Design considerations for pixel readout chips

Pixel detectors are becoming a standard tracking component in modern particle physics experiment and find first applications in X-ray diffraction, medical imaging and astronomy. The amplification and the readout of the small signal charges from the pixel sensor require highly integrated ASICs in which several thousand low-noise charge-sensitive amplifiers are densely interspersed with fast data-processing logic. The reduction of crosstalk from the digital to the analog section is therefore crucial. The frequent demand for radiation tolerance requires special chip technologies or the use of deep sub-micron processes with suited design rules. This paper summarizes a few designs aspects particularly important for pixel readout chips.