A Boost Converter Employing Quadratic Sawtooth Waveform Generator for SiPM-Based Radiation Sensors

Abstract

This paper proposes an optimized step-up power converter using a quadratic sawtooth waveform generator for a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) used as a radiation sensor for mobile radiation dosimeters. Although our step-up converter uses the topology of a switched inductor boost converter in voltage mode, it achieves a fast transient performance thanks to the proposed quadratic sawtooth waveform generator, which can increase the loop bandwidth. As a result, the proposed boost converter can stably regulate the bias voltage of an SiPM, even in a situation where the radiation particles are injected. In addition, since the proposed quadratic sawtooth waveform generator can be designed with low power, it was able to achieve 86% peak efficiency even under the light load conditions.

Keywords

• radiation sensor
• silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)
• boost converter