Signalverarbeitung mit FPGAs für Detektoren
FPGA based detector signal processing

Detector data acquisition and online signal processing with programmable logic / field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

• Introduction to the FPGA design process (modeling, simulation, synthesis, Xilinx design tools)
• Introduction to the VHDL hardware description language (modularity, concurrent/sequential statements, synchronous/asynchronous logic)
• Electronic design with VHDL and FPGAs (pipelined data processing, data flow control, counters, state machines)
• Signal processing basics (signal sampling, FFT, digital filters)
• Detector readout concepts (analog pipeline ASICs, sampling ADCs)
• Debug and measurement equipment (oscilloscope, logic analyzer)
• Design of a data acquisition system based on Xilinx FPGAs for a particle detector. (frontend ASIC configuration and readout, signal baseline correction, trigger decision, amplitude detection, ...)

After successful completion of the module the students are able to

• understand how FPGAs are built up
• create FPGA projects
• code in VHDL

No preconditions in addition to the requirements for the Master’s program in Physics.

The module is divided into a lecture part and a laboratory course (exercise). The basic theory is covered by the lecture which can be applied immediately to the design software in the laboratory part. The different tasks for the final data acquisition project are shared between the students. The Xilinx FPGA design software is also available for installation on student laptops.

Blackboard, exercises and examples, lecture notes

• P.A. Simpson: FPGA Design, Spinger, (2010)
• P. J. Ashenden: The Student’s Guide to VHDL, Morgan Kaufmann, (2008)
• P. J. Ashenden: The Designer’s Guide to VHDL, Morgan Kaufmann, (2008)
• W.R. Leo: Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics experiments, Springer, (1994)

There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions and sample calculations.

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• What is an FPGA?
• Waht components are inside an FPGA?
• What is CDC?

In the exam no learning aids are permitted.

There will be a bonus (one intermediate stepping of "0,3" to the better grade) on passed module exams (4,3 is not upgraded to 4,0). The bonus is applicable to the exam period directly following the lecture period (not to the exam repetition) and subject to the condition that the student passes the mid-term of accomplishing a laboratory assignment.