MiniPIX EDU

Minipix

Advacam’s MiniPIX EDU is a miniaturised USB camera designed and priced for educational use. It brings modern nuclear technology of radiation imaging to the classrooms and let students discover the unseen world of ionizing radiation surrounding them. Students can explore the origin of different types of radiation and see how radioactive isotopes travel in the nature and in the artificial environment of human houses, cities, industries. The same technology is used by NASA in space to monitor the radiation exposure by the astronauts.

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Description

Advacam’s MiniPIX EDU can record the small levels of radioactivity that is surrounding us. Students can see radioactivity of common materials and objects such as piece of ash, granite, paper bag from vacuum cleaner or face mask. They can explore the disparity of the air radioactivity during the day, hunt for cosmic muons and find their directions, explore how altitude affects presence of radiation types. They can prepare their own (safe) radioactive source and try to construct the shielding against radiation it emits. They can practically observe the laws of radioactive decay. Students can directly observe the way different radiation interact with matter.
 
All you need to do is to plug the MiniPIX EDU device to the USB port of your PC and start the software. Using the proprietary RadView radiation visualisation software fascinating images of ionizing particles will start appearing on your screen. The students can understand how people benefit of ionizing radiation and radioactivity. For further information and education examples, make sure to check out the other applications page.
 
The system can be used in imaging applications (e.g. X-ray or neutron imaging) and its ability to recognize individual particles, sort them to several groups (X-rays, electrons, neutrons, alphas etc.) and measure their energies is utilized as great advantage for radiation monitoring. All the major operating systems are supported (MS Windows, Mac OS and LINUX). The advanced software, PIXET PRO used for detector operation, is provided for free.
 
  • Sensor Material: Si
  • Sensor Thickness: 300 μm and 500 μm
  • Sensitive Area: 14 mm x 14 mm
  • Number of Pixels: 256 x 256
  • Pixel Pitch: 55 μm
  • Resolution: 9 lp/mm
  • Readout Speed: 55 frames/s
  • Threshold Step Resolution: 0.1 keV
  • Energy Resolution: 0.8 keV (THL) and 2 keV (ToT)
  • Min Detectable Energy: 5 keV for X-rays
  • Photon Counting Speed: up to 3 x 106 photons/s/pixel
  • Readout Chip: Timepix
  • Pixel Mode of Operation: Counting, Time-over-Threshold, Time-of-Arrival
  • Connectivity: USB 2.0
  • Dimensions: 89 mm x 21 mm x 10 mm (L x W x H)
  • Weight: 30 g
  • Software: Pixet PRO or ask for RadView radiation visualization software
NOTE: Laptop and cable not included. The detector has USB type-A which can be plugged in directly to your laptop.

Documents

Device parameters

Operating conditions

Symbol Parameter Value Units Comment
TA Ambient Temperature Range 0-50 °C  
Φ Humidity <80 % Not condensing
  Altitude* <2000 m Above sea level
IP IP rating IP40   With cover

*for use in vacuum chamber, operate only with air pressure lower than 10-3Pa Location: Intended for indoor use, dust free.

Electrical Specification

TA = 25°C, USB voltage VCC = 4.8V

Symbol Parameter Min Typ Max Units Comment
VCC Supply Voltage 4.0 5.0 5.5 V Comply with USB 2.0
ICC2 Chip active     500 mA Comply with USB 2.0
P1 Power Dissipation     2.5 W  
Bias Voltage Source for Sensor Diode          
VBIAS Bias Voltage 3   200 V  

Performance characteristics of Timepix

Symbol Parameter Min Typ Max Units Comment
f Frame Rate     55 fps with USB 2.0 Host
TREAD Frame Readout Time1   19   ms  

Sensor parameters

TA = 25°C

Symbol Parameter Si Units Comment
  Thickness 100 300 500 µm  
σ Energy resolution of energy discrimination threshold (σ @ 23 keV) 0.5 keV  
σ Energy resolution of energy discrimination threshold (σ @ 60 keV) 0.6 keV  
σ Energy resolution in full spectral mode (σ @ 23 keV) 0.7 keV  
σ Energy resolution in full spectral mode (σ @ 60 keV) 1.0 keV  
  Typical detectable energy range for X-rays 5 to 60 keV See chart below
  Pixel size 55 µm  

Modes of readout chip operation

Type Mode Precision Description
Frame (reading all pixels) Event 13bit/frame 1 output image: Number of Events per pixel
ToT 13bit/frame 1 output image: Sum of all Energies deposited in given pixel(Time Over Threshold)
ToA 13bit/frame 1 output image: Time of arrival of first event in given pixel

Device description

USB connector

USB type A, Standard USB 2.0 Full-Speed.

Mechanical dimensions

All dimensions are in mm.
* Sensitive surface distance from top of the box is for 300 µm sensor thickness.

1 During Readout time (or Dead time), no charge is collected from the sensor.

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