Microchip introduces COTS-based aerospace grade Radiation resistant Power converter

     As reliance on communications and weather satellites grows, the scope and mission of space research is expanding, and new technologies are needed to help accelerate the design and production of space systems. Microchip Technology announced the expansion of its SA50-120 power converter family with nine new products based on commercial-grade off-the-shelf technology (COTS) to provide developers with aerospace grade power converters to help minimize risk and development costs.

     Microchip's SA50-120 radiation-resistant DC-DC power converter is the only standard non-hybrid astronautic-grade DC-DC power converter on the market today and features a surface-mount component structure that can be flexibly customized to specific applications and requirements. The SA50-120 series is compliant with Mil-Std-461, Mil-Std-883, and Mil-Std-202 standards, enabling designers to rapidly scale development, reduce risk, and reduce development time, starting with proven COTS technologies.

     The SA50-120 power converter uses a 120V input and offers up to 56W output in low-end small solutions. These single-output and triple-output electromagnetic interference (EMI) compatible and radiation-resistant designs are ideal for space station and ORION program platforms. The new power converter uses a switching regulator and a peaking current mode controlled unidirectional converter topology with inherent single-event immunity. With a mean time to failure (MTBF) of 8 million hours and an efficiency of up to 87%, the SA50-120 is the highest among all space-grade DC-DC power converters with standard 120V inputs, maximising system performance and reliability. The new product meets 100 krad (Si) total ionization dose (TID) and single event effect (SEE) requirements greater than 80 MeV cm2/mg, and offers synchronization, transistor-transistor logic (TTL) on/off instruction signals and a variety of protection features. The single-output version also offers remote sensing, output voltage regulation, and parallel functions.

     "Microchip has been an aerospace technology partner for 30 years, successfully participating in more than 50 projects and platforms, and we continue to invest in developing the critical technologies needed for aerospace systems," said Leon Gross, vice president of Discrete Products at Microchip.

     Microchip's DC-DC power converter technology and ISO 9000 and AS9100 certified production facilities provide high quality units with flexible manufacturing options. In parallel with the introduction of new products based on COTS-based technology, Microchip is also working with system manufacturers and integrators on aging management, supporting customer efforts to reduce redesign efforts and extend life cycles, thereby reducing overall system costs.

     The DC-DC power converter complements Microchip's extensive portfolio of space products, including radiation-resistant and radiation-resistant field-programmable gate arrays (FPgas), single-chip computers (MCUS), microprocessors (MPUs), timing products, semiconductors, and point-of-load regulators, as well as high-reliability electromechanical, mission-critical, and space-grade relays. Provide designers with total system solutions for various applications.