Abstract: A sensor for a coincidence radiation detection device comprises a photomultiplier device to receive incident optical pulses of photons from an associated scintillator device and responsively generate an input electrical signal having corresponding electrical pulses. A charge sensitive amplifier receives the input electrical signal and outputs an electrical signal. An edge-peak detector circuit detects a fast rising edge of the electrical pulses; a beginning of a trailing edge of the electrical pulses; and a peak value of the electrical pulses. A local microcontroller includes: a timing circuit to generate timestamp values for detected pulses in response to a detected pulse edge and to synchronise the timestamp values with a reference clock signal to generate timestamp values for the pulses; an analog to digital converter to record pulse height values of the electrical pulses; and a communications interface to communicate the timestamp values and pulse height values to a memory device.

Abstract: A pulse detection circuit configured to detect peak pulse values from pulses contained in an input analog signal includes a control circuit to generate a peak control signal based on input from a microcontroller and/or a peak detector, and a peak track/hold circuit to produce an output peak analog signal responsive to the input analog signal and peak control signal. The peak track/hold circuit includes a peak-detect operational amplifier having first and second input terminals to receive the input analog signal and the peak control signal respectively, and a peak-hold capacitor connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The pulse detection circuit includes an analog to digital converter to produce an output peak digital signal from the output peak analog signal. The peak track/hold circuit switches from a tracking mode to a hold mode upon the arrival of the peak control signal generated from the control circuit.