Low cost multi-channel 16-bit transient digitizer system for the PBX-M machine

In a serial data-acquisition system, the throughput of the serial link is always a limiting factor to the real-time performance. Transient digitizers overcome this problem by using local memory to store digitized data in real time, with data retrieval/processing occurring after acquisition has been completed. A wide dynamic range with minimum crosstalk has been achieved in the present application by using an independent 16-b analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for each channel. The system has 16 K words of memory per channel with a minimum sampling rate of 50 kHz. The system clock can be programmed to provide three different rates for each data collection cycle, namely, pretrigger, posttrigger I, and posttrigger II. Costs are reduced by utilizing standard computer automated measurement and control (CAMAC) modules and the existing software for the Princeton Beta Experiment-Modified (PBX-M) machine. The system is described, and its accuracy and potential are discussed