Preparation of enabling space technologies and building blocks: Prototyping and initial evaluation of a monolithic, rad-hard, high-power POL converter

The subject of this activity was to do the detailed design of the integrated circuit, the development of the hermetic ceramic flatpack package, their manufacturing and the assembly of first prototypes. Furthermore the engineering models had to be validated by electrical characterization and application tests as well as by TID evaluation and SEE radiation testing. In total, TRL4 is achieved.

Background and justification: The power conditioning and distribution in newer space systems will be realized in a modern modular point-of-load (PoL) architecture. Here, the secondary power conditioning unit provides only a few intermediate voltage busses with significantly reduced accuracy for nearly all electronic power consumers in the payload or OBC. Due to strong demand for PoL devices with extended input and output voltage range and higher output current capability, the SPACE IC device SPPL14080RH shall be developed to the next TRL. Achievements and status: The detailed validation and characterization of the component during bench and application testing as well as the radiation testing demonstrated a good functionality and performance of the device. Following project goals were achieved successfully: •Performing detailed design and layout until GDS delivery (tape-out) •Manufacturing prototypes (package manufacturing, die manufacturing and assembly) •Availability of engineering models assembled in a ceramic power package •Electrically measuring the prototypes on bench and application test boards and evaluating the TID and SEE radiation performance Benefits: The SPPL14080RH component with a input voltage range up-to 40 V and an output current capability up-to 8 A can be implemented in a simplified bus system with just a few rails, which distributes the intermediate voltