Cmos Timetodigital Converters For Biomedical Imaging Applications

• doi: 10.1109/RBME.2021.3092197
• title: CMOS Time-to-Digital Converters for Biomedical Imaging Applications
• publisher: IEEE
• isbn:
• issn: 1941-1189
• rank: 1798
• access_type: LOCKED
• content_type: Journals
• abstract: Time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are high-performance mixed-signal circuits capable of timestamping events with sub-gate delay resolution. As a result of their high-performance, in recent years TDCs were integrated in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology with highly sensitive photodetectors known as single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), to form digital silicon photomultipliers (dSiPMs) and SPAD imagers. Time-resolved SPAD-based sensors are capable of detecting the absorption of a single photon and timestamping it with picosecond resolution. As such, SPAD-based sensors are very useful in the field of biomedical imaging, using time-of-flight (ToF) information to produce data that can be used to reconstruct high-quality biological images. Additionally, the capability of integration in standard CMOS technologies, allows SPAD-based sensors to provide high-performance, while maintaining low cost. In this paper, we present an overview of fundamental TDC principles, and an analysis of state-of-the-art TDCs. Furthermore, the integration of TDCs into dSiPMs and SPAD imagers will be discussed, with an analysis of the current results of TDCs in different biomedical imaging applications. Finally, several important research challenges for TDCs in biomedical imaging applications are presented.
• article_number: 9464686
• pdf_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=9464686
• html_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9464686/
• abstract_url: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9464686/
• publication_title: IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering
• conference_location:
• conference_dates:
• publication_number: 4664312
• is_number: 10007429
• publication_year: 2023
• publication_date: 2023
• start_page: 627
• end_page: 652
• citing_paper_count: 18
• citing_patent_count: 0
• download_count: 2278
• insert_date: 20210624
• index_terms:
  • ieee_terms:
    • Single-photon avalanche diodes
    • Imaging
    • Photonics
    • Positron emission tomography
    • Image sensors
    • Biosensors
    • Biomedical measurement
  • author_terms:
    • Diffuse optical tomography (DOT)
    • digital silicon photomultiplier (dSiPM)
    • fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
    • positron emission tomography (PET)
    • single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD)
    • SPAD imager
    • time-to-digital converter (TDC)
  • dynamic_index_terms:
    • Medical Imaging
    • Clinical Imaging
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Time-to-digital Converter
    • Biomedical Imaging Applications
    • Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Technology
    • Complementary Metal-oxide-semiconductor Technology
    • Single-photon Avalanche Diode
    • Single Photon Avalanche Diode
    • Silicon Photomultiplier
    • SiPM
    • Sampling Rate
    • Power Consumption
    • Pulse Width
    • Pulsewidth Modulation
    • Pulsewidth
    • Pulse Width Modulation
    • Inverter
    • Advanced Processes
    • Promotion Process
    • Positron Emission Tomography Imaging
    • Root Mean Square Values
    • Rms Value
    • Root-mean-square Values
    • Improvement In Resolution
    • Delay Line
    • Least Significant Bit
    • Low Bit
    • Stop Signal
    • Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy
    • FLIM
    • Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
    • Entire Array
    • Start Signal
    • End Of The Conversation
    • End Of Conversion
    • Reference Clock
    • Diffuse Optical Tomography
    • Diffuse Optical Imaging
    • High Fill Factor
    • Temporal Compression
    • Spatial Compression
    • Dark Noise
    • Dead Time
    • Digital Pulse
    • Fluorescence Lifetime
• authors:
  • Author Name: Ryan Scott
    Affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37088704128
    ID: 37088704128
    Order: 1
    Author Affiliations:
    • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • Author Name: Wei Jiang
    Affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37307011300
    ID: 37307011300
    Order: 2
    Author Affiliations:
    • School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • Author Name: M. Jamal Deen
    Affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    Author URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/38557801900
    ID: 38557801900
    Order: 3
    Author Affiliations:
    • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
    • School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Image Sensor

• sensor_type: CMOS
• resolution: Not explicitly mentioned in text
• dynamic_range: Not explicitly mentioned in text
• pixel_size: Not explicitly mentioned in text
• dark_current: Not explicitly mentioned in text

Optical Data

• focal_length: Not mentioned in text
• aperture: Not mentioned in text
• field_of_view: Not mentioned in text
• distortion: Not mentioned in text

Performance Metrics

• frame_rate: Not mentioned in text
• signal_to_noise_ratio: Not explicitly mentioned in text
• sensitivity: Not mentioned in text
• shutter_speed: Not mentioned in text
• power_consumption: Not explicitly mentioned in text
• noise: Not explicitly mentioned in text

Applications & Benefits

• cell_imaging: Enabled by CMOS sensors in medical devices and applications such as fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and positron emission tomography (PET)
• benefits: CMOS sensors enable digital imaging with advantages in low-cost, integration with circuits, and performance enhancements through modern design techniques.

Supporting Organizations

• supported_by: Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Research Chair Program, CMC Microsystems

Manuscript Details

• publication_date: 2023

Relevancy Score

• score: 10
• missing_fields:
  • sensor_type
  • resolution
  • dynamic_range
  • pixel_size
  • dark_current
  • focal_length
  • aperture
  • field_of_view
  • distortion
  • frame_rate
  • sensitivity
  • shutter_speed
  • noise

Processed JSON Filename

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