As reliance on communication and weather satellites grows and space research expands in scope and mission, new technology is required to help speed spaceflight system design and production.

Microchip Technology has announced the expansion of its SA50-120 power converter family with nine new units based on its COTS technology. This technology provides developers with space-qualified power converters that help to minimise risk and lower development costs.

Microchip’s SA50-120 radiation-hardened DC to DC power converters – said to be the only standard non-hybrid space-grade DC-DC power converters available – utilise surface mount component construction, allowing flexibility and customisation to fit specific applications and requirements. The SA50-120 family, qualified to Mil-Std-461, Mil-Std-883 and Mil-Std-202, enables designers to start with proven COTS technology and quickly scale up development, reducing risk and development time.

SA50-120 power converters utilise 120V input and offer up to 56W of output in a low profile, small-sized solution. These EMI compliant and radiation-hardened designs with single and triple outputs are ideal for Space Station and ORION programme platforms. The units employ switching regulators that use peak current mode controlled single-ended forward converter topology with inherent single-event immunity.

Offering eight million hours Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and up to 87% efficiency – the highest of any standard 120V input space-grade DC-DC power converter, the SA50-120 maximises system performance and reliability. The units are qualified to 100 krad (Si) Total Ionisation Dose (TID) and Single Event Effects (SEE) greater than 80 MeV cm²/mg, and offer synchronisation, a Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) on/off command signal, and various protection features. Single output versions additionally offer remote sense, output voltage adjust and parallel connection functions.

“Microchip’s 30-year legacy as a space technology partner spans more than 50 successful programmes and platforms,” said Leon Gross, vice-president of Microchip’s Discrete Products Group business unit. “We continue to invest in the development of critical technology required for spaceflight.”

Microchip’s SA50-120S units are available in 3.3V, 5V, 12V, 15V and 28V outputs. SA50-120T units are available in 3.3V or 5V main output with 12V or 15V auxiliary outputs. These radiation-hardened units are available now for volume production and limited sampling.

www.microchip.com

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