unhardened technology.
An Adaptive Approach to On-Chip CMOS Ramp Generation for High Resolution Single-Slope ADCs
S. Sordo-Ibanez, B. Piñero-García, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, M. Muñoz-Díaz, L. Carranza-González, A. Arias-Drake, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · European Conference on Circuit Theory and Design ECCTD 2013
abstract
Many image sensors employ column-parallel ADCs in their readout structures. Single-slope ADCs are ideally suited for these multi-channel applications due to their simplicity, low power and small overall area. The ramp generator, shared by all the converters in the readout architecture, is a key element that has a direct effect in the transfer characteristic of single-slope ADCs. Because a digital counter is inherently present in this conversion scheme, one common practice is to use a digital-to-analog converter driven by the counter to generate the ramp. Given the direct relationship between the DAC and the ADC transfer characteristics, one of the main issues is to ensure a sufficient linearity of the DAC, with special emphasis on its monotonicity. Very often, in particular when medium to high resolutions are aimed, this requires calibration of the DAC, which must be repeated every once in a while to account for temperature, process, power supply, and aging variations. This paper presents an inherently monotonic ramp generator with high levels of linearity and stability against any expected source of variations, combined with a very efficient realization and an inherent automatic adaptability to different resolutions. The ramp generator has been designed using radiation hardening by design (RHBD) techniques, allowing its use in space applications.
SEE Characterization of the AMS 0.35 μm CMOS Technology
J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, B. Piñero-García, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Sordo-Ibáñez, M.A. Lagos-Florido and S. Espejo-Meana
Conference · European Conference on Radiation and Its Effects on Components and Systems RADECS 2013
abstract
This work presents experimental results for the single-event effects characterization of a commercial (Austria Microsystems) 0.35 ΣΔm CMOS technology. It improves and expands previous results. The knowledge gained is being applied in the development of a RHBD digital library.
Design Methodology and Development of Mixed-Signal ASICs for Space Applications in Standard CMOS Technology
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · IEEE/IFIP International Conference on VLSI and System-on-Chip VLSI-SoC 2013
abstract
The design of mixed-signal ASICs for on-board space applications can provide several advantages that would not otherwise be possible with discrete components. However, extreme environmental conditions in terms of radiation and temperature imply a detailed knowledge of the technology used while CMOS commercial foundries do not usually have or make available these data. The aim of this work is to overcome these obstacles and offer solutions for space applications based on mixed-signal ASICs in commercial CMOS technologies. This paper presents the methodology followed for the assessment of a commercial (Austria Microsystems, AMS) 0.35 µm CMOS technology and for the development of a radiation hardened by design (RHBD) digital library. In addition, the described methodology has been applied to the development of two mixed-signal ASICs. The first chip performs the function of an optical digital transceiver for diffused-light intra-satellite optical communications. The second one implements a front-end solution for sensor data acquisition and signal conditioning and consists in a set of configurable multi-mode dual slope ADCs with resolution up to 16 bits.
A Front-End ASIC for a 16-Bit Three-Axis Magnetometer for Space Applications Based on Anisotropic Magnetoresistors
S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido
Conference · Conference on the Design of Circuits and Integrated Systems DCIS 2013
abstract
Many space applications require the measurement of magnetic fields. This includes many scientific and meteorological instruments, as well as satellite attitude control systems. The most widely used method for measuring magnetic fields in space missions has been the use of fluxgate sensors, mainly due to their reliability, robustness and relatively small mass and volume with respect to the total size of the satellite. However, the current trends of cost reduction and standardization in aerospace technology tends towards the design of small satellites, commonly called nano-satellites or even picosatellites, embodying a new challenge in the design of low-cost space instrumentation. In this scope, fluxgate sensors are massy and large enough so that their use is not addressable for these small satellites. This paper presents an alternative design of a three-axis magnetometer for the measurement of the strength and direction of an incident magnetic field in space applications, with a significant reduction in mass and volume while maintaining a high detectivity. The proposed system uses magnetic field sensors based on anisotropic magnetoresistances (AMR) and a radiation hardened by design (RHBD) mixed-signal ASIC that performs signal conditioning and analog to digital conversion up to 16 bits, and also handles calibration tasks, system configuration and communication with the outside. The use of an ASIC instead of discrete components reduces both weight and volume, and achieves improvements in performance and consumption. The proposed magnetometer provides high sensitivy to low magnetic fields up to 30 μG of resolution while offering a small, low cost and reliable solution for space applications.
