NASA SBIR 2019-I Solicitation

Proposal Summary

PROPOSAL NUMBER:
 19-1- Z8.03-2466
SUBTOPIC TITLE:
 Low Cost Radiation Hardened Integrated Circuit Technology
PROPOSAL TITLE:
 Radiation-Hardened Latch-Up Monitor IC
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Silicon Space Technology Corporation
1501 South MoPac Expressway, Suite 350
Austin, TX 78746- 6966
(512) 347-1800

Principal Investigator (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)

Name:
Ross Bannatyne
E-mail:
rbannatyne@voragotech.com
Address:
1501 South MoPac Expressway, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78746 - 6966
Phone:
(512) 550-2954

Business Official (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)

Name:
Ross Bannatyne
E-mail:
rbannatyne@voragotech.com
Address:
1501 South MoPac Expressway, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78746 - 6966
Phone:
(512) 550-2954
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :
Begin: 2
End: 3
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)

Designers of electronic circuits that are used in radiation environments are concerned about ICs latching-up due to particle strikes. If a CMOS Integrated Circuit (IC) latches-up, it can often be recovered if it is reset quickly. To protect space electronic circuits from latch-up problems, a radiation-hardened Latch-up Monitor IC is required to determine when any IC on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) latches-up and to reset that IC. 

 

There is an extremely limited range of solutions available to solve the latch-up problem today. We found only one radiation-tolerant latch-up current limiter device available from 3DPlus that is in a 15mm x 15mm x 12mm cube-like package and has a limited specification. It can monitor only four channels. There are also commercial current-limiting power distribution switches that are themselves susceptible to latching-up. An example of the latter is the Micrel MIC20XX that has been used in low-cost CubeSats.

 

VORAGO Technologies propose to develop a radiation-hardened latch-up monitor IC. VORAGO Technologies has developed Intellectual Property (IP) blocks for an 8-channel analog-to-digital converter and a SPI interface that can be used as a base to design a radiation-hardened latch-up monitor IC. The device will be hardened using VORAGO’s HARDSIL® technology.

 

We propose to implement this device in a 48 pin QFP package and will have the following characteristics

  • A single chip solution that can detect latch-up in up to eight separate ICs
  • Programmable trigger levels can be set for each of the ICs that are to be protected from latch-up
  • Eight independent alert outputs that can be connected to the RESET inputs of the monitored ICs
  • Small package footprint
  • Low power consumption
  • Under-voltage and over-voltage protection on-chip
  • Integrated temperature sensor with programmable automatic IC shutdown for over-temperature and over-temperature output 
Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

This proposal addresses NASA’s requirement for state-of-the-art IC solutions that are cost-effective enough to be used in small spacecraft with a limited budget but with radiation performance that is suitable for longer missions and beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Today NASA uses some COTS-based solutions that have required functionality but there is no radiation hardened capability. An example would be Graphic Processor Units. These devices require robust latch-up monitoring and protection. The proposed IC offers this solution to NASA.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)

Commercial aerospace companies have the same problem as NASA. Sometimes they have no option but to use COTS devices that are susceptible to space radiation effects and need to protect them. As well as being suitable for small spacecraft longer missions and beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the proposed device will be suitable for use in electronics exposed to GEO, Cislunar and deep space missions.

Duration: 6
Form Generated on 06/16/2019 23:17:27