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Convert the current signal to voltage
Amplify the voltage pulse to increase difference between singal signal and noise
and make it easier to detect and losses negligible. This is done by the detector circuit.Extend the length of the signal so the MCU has time to made an ADC conversion.
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After the second stage amplification, the signal line is sent to both the peak detector and a comparator.
The comparator compares the signal to a set baseline voltage value, and if the signal exceeds this amount,
it generates an interrupt. This interrupt is used to tell the MCU when to take an ADC (analog to digital conversion) sample from the
peak detector line.
Voltage supply & Power Management:
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Because the detector circuit is sensitive analog circuitry, it runs off a separate 4.7V line
from an LDO. The LDO cleans the 5V line to ensure low-noise, as well as separates the detector
circuit supplies from any noise generated by the switching supplies.
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The detector_support circuit is configured to support both a test connection (5V and 12V from the
bench top supply) as well as battery connections for use in lab testing.
PWR_EN - Signal that allows us to turn on/off the radiation detectors to reduce power usage while sitting on the pad
VERY BASIC OVERVIEW of commonly used voltage supplies:
LDO - Linear regulator, clean but highly inefficient voltage regulator. Can only produce voltages below input. Very simple to implement.
Switching regulator - efficient regulator, noisy, more difficult to implement
Buck regulator - switching regulator that generates output voltage below input voltage
Boost regulator - switching regulator that generates output voltage above input voltage