OWLS: A Mixed-Signal Asic for Optical Wire-Less Links in Space Instruments
J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, M.A. Lagos-Florido, S. Sordo-Ibáñez, S. Espejo-Meana, I. Arruego, J. Martínez-Oter and M.T. Álvarez
Conference · Int. Workshop on Analogue and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits For Space Applications AMICSA 2012
abstract
pdf
This paper describes the design of a mixed-signal ASIC for space application and the techniques employed for radiation
hardening and temperature effects compensation. The work is part of a planned long-term effort and collaboration
between "Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla (IMSE)", "Universidad de Sevilla (US)", and "Instituto Nacional de
Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA)" aimed to consolidate a group of experienced mixed-signal space-ASIC designers.
Evaluation of the AMS 0.35μm CMOS Technology for use in Space Applications
J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, M.A. Lagos-Florido, S. Sordo-Ibáñez and S. Espejo-Meana
Conference · Int. Workshop on Analogue and Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits For Space Applications AMICSA 2012
abstract
pdf
The design of mixed-signal application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) requires a detailed knowledge of the
behavior of the technology which exceeds the needs of digital designs. For space applications, with its
extended-temperature and radiation environment, the job of the mixed-signal designer is made even more difficult as in
most cases commercial foundries do not have or make available data on the behavior of their devices under those nonstandard
conditions.
Design and Measurements of a Preamplifier for Particles Tracking in Secondary Electrons Detectors
A. Garzón-Camacho, B. Fernández, M.A.G. Álvarez, J. Ceballos and J.M. de la Rosa
Conference · Conference on Design of Circuits and Integrated Systems DCIS 2011
abstract
This paper presents a preamplifier design and experimental characterisation to be used in the Front-End Electronic (FEE) requiered for spatial resolution measurements in low-pressure gaseous Secondary Electrons Detectors (Se D). The circuit - implemented in a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) as a probe of concept - achieves a transimpedance of 80dB, a DC-gain of 18dB, a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 36dB and a chaping time of 140-170ns. These characteristics allow us to minimise the overlapping probability in tracking detection for Radioactive Ion Beams (RIB) with a counting rate higher than 10(6) particles per second.
Radiation Characterization of the austriamicrosystems 0.35 μm CMOS Technology
J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, B. Piñero.García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, M.A. Lagos-Florido and S. Espejo-Meana
Conference · Conference on Radiation Effects on Components and Systems RADECS 2011
abstract
pdf
The design of mixed-signal ASICs for space requires a detailed knowledge of the behaviour of the technology to be used in an environment imposing radiation levels and temperatures beyond those found in standard applications. Commercial foundries providing standard CMOS technologies do not usually have or make available data on the behaviour of their devices under those conditions. Instituto de Microelectrónica de Sevilla and Universidad de Sevilla (IMSE-USE) have started a long term collaboration with the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) to extend its experience on mixed-signal design to the field of ASICs for space applications. The assessment of a commercial (austriamicrosystems) 0.35 μm CMOS technology is a first step towards the development of a mixed-signal design methodology, including an RHBD digital library suitable for use in space
conditions.
