Description
AMC-PICO-8 Picoammeter Multi Channel Measurement Performance
The AMC-PICO-8 Picoammeter is designed to deliver precise multi channel current measurement in demanding scientific and industrial environments. Built as an Advanced Mezzanine Card compatible with MTCA.4 systems, the instrument offers eight independent channels capable of simultaneous bipolar current sensing. Each channel uses a carefully designed transimpedance input stage that converts current signals into voltage while maintaining extremely low noise and high measurement stability.
The system uses high performance 20 bit analog to digital converters that operate with low latency and high sampling speeds. With sampling rates reaching up to one million samples per second, the device can capture rapidly changing current signals with exceptional accuracy. This performance makes the AMC-PICO-8 particularly suitable for detector readout, particle physics experiments, and advanced laboratory instrumentation.
Flexible Measurement Ranges
The AMC-PICO-8 Picoammeter supports multiple current measurement ranges depending on the selected configuration. These ranges allow the instrument to handle signals from microampere to milliampere levels while maintaining high resolution and measurement accuracy.
Several commercially available versions of the device provide optimized bandwidth and measurement range combinations. This flexibility allows users to select the configuration that best matches their experimental requirements. Custom solutions are also available for specialized measurement environments.
Another important capability of the device is its floating input design. Each channel can float up to ±300 volts relative to the chassis ground. This feature allows the system to operate in applications where detectors or current sources require electrical biasing while still maintaining accurate signal measurement.
FPGA Signal Processing
The AMC-PICO-8 Picoammeter integrates a powerful FPGA that performs real time signal processing and data conversion. The onboard processing logic converts raw ADC values into single precision floating point numbers representing the measured current in amperes. This floating point format simplifies data analysis and allows researchers to perform additional processing without complex data conversion steps.
The FPGA also supports configurable trigger conditions that allow the system to capture signals based on specific events. The onboard memory can store measurement data before the trigger event occurs, enabling detailed analysis of signal behavior leading up to critical events.
High Speed Data Communication
Communication within the AMC-PICO-8 Picoammeter is handled through a PCI Express interface that connects the FPGA to the host system. This architecture provides fast and reliable control of system parameters such as measurement range and sampling frequency.
The FPGA also includes a scatter gather direct memory access engine that enables efficient high speed data transfer to the host processor. This capability ensures that large volumes of measurement data can be streamed without significant processing overhead.
Combined with the robust MTCA.4 platform architecture, the AMC-PICO-8 provides a reliable and scalable solution for advanced multi channel current measurement systems used in research laboratories and accelerator facilities.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Device Type | 8 Channel Bipolar Picoammeter |
| Form Factor | MTCA.4 Advanced Mezzanine Card |
| Number of Channels | 8 |
| ADC Resolution | 20 bit |
| Maximum Sampling Rate | Up to 1 MSPS |
| Measurement Method | Transimpedance current sensing |
| Input Capability | Bipolar floating inputs |
| Maximum Floating Voltage | ±300 V relative to chassis ground |
| Measurement Ranges | Configuration dependent |
| Bandwidth | Up to 300 kHz depending on version |
| FPGA | Virtex 5 FPGA for signal processing |
| Data Format | Single precision floating point current values |
| Data Interface | PCI Express |
| Data Transfer | Scatter gather DMA support |
| Calibration | Digital calibration stored in onboard EEPROM |
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