Microchip Announces Aerospace-Grade Radiation Hardened Power Converters Based on COTS

     With increasing reliance on communications and weather satellites, the scope and mission of space research continues to expand, and new technologies are needed to help accelerate the design and production of space systems. Microchip Technology Inc. announced the expansion of the SA50-120 power converter family lineup with nine new products based on commercial-grade off-the-shelf technology (COTS), providing developers with aerospace-grade power converters that help maximize the Minimize risk and development costs.

     Microchip's SA50-120 Radiation Hardened DC-DC Power Converters are the only standard non-hybrid aerospace-grade DC-DC power converters on the market today, featuring surface mount component construction that can be flexibly customized for specific applications and requirements. The SA50-120 series is Mil-Std-461, Mil-Std-883 and Mil-Std-202 compliant, enabling designers to rapidly scale up development, reduce risk and shorten development time, starting with proven COTS technology.

     The SA50-120 power converter takes 120V input and provides up to 56W output in a low end small form factor solution. These electromagnetic interference (EMI) compatible and radiation hardened designs with single and triple outputs are ideal for space station and ORION program platforms. The newly introduced power converters use switching regulators, single-ended forward converter topologies with peak current mode control, and inherent single-event immunity. The SA50-120 features 8 million hours mean time between failures (MTBF) and up to 87% efficiency, the highest of all aerospace-grade DC-DC power converters with standard 120V input, maximizing system performance and reliability. The new product meets the requirements for a total ionizing dose (TID) of 100 krad (Si) and a single event effect (SEE) greater than 80 MeV cm2/mg and provides synchronous, transistor-transistor logic (TTL) on/off command signals and various Protective function. The single output version also offers remote sensing, output voltage regulation and paralleling capabilities.

     "Microchip has been an aerospace technology partner for 30 years and has successfully participated in more than 50 projects and platforms, and we will continue to invest in the key technologies needed to develop aerospace systems," said Leon Gross, vice president of Microchip's Discrete Products Group.

     Microchip's DC-DC power converter technology and ISO 9000 and AS9100 certified production facilities provide high quality units as well as flexible manufacturing options. While introducing new products based on COTS technology, Microchip also works with system manufacturers and integrators on burn-in management, supporting customers in their efforts to reduce redesign efforts and extend life cycles, thereby reducing overall system costs.

     This DC-DC power converter complements Microchip's extensive space product portfolio, including radiation-hardened and radiation-hardened Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Microcontrollers (MCUs), Microprocessors (MPUs), timing products, semiconductors and Point-of-load regulators, as well as high-reliability electromechanical, mission-critical, and aerospace-grade relays, provide designers with total system solutions for a variety of applications.