Widepix
Advacam’s Industrial WidePIX 5X5 consists of 5×5 Timepix tiles. Each Timepix tile consists of an edge-less silicon sensor. The edge-less sensor technology allows placing all tiles together from all sides, leaving no rifts. Thus the whole imaging area of the camera is fully sensitive to the radiation and does not have any gaps between the tiles in the image. The camera is made robust to address industrial users.
The large area of WidePIX 5×5 with resolution of 1280 x 1280 pixels i.e. 1.63Mpixels and continuously sensitive surface is composed of a row of detector tiles. Each tile consists of a single Timepix hybrid detector (256 x 256 pixels) with an edgeless silicon or CdTe sensor. The minimum detectable energy is typically 5 keV in case of X-ray photons. The intrinsic spatial resolution of the camera is defined by pixel size which is 55 µm for Advacam’s WidePIX 5X5. The pixels situated on the border of tiles are 2.5 times bigger in one direction, while the corner pixels of tiles are 2.5 times larger in both directions.
Each pixel has integrated digital counter that counts number of particles e.g. X-ray photons. The particle counting principle assures a noiseless detection with no additional noise due to image integration or readout. The noiseless detection allows getting X- ray images with very high contrast and broad dynamic range. Therefore, even structure of low attenuating objects, such as plastic or soft tissue, is imaged with a high contrast. The Timepix technology allows setting of energy discrimination threshold. This feature allows obtaining multi-energy-channel “color” radiographs where different materials are identified and imaged in colors (similar to color photography). The minimum energy threshold is typically better than 5 keV.
The camera is connected to the computer via USB 2.0 interface with readout time of 0.65 seconds/ frame. The thermal stabilization of the camera is taken care by an active water cooling system with chiller. The power consumption is 25 W.
Device parameters
Symbol | Parameter | Min | Typ | Max | Units | Comment |
TA | Ambient Temperature Range | 0 | 30 | 40 | °C | Max with heat sink |
Φ | Humidity | 60 | % | Not condensing | ||
IP Code | IP50 |
TA = 25°C, USB voltage VCC = 24V
Symbol | Parameter | WidePIX 5×5 | Units | Comment |
VCC | Supply Voltage | 20/24/26 | V | Min/Typ /Max |
ICC | Supply Current (VCC = 24V) | 1000 | mA | Typ |
P | Power Dissipation | 26 | W | Max |
Sensitive Area | 71.5 x 71.5 | mm | ||
Detector Resolution | 1280 x 1280 | Pixels | ||
Frame Rate | 5 | fps | ||
Readout Time | 200 | ms | ||
Weight | 3300 | g |
TA = 25°C
Symbol | Parameter | Si | CdTe | Units | Comment | ||
Thickness | 100 | 300 | 1000 | 1000 | µm | ||
Bias Voltage | 50 | 200 | 500 | -500 | V | Max | |
Calibrated in X-ray Energy Range | yes | yes | yes | yes | keV | See chart below | |
Energy resolution (σ @ 23 keV) | 0.5 | 1.1 | keV | ||||
Detectable energy range | 5 to 60 | 5 to 600 | keV |
Main power supply (via standard M8 connector with 3 female contacts). Connect after plugging USB connector.
USB type mini B, Standard USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, In IP68 protection.
Connector Two 4-pin M8 connectors (female for outputs and male for input) serve as synchronization interface, allowing to synchronize WIDEPIX5×5 detector with external processes. Four signals are available:
All signals are TTL compatible and 5V tolerant. For detailed description see Synchronization Guide.
Sync. Outputs (M8-4 Female) | Sync. Inputs (M8-4 Male) | ||
Pin | Signal | Pin | Signal |
1 | Gnd | 1 | Gnd |
2 | Ready out | 2 | Ready out |
3 | Trigger out | 3 | Trigger out |
4 | Reserved | 4 | Reserved |
It is mandatory to cool down detector when in operation. WIDEPIX5×5 uses water connectors that allow for quick disconnection/reconnection. Mating connector is included as standard accessories and has to be attached to 4x6mm plastic hose.
![]() |
All dimensions are in mm. |
© Hawkeye Spectral Imaging, LLC. All rights reserved.