A 10 μm Thick Poly-Sige gyroscope processed above 0.35 μm CMOS
A. Scheurle, T. Fuchs, K. Kehr, C. Leinenbach, S. Kronmüller, A. Arias, J. Ceballos, M.A. Lagos, J.M. Mora, J.M. Muñoz, A. Ragel, J. Ramos, S. Van Aerde, J. Spengler, A. Mehta, A. Verbist, B. Du Bois, A. Witvrouw
Conference · IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems MEMS 2007
abstract
This paper describes a monolithically integrated omegaz-gyroscope fabricated in a surface-micromaching technology. As functional structure, a 10 μm thick Silicon-Germanium layer is processed above a standard high voltage 0.35 μm CMOS-ASIC. Drive and Sense of the in plane double wing gyroscope is fully capacitively. Measurement of movement is also done fully capacitively in continuous-time baseband sensing. For characterization, the gyroscope chip is mounted on a breadboard with auxiliary circuits. A noise floor of 0.01 degs/sqrt(Hz) for operation at 3 mBar is achieved.
Processing of MEMS Gyroscopes on Top of CMOS ICs
A. Witvrouw, A. Mehta, A. Verbist, B. Du Bois, S. Van Aerde, J. Ramos-Martos, J. Ceballos, A. Ragel, J.M. Mora, M.A. Lagos, A. Arias, J.M. Hinojosa, J. Spengler, C. Leinenbach, T. Fuchs and S. Kronmüller
Conference · IEEE International Solid-State Conference ISSCC 2005
abstract
Integrated 10 μm thick poly-SiGe gyroscopes are processed on top of an 8" standard 0.35 μm CMOS wafer with 5 metal levels by using an advanced plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition multi-layer technology. The gyroscopes are free-moving with Q-factors for the drive mode up to 10000 at the pressure of 0.8 mTorr while the CMOS chip is fully functional.
SIGEM, low-temperature deposition of Poly-SiGe MEMs structures on standard CMOS circuits
J. Ramos-Martos, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, A. Ragel-Morales, J.M. Mora-Gutierrez, A. Arias-Drake, M.A. Lagos-Florido, J.M. Muñoz-Hinojosa, A. Mehta, A. Verbist, B. du Bois, K. Kehr, C. Leinenbach, S. Van Aerde, J. Spengler and A. Witvrouw
Conference · Conference on VLSI Circuits and Systems II SPIE 2005
abstract
Fabrication of surface-micromachined structures by a post-processing module above standard IC circuits is an efficient way to produce monolithic microsystems, allowing nearly independent optimization of the circuitry and the MEMS process. However, until now the high-temperature steps needed for deposition of poly-Si have limited its application. SiGeM explores the possibilities offered by the low-temperature (450 degrees C) deposition and structuring of poly-SiGe layers, which is compatible with the temperature budget of fully-processed standard IC wafers. In the SiGeM project several low-temperature deposition methods (CVD, PECVD, LPCVD) were developed, and were evaluated with respect to growth rate and material quality. The interconnection technology to the underlying CMOS circuitry was also developed. The capabilities of this new integration technology will be demonstrated in a monolithic high-performance rate-of-turn sensor, currently considered the most demanding MEMs application in terms of material properties of the structural layer (thickness > 10 mu m, stress gradient < 03MPa/mu m) and signal processing circuitry (capacitance resolution in the aF range, SNR > 110 dB). System partitioning will combine analog and DSP circuit techniques to maximize resolution and stability. Parasitic electrical coupling within different parts of the system has been analyzed, and countermeasures to reduce it have been incorporated in the design. The feasibility of the approach has already been proved by preliminary characterization of working prototypes containing released microstructures deposited on top of preamplifier circuits built on a 0.35 mu m, 5-metal, 2-poly, standard CMOS process from Philips Semiconductors. Resonance frequencies are in good agreement with predictions, and quality factors above 8000 have been obtained at pressures of 0.8 mTorr. Measured SNR confirms the capability to achieve a resolution of 0.015 degrees/s over a bandwidth of 50 Hz.
