A novel peak amplitude and time detector for narrow pulse signals

The requirements for a peak amplitude and time detector for applications such as time-of-flight mass spectrometers are derived. A nonlinear feedback structure is found best suited to meet these demands. The novel structure is analyzed and optimized with respect to the ideal behavior and the influence of parasitics. Based on the results, a thick-film hybrid peak detector with an integral nonlinearity of less than 0.3 percent is presented. The output signal varies with pulse shape and pulsewidth (10–250 ns) by less than 10 percent within a pulse amplitude range of 50 dB.