2507531
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: High-precision timing devices for research and industry
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing timing devices with increased performance and capability.
These timing devices, capable of picosecond accuracy (a trillionth of a second), enable nuclear physics research, light detection and ranging, and medical imaging.
This project will develop a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with unique features and the capability to operate in harsh environments.
A TDC is an electronic device that measures time intervals with extremely high precision and converts the measured time into a digital value.
TDCs are widely used in applications requiring precise timing, such as LIDAR, high-energy physics, medical imaging, and communications.
The market opportunities and the competitive advantage are secured through an architecture that overcomes the limitations of current TDC implementations.
The developed TDCs will be semiconductor chip based that will be fabricated domestically and introduced to three primary markets: nuclear physics, spacecraft instrumentation, and medical imaging devices.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a high-availability TDC that features zero dead-time, unlimited multi-hits, picosecond accuracy, and a dedicated calibration circuit.
A proof-of-concept already exists, and a prototype application-specific integrated circuit is ready for fabrication.
Phase I addresses research and development of hardware and software and overall robustness to withstand high radiation and cryogenic temperatures.
This will be achieved through an iterative design methodology between logic design, transistor design, and transistor layout, each in their respective software environment.
At the conclusion to Phase I, the primary goal is to have a second prototype ready to send to a chip fabrication facility.
This prototype will include new features of the design, as well as radiation hardening.
The radiation hardening will allow the prototype to operate in a more extreme environment, dictated by the operational constraints of the end users.
The secondary goal will analyze the extreme temperature and radiation environments of the particle physics community and determine if and how to migrate the design to a chip fabrication process that includes radiation hardening and cryogenic models for a potential Phase II follow on.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing timing devices with increased performance and capability.
These timing devices, capable of picosecond accuracy (a trillionth of a second), enable nuclear physics research, light detection and ranging, and medical imaging.
This project will develop a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with unique features and the capability to operate in harsh environments.
A TDC is an electronic device that measures time intervals with extremely high precision and converts the measured time into a digital value.
TDCs are widely used in applications requiring precise timing, such as LIDAR, high-energy physics, medical imaging, and communications.
The market opportunities and the competitive advantage are secured through an architecture that overcomes the limitations of current TDC implementations.
The developed TDCs will be semiconductor chip based that will be fabricated domestically and introduced to three primary markets: nuclear physics, spacecraft instrumentation, and medical imaging devices.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a high-availability TDC that features zero dead-time, unlimited multi-hits, picosecond accuracy, and a dedicated calibration circuit.
A proof-of-concept already exists, and a prototype application-specific integrated circuit is ready for fabrication.
Phase I addresses research and development of hardware and software and overall robustness to withstand high radiation and cryogenic temperatures.
This will be achieved through an iterative design methodology between logic design, transistor design, and transistor layout, each in their respective software environment.
At the conclusion to Phase I, the primary goal is to have a second prototype ready to send to a chip fabrication facility.
This prototype will include new features of the design, as well as radiation hardening.
The radiation hardening will allow the prototype to operate in a more extreme environment, dictated by the operational constraints of the end users.
The secondary goal will analyze the extreme temperature and radiation environments of the particle physics community and determine if and how to migrate the design to a chip fabrication process that includes radiation hardening and cryogenic models for a potential Phase II follow on.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH / SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PHASE I PROGRAMS", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF24579
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Silver Spring,
Maryland
20910-4971
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Main Engineering was awarded
Project Grant 2507531
worth $305,000
from National Science Foundation in April 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Silver Spring Maryland United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year 2 months and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: High-Precision Timing Devices for Research and Industry
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in developing timing devices with increased performance and capability. These timing devices, capable of picosecond accuracy (a trillionth of a second), enable nuclear physics research, light detection and ranging, and medical imaging. This project will develop a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with unique features and the capability to operate in harsh environments. A TDC is an electronic device that measures time intervals with extremely high precision and converts the measured time into a digital value. TDCs are widely used in applications requiring precise timing, such as LIDAR, high-energy physics, medical imaging, and communications. The market opportunities and the competitive advantage are secured through an architecture that overcomes the limitations of current TDC implementations. The developed TDCs will be semiconductor chip based that will be fabricated domestically and introduced to three primary markets: nuclear physics, spacecraft instrumentation, and medical imaging devices.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a high-availability TDC that features zero dead-time, unlimited multi-hits, picosecond accuracy, and a dedicated calibration circuit. A proof-of-concept already exists, and a prototype application-specific integrated circuit is ready for fabrication. Phase I addresses research and development of hardware and software and overall robustness to withstand high radiation and cryogenic temperatures. This will be achieved through an iterative design methodology between logic design, transistor design, and transistor layout, each in their respective software environment. At the conclusion to Phase I, the primary goal is to have a second prototype ready to send to a chip fabrication facility. This prototype will include new features of the design, as well as radiation hardening. The radiation hardening will all
Topic Code
S
Solicitation Number
NSF 24-579
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 4/4/25
Period of Performance
4/1/25
Start Date
6/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$305.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$305.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2507531
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
GSX3L6CQDVR4
Awardee CAGE
9SB19
Performance District
MD-08
Senators
Benjamin Cardin
Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
Modified: 4/4/25