A precise 90 degrees quadrature OTA-C VCO between 50-130 MHz
B. Linares-Barranco, T. Serrano-Gotarredona, J. Ramos-Martos, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, J.M. Mora and A. Linares-Barranco
Conference · International Symposium on Circuits and Systems ISCAS 2004
abstract
We present a VLSI continuous time sinusoidal OTA-C quadrature oscillator fabricated in a standard double-poly 0.8mum CMOS process. The oscillator is tunable in the frequency range from 50-130 MHz. A symmetric topology assures that the two phases produced by the oscillator present an extremely low phase difference error (less than 2degrees over the whole frequency range). A novel current mode amplitude control scheme is developed that allows for very small amplitudes. Experimental results are provided.
Books
White Paper 14: Dynamic Earth: probing the past, preparing for the future
J. Marco de Lucas, V. Moreno-Arribas, C.J. Garrido, P. Gonzalez, F. Tornos, R. Carbonell, A. Geyer, M. García, A. Moreno, S. Giralt, M. Viana, F. Gallart, M.G. Llorens, D. García-Castellanos, J. García Guinea, M. Charco, J. Martí, J.J. Álvaro Blasco, M. Álvarez de Buergo, J. Álvarez Marrón, C. Ayala Galán, R. Amils, D. Brown, A. Castro Dorado, J. Ceballos Cáceres, J.M. Cebriá Gómez, A. Delgado Huertas, J. Fernández Torrres, R. Fort González, P. González-Sampériz, J. Huertas Puerta, A. Jiménez Díaz, F. Jiménez Espejo, J. López Gómez, T. Moreno, A. Negredo Moreno, J. Olof Ormö, O. Prieto Ballesteros, X. Querol, C. Rodrígez Ranero, M. Schimmel, V. Sellarés, J.M. Soler, J. Trigo Rodríguez and B. Valero Garcés
Book · Libros Blancos. Desafíos Científicos 2030 del CSIC, 111 p, 2021
abstract
link
Every day human activities involve interaction with our planet Earth. Everything around us is built upon the Earth, grows on the Earth, or depends on the environments and internal dynamics of the Earth to some degree. Indeed, Earth‚s dynamic processes have strong influence on our society today as they have had at any time in human history, providing both major opportunities as well as challenges. Therefore, the knowledge about the Earth is the key to develop an informed citizenry and a global awareness of a common Planet and a common future. For example, dynamic processes during interaction between the tectonic plates that make up the outer ‘skin’ of Earth provide us with the valuable mineral deposits we need to develop our society, or the arable land and fertile soils needed to sustain it. Likewise, plate boundaries are the locus of hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions that can cause large-scale disruption to, and displacement of, communities and economies. Just as one example, the March 11th, 2011 Tohoku earthquake offshore Japan, shows how a single-event natural disaster caused by one of the dynamic processes of the Earth (plate subduction) can have important socio-economic impacts that range from large-scale infrastructure damage to local and regional population relocation. Understanding the full range of Earth‚s dynamic processes will not stop natural disasters like the Tohoku earthquake, but it will provide important information for developing models for their mitigation.
White Paper 12: Our future? Space colonization & exploration
J. Marco de Lucas, M.V. Moreno-Arribas, L.M. Lara, G. Leger, R. Duffard, I. González Gómez, O. Prieto Ballesteros, J. Ceballos Cáceres, B. Funke, D. Altadill, R. Benavides, J. Medina, G. Anglada-Escudé, M.J. Jurado, P. Godignon and G. Liñán
Book · Libros Blancos. Desafíos Científicos 2030 del CSIC, 160 p, 2021
abstract
link
The exploration and colonization of the outer space represents a foreseeable future for the Humanity. This endeavour involves deepening our knowledge about the formation and evolution of the solar system, of other planetary systems, emergence of life (and its prospects once it exists), the interaction between Earth and Space (particularly with its Sun) and the impact of space conditions (radiation, gravity, etc.) on Earth-borne organisms. Materialization of this exploration and colonization currently drives technological developments in several fronts as optics, electronics and sensors just to mention a few. Other aspects as well law & ethics, psychology, biology, etc., cannot be discarded.
Book Chapters
No results
Other publications
No results
