1. Straw electronics status  Signal generation and formation in straw  Webs + Cover  Backend  TTC  Services + DCS  New engineer on VIA program Georgios Konstantinou (Giorgio)

2. Signal creation and formation  Ongoing studies  single straw test bench and simulation  Straw transfer function very complex (SPICE not enough)  Frequency dependence must be taken into consideration  ‘Signal stretching’ caused by straw  Need more work on this

3. Web + covers  Reminder  We had ‘old’ 50pin connector covers and webs  Decision to make web shorter and change connector to 100 pins to address intermittent noise problem  This meant new readout chain  To be able to verify new web performance soon, intermediate web short but with 50 pin connector so the old readout could be used  New covers not compatible with the old readout  Webs  Left and right intermediate  2 pieces of each  Assembled and mounted on the detector prototype  Serious tests impossible due to connectors misalignment  Left and Right active  In the first round problem HV, trace too close to HV via  New production of 8 pieces each  Main reason to change the web was the proximity of the flex part and manifold wall (even touching)  The new manifold is smaller and again close to web  Need careful verification  Left and right passive (termination)  After simulations and measurements they are not mounted anymore  Better signal-to-noise ration  Better time resolution

4. Covers production and testing  New covers with  New 100 pin connector to web  On-board TDC  Connection to backend via ethernet cable with serial links  3 pieces of both produced and ready for tests  Finalizing cover and SRB firmware now  FPGA on cover with control, TDC and serial links  Start tests with CARIOCA this week  Mount 2/4 covers on prototype beginning January  1 month tests to check the noise and time-measurement performance  At least 1 more iteration will be needed  ‘writing’ on the copper under o-ring compromises gas tightness  Maybe need to change schematics for remote reprogrammability (to be checked soon)  If there is no other serious change  ~ 2 days redesign  Prototype production beginning February 2012  20 pieces each type  Part of the total order of ~250 pieces

5. Backend  Scaled SRB prototype  Designed to be able to readout  4 old covers  4 new covers  Buffer for ~100,000 events  TTC interface with TTCRx and clock cleaning by QPLL  Number of extra NIM and LVDS input/outputs for synchronization and other (unforeseen) functions  Board ready  Firmware development slower then expected (me + Giorgio)  Problem with SBC  Giorgio’s start with NA62 links  Long ‘learning’ curve for new technology (high speed links in ALTERA chip without HW support)  Gaining speed now  The first version ready with FIFO buffering for data; few 100s of events  Need to add big memory for 100,000 events

6. Backend  Established serial link connections  See control words  This week test sending commands and read data  Ethernet cable is 2 meters long now, will check maximum possible length (5 meters from rack to chamber)  Giorgio’s presentation on link status  Beginning January ready for tests with 64-straw prototype  Noise scans to check new cover  Cosmics with micromegas to check TDC  No showstopper till now

7. Backend  Full SRB prototype  Start design immediately after experience from small SRB with straw prototype  Changes if needed  15 inputs for half view readout  Bigger memory for online monitoring  High speed output for TEL62  2.4Gbit link using ethernet cable tested by Andrea and Giorgio  Necessary to use shielded cable  10 meters with better then 10**13 BERR  Giorgio’s presentation  Start February, ready June 2012?  Mezzanine for TEL62  Need to design, produce and test a mezzanine with 12 high speed serial links (12 SRBs sending data to TEL62)  Design Peter + Giorgio  Starts when finished scaled SRB firmware  Start ~February, ready June 2012  Mezzanine firmware Giorgio

8. Backend  TEL62  Need 4 pieces  It should be placed close to the detector  Straw specific firmware Peter + Giorgio  1 TEL62 crate ordered  Do we need 1 crate per TEL62 or can we have longer links (30-40meters) and have 1 crate with 4 TEL62?  SBC  We took the last VP-317 from the POOL  Problems with stuck A24 bit  Checked with SBC support  After few manipulations the problem disappeared itself  Electro-mechanical (contact)?  End of production  We need to go for VP-7XX  No order till now as big experiments are not interested yet  Need at least 1 piece this year  Limitation on VME space  HW OK  Coming from BIOS  Negotiate special BIOS with company?

9. TTC  2 sets of LTU+TTCex ordered  TTCex has got a problem with clock startup phase  Not usable for final application  Asked for 1 temporary module for lab tests

10. Services + DCS  Racks  Each chamber has got 1 rack  Should be less then 5 meters from the chamber due to cables between cover and SRB  Real limit not known yet  1 VME 9U crate for SRBs + SBC  2 MPOD crates  1 needed at the moment  Spare place for 1 more depending on frontend electronics  1 TEL62 crate?

11. Services + DCS  Bulk power supply  MPOD system from Wiener  ESE-BE (POOL) group did a lot of testing and evaluation  Hardware very good  OPC server not stable for HV part  Tomorrow meeting and prepare response to Wiener  Continue with MPOD and press Wiener to fix the problem  CAEN  Combination of 3 different crates  2.5-3 times more expensive then MPOD, extra crates, etc  CAEN proposes to use their new system which should appear soon  Similar to MPOD  Again new product problems as with MPOD  Follow this path to have another solution  Waiting for CAEN offer (2 months already!)  Combination of Wiener and CAEN systems  2 crates instead of 1  Possible solution  We do not plan to have a final bulk PS in technical run

12. Services + DCS  Patch panels  LV and monitoring PP  Switching covers PS on/off, monitoring voltages, currents, temperatures on covers and detector  Design finished  Layout proceeding now  Production January  ELMB based control  Should have a CERN support  Would like to include it in DCS in June run as it is a special straw equipment  HV PP with HV relays to be able to switch-off cells with a problem  Relay indentified (~17 Euros)  Controlled by ELMB (need more ELMBs)  Using ELMB serial link port  Controlling EPLD (MAX2) chip on PP  Triplicated registers for HV safety  Design expected half January  Layout till end of January  Production February  Would like to test it in June technical run

13. Summary  Straw + CARIOCA response understood better now but need more work still  Cover+web test is critcal  Noise + TDC performance  SRB firmware delayed but in a good shape now  Full readout system (web+cover+SRB) ready in January  Depending on the tests with 64-straw prototype  Go to production status  Or study the problem and modifications  If OK, order prototype series of covers and webs (20 pieces) as a part of full order (~250 pieces each)  February  Full SRB and mezzanine in June but not clear if ready for tests with TEL62  Firmware ?  We can use scaled SRBs and readout 8 covers  Missing TEL62 probably not a problem as straw is not participating to trigger yet  Straw specific DCS components (Patch panels) ready for June and tried with global DCS  Bulk power supplies decision postponed