The bPAD+ is an enhanced version of the bPAD intelligent Single-Channel Analyzer. This device adds an extra analog pulse output, which can be connected to an external MCA for monitoring purposes. Being fully digital, the bPAD+ benefits from the same advantages of the bPAD.
bPAD is a compact microcontroller-based Single Intelligent Channel Analyzer. The device contains a Preamplifier-Amplifier-Discriminator with TTL digital output. The bPAD also includes its own high voltage power supply for operating standard 14-pin photomultiplier tubes, which are commonly used with scintillator-type radiation detectors [e.g. PVC, NaI(Tl), LaBr, CeBr, etc].
The device is therefore useful as a compact system to monitor the count rate in an energy region of interest.
The detected signal is output as a TTL pulse, making it compatible with most industrial, environmental and laboratory counting systems. In contrast with traditional SCAs the bPAD is fully controlled by a microprocessor, providing easy setup and “smart” modes of operations. bPAD parameters can be conveniently set via USB with a PC and the provided configuration software.
The bPAD is an advanced, microprocessor-based, compact electronic device that integrates a charge sensitive preamplifier, a variable-gain amplifier and a window discriminator; all in a 14-pin photomultiplier tube base. This electronic device outputs a TTL pulse per photo-event detected by a scintillator detector in the energy range of interest. This type of device is also often referred to as a Single Channel Analyzer (SCA). bPAD also includes a miniature, programmable and efficient high-voltage supply to provide the power necessary to operate the most widespread range of photomultipliers used with scintillator detectors. The output voltage can be set in the range from 0 to 1500 volts with a resolution of 4096 steps.
Since the bPAD is a microprocessor-controlled device, it benefits from being easy to setup. The device connects to a PC via its USB interface, and by using the provided software all the operational settings can be configured and fine-tuned for any kind of scintillator detector. Once the setup is complete, all the settings are saved into the device’s non-volatile memory. The PC software also comes with a “pseudo-PHA” acquisition mode. In this mode, the software slides the single-channel window over the whole input range, constructing in such a way an energy spectrum. By using this spectrum, the user can visually identify the energy range of interest and immediately set the boundaries of the bPAD discriminator window. This represents a large improvement over the traditional “blind” method used with most other SCAs.
bPAD has two modes of operation:
The output pulses correspond to counted events in the energy window of interest. They are 5-volt TTL signals with 2.5 µsec duration. The bPAD can be ordered to output pulses with a duration of 10 µsec instead.
The bPAD can be powered via the USB connection or by an external DC power supply of 6 to 36 volts.
Three color LEDs are used for status indications: Red for detector high voltage, Yellow for incoming count rate (ICR) and Green for power and communication status.
The bPAD is a compact device with a size of 65 mm diameter by 71 mm high (60 mm not counting the TTL output connector) . bPAD weights less than 80 grams.
All the above-mentioned features make the bPAD+ a very attractive component for industrial and automated applications involving photon detection and counting.
Device and Digital Settings
High Voltage Power Supply
Data Communication
Physical
Indicators
Other
The device is supplied with WindowsTM PC software for setup and pseudo-PHA, the software can also display the CPS value for the defined SCA region
Certifications
The device is CE compliant
GMS310 Hand-Held API Core Gamma Logger
GMS312 Rolling API Core Gamma Logger
bPAD Single Channel Analyzer
bPAD+ VR Single Channel Analyzer
bMCA-Box Multi-Channel Analyzer
