LUNAR® DPX-IQ Service Manual Rev.

E (3/98)

8.C The Dual Channel Analyzer (DCA)

Single Photon Transmission and Dual Photon Absorptiometry methods of BMC measurement
are employed in the scanner.

In addition to a charge sensitive pre-amp/amplifier, a Dual Channel Analyzer (DCA) is used.

The DCA acts as dual channel window comparator to detect and discriminate between the low
and high photon energy levels after the x-rays have passed through the body. Each channel of
the DCA is functionally identical, but employs different window settings to sense the two
different energy levels.

There are two DCA PCB's in the DPX-IQ. The AGSDCA and the DPXDCA. The AGSDCA is
used in conjunction with the Automatic Gain Stabilizer (AGS) PCB to control the AMPLIFY and
ATTENUATE function of the AGS. The DPXDCA discriminates and detects the photon energy
levels for the SBC, where the actual event counting takes place.

The two DCA's are NOT interchangeable, although they share the same part number (2640) as
ADJUSTABLE DCA PCB.

What to look for

On the DPX DCA:
• TP16: LOW CHANNEL COUNTS
• TP17: HIGH CHANNEL COUNTS

DCA Board 8C-1

LUNAR® DPX-IQ Service Manual Rev. E (3/98)

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8C-2 DCA Board