Artifex Gated Amplifier GIA100 measures the energy of individual optical pulses, when paired with a photodiode.
The design of our GIA100 Boxcar Integrator results in very low leakage error, charge injection error and pickup.
The precision input stage may be configured for current or voltage inputs.
Overview
The GIA100 Gated Integrator is a precision boxcar integrator and gated averager designed for time-resolved signal measurement. When used with a photodiode or other fast detector, the instrument enables accurate measurement of the energy of single optical pulses, even in very noisy environments.
By integrating the input signal only during a defined time window, the GIA100 extracts weak signals that would otherwise be buried in noise. This makes the device ideal for laser pulse measurements, photodiode signal processing, and time-domain experiments.
The output voltage is directly proportional to the integrated input signal during the gate period, enabling simple digitization using an external A/D converter or data acquisition system.
The GIA100 enables time-resolved measurement of current, voltage, energy, and optical power.
Why Use a Boxcar Integrator?
A boxcar integrator measures the integral of a signal during a precisely defined time window. This technique allows extremely small signals to be detected even in the presence of large amounts of noise.
By synchronizing the integration gate with a repeating signal such as a laser pulse, the GIA100 extracts the relevant signal portion while rejecting noise outside the gate window.
This method significantly improves measurement sensitivity in applications such as:
Key Features
The GIA100 boxcar integrator uses dual monolithic switched integrators to provide stable and repeatable gated integration.
Key design advantages include:
The precision front-end can be configured for current inputs (e.g., photodiodes) or voltage signals, allowing flexible integration into measurement systems.
The device is engineered and manufactured in Germany and provides a cost-efficient solution for high-quality boxcar averaging without compromising performance.
How the GIA100 Works
The GIA100 integrates the input signal only during a precisely defined gate window.
Between gate pulses, the output remains constant, allowing sufficient time for accurate measurement using a data acquisition card or A/D converter.
This technique is commonly known as boxcar averaging, and it significantly improves measurement sensitivity by rejecting noise outside the gate window.
Applications
The GIA100 gated integrator is widely used in:
The design is inherently resistant to electromagnetic interference, making the instrument well suited for operation in industrial environments with high electrical noise.
Mechanical Integration
The enclosure includes integrated mounting wings compatible with:
Optional 19-inch rack mounting is also available for laboratory or industrial installations.
| Parameter | Current Input | Voltage Input | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input | ||||
| Range (Min=noise equivalent input, Max=full scale) | 1nA – 100µA | 10µV – 1V | ||
| Connectors | BNC or BR2 (Adapters for other connector systems available) | BNC or BR2 (Adapters for other connector systems available) | ||
| Output | ||||
| Range (full scale) | 10V (Max) | 10V (Max) | ||
| Function | Linear analogue : Vout = factorscale ⁄ 100 pF ∫ Iin dt | Linear analogue : Vout = faktorscale ⁄ 1µs ∫ Vin dt | ||
| Output scale | 0.1, 1, 10 | 0.1, 1, 10 | ||
| Connectors | BNC and DB9 (Adapters for other connector systems available) | BNC and DB9 (Adapters for other connector systems available) | ||
| Max. repetition rate | 285 kHz | 285 kHz | ||
| Accuracy | ± 3% (min) | ± 3% (min) | ||
| Linearity | ± 0,1% FSR (max) | ± 0,1% FSR (max) | ||
| Output impedance | 1 Ω (max) | 1 Ω (max) | ||
| Logic | ||||
| Switching time (integrate, hold, reset, gain) | 1 µs (max) | 1 µs (max) | ||
| Power supply | ||||
| Type | Wall plug (supplied) | Wall plug (supplied) | ||
| Dimensions | 30 mm x 50 mm x 60 mm | 30 mm x 50 mm x 60 mm | ||
| Dimensions | ||||
| 2 channels | 130 mm x 66 mm x 120 mm (w x h x l) | 130 mm x 66 mm x 120 mm (w x h x l) | ||
| 4 channels | 130 mm x 106 mm x 120 mm (w x h x l) | 130 mm x 106 mm x 120 mm (w x h x l) | ||
| > 4 channels | 19″-rack, 3U | 19″-rack, 3U | ||
| Pin | Function | Pin | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gain Channel 1, MSB4 | 20 | Gain Channel 3, MSB |
| 2 | Gain Channel 1, LSB5 | 21 | Gain Channel 3, LSB |
| 3 | I/H Channel 1 | 22 | I/H Channel 3 |
| 4 | RST Channel 1 | 23 | RST Channel 3 |
| 5 | AGND6 | 24 | AGND |
| 6 | AGND | 25 | AGND |
| 7 | AGND | 26 | AGND |
| 8 | DGND7 | 27 | DGND |
| 9 | RST Channel 2 | 28 | RST Channel 4 |
| 10 | I/H Channel 2 | 29 | I/H Channel 4 |
| 11 | Gain Channel 2, MSB | 30 | Gain Channel 4, MSB |
| 12 | Gain Channel 2, LSB | 31 | Gain Channel 4, LSB |
| 13 | AGND | 32 | AGND |
| 14 | AGND | 33 | Output Channel 4 |
| 15 | Output Channel 1 | 34 | AGND |
| 16 | Power On Indicator (+5V) | 35 | AGND |
| 17 | Output Channel 1 | 36 | Output Channel 3 |
| 18 | AGND | 37 | AGND |
| 19 | Power On Indicator (+5V) |
General Operation
What is the GIA100 used for?
