1. Status of the Merlin Readout System
As it applies to the VELO Upgrade Testbeam
Richard Plackett - Detector Group
VELO Upgrade Meeting - 4/5/2012

2. Outline Merlin – Medipix Readout with a LabView Interface
Developed as a precursor / development tool for EXCALIBUR system
Seems to have significant value in its own right
Versatile, high speed readout system for Medipix3
Developed mainly by Ian Horswell at Diamond
Will be delivered as a detector system to B16 and I16 beamlines this month
Looking at feasibility of making it more widely available, possibly through Quantum Detectors

3. Merlin Hardware ‘controller card’ In rack ‘host’ PC
FPGA Card, Adapter Card and power card
Medipix3

4. Screenshot

5. Merlin System Structure
Front Panel (remote desktop)
PXI(e) Backplane
VHDCI cable
Host PC
Virtex5 FPGA FLEXRIO PXI(e) card
Adapter Card
Medipix3 chipboard
Local Disk
Network TCP/IP
Remote Scripts
Cmd and Data channels

6. Front Panel (remote desktop)
Tested Performance
Front Panel (remote desktop)
PXI(e) Backplane
VHDCI cable
Host PC
Virtex5 FPGA FLEXRIO PXI(e) card
Adapter Card
Medipix3 chipboard
Local Disk
Network TCP/IP
Data
Memory for 1200 frames
Remote Scripts
Cmd and Data channels
100 fps continuous
120MHz clock
10m VHDCI cable
>1000 frames per second
Triggers / Shutters
<20ns accuracy - Triggered at 500Hz
Run overnight reliably

7. Current Medipix Features Supported
Single Pixel Mode 12 bit – counter zero
Single Pixel mode 24 bit – both counters
Test Pulses – arbitrary test maps
Digital Test – read to and write from both counters
DAC Scan / Threshold Scan
FBK Tracking (to fix temperature variations of MPX3.0)
Compatible with Pixelman pixel and DAC config files
Internal HV bias generated and software controlled
Trigger out signal available
Many features close to working but need adding to control panel and testing… please make requests

8. For the Testbeam…
Results of Discussions with Daniel and Jaap yesterday
Change local file saving to make time stamped folders optional
Ensure files are closed immediately after being written
Test PXIe build being prepared for VELO upgrade system
Test for 100fps for 20,000 single frame files into a folder (done)
Test triggering with beam structure (no problems expected)
Look at extending trigger out to include readout time
Send adapter card to arrive at CERN before 15th May
Diamond people able to remote desktop in to system at CERN to help debugging if necessary.

9. Future… Soon Near Further New adapter boards to be integrated
Support all Medipix3 modes and features
Add native Equalisation functions
Tidy up front panel etc
Near
Support Medipix3.RX
More inbuilt automatic self test functions
More inbuilt analysis tools – histograms etc
Investigating making system more widely available
Further
Quad Support at 1000fps
Multiple FPGA cards per system

10. Summary Merlin readout system for Medipix3 based on NI hardware
Virtex5 FPGA running in a PXI(e) chassis with host
1000 fps burst and 100 fps continuous
Up to 10m VHDCI cable
Triggering with 10ns accuracy
Baseline Medipix3 functionality currently supported
Tested in Diamond testbeam and in Lab.
Making some small modifications to run in VELO Upgrade testbeam
Will perform specific tests with new build for PXIe system
Adapter card and power card to arrive before 15th May