  In this paper, different Silicon PhotoMultiplier (SiPM) sensors have been
tested with charged particles to characterize the Cherenkov light produced in
the sensor protection layer. A careful position scan of the SiPM response has
been performed with different prototypes, confirming the large number of firing
cells and proving almost full efficiency, with the SiPM filling factor
essentially negligible. This study also allowed us to study the time resolution
of such devices as a function of the number of firing cells, reaching values
below 20 ps. These measurements provide significant insight into the
capabilities of SiPM sensors in direct detection of charged particles and their
potential for several applications.