The GIA100 is a gated integrator and boxcar averager designed for precise measurement of weak or time-resolved signals. It allows users to isolate a specific time window in a signal and integrate the signal energy within that window, improving signal-to-noise ratio in pulsed experiments.
The instrument is commonly used in:
What types of detectors can it work with?
Typical detectors include: Photodiodes, Avalanche photodiodes, Optical receiver modules
Is it suitable for research applications?
It is commonly used in photonics R&D environments.
Can the GIA100 be integrated into automated experiments?
The instrument can be integrated into automated environments for repeated experiments and data acquisition. An OEM format is available upon request.
What is a gated Integrator?
A gated integrator measures the integral of a signal within a defined time window (gate). The gate opens only for a short duration after a trigger event, allowing the system to measure a specific portion of a signal.
This technique is commonly used for time-resolved measurements where signals occur only during short pulses.
What is a boxcar averager?
A boxcar averager samples a signal within a short time window synchronized to a trigger event and averages the result over many cycles. This significantly improves the ability to detect weak signals buried in noise.
What is the difference between a gated integrator and a boxcar averager?
Both techniques measure signals within a defined time window.
Gated integrator: integrates the signal in a single time window
Boxcar averager: averages many gated measurements to reduce noise
The GIA100 performs both functions, making it suitable for sensitive pulsed measurements.
Measurement FAQs
What types of signals can the GIA100 measure?
The GIA100 can measure signals from: photodiodes, photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), avalanche photodiodes, transimpedance amplifiers, other analog voltage sources
What triggers the gate in the GIA100?
The gate is typically triggered by: laser trigger signals, external experiment triggers, pulse generators, timing controllers.
The trigger ensures the integration window aligns with the signal of interest.
What is the gate width?
The gate width defines how long the integrator measures the signal.
Typical gate widths range from nanoseconds to microseconds, depending on the configuration and experimental setup.
Shorter gate widths allow precise time-resolved measurements.
What is gate delay?
The gate delay is the time between the trigger signal and the opening of the measurement gate.
Adjusting the delay allows users to sample different parts of a signal waveform, such as: early fluorescence, delayed emission, background signals
How does boxcar averaging improve signal-to-noise ratio?
Noise is typically random, while the signal occurs at the same time relative to the trigger.
By averaging multiple gated measurements: random noise cancels out, the signal becomes more visible
Signal-to-noise ratio improves approximately with the square root of the number of averages.
Does the GIA100 integrate voltage or current?
The GIA100 is available in both a current input and a voltage input configuration.
How do I find the correct gate timing?
The typical procedure is:
This allows precise alignment with the signal of interest
Troubleshooting
Why am I not seeing a signal?
Possible causes include:
Adjusting the gate delay is often the first step.
Why is my signal noisy?
Common causes include: insufficient averaging, electromagnetic interference, poor shielding, unstable trigger signals
Why is the signal saturating?
Possible causes include: input signal too large, amplifier gain too high, incorrect detector configuration.
Reducing signal amplitude or gain can resolve this.
How do I connect a photodiode to the TZA?
The photodiode is connected to the input connector, typically via coaxial or specialized detector input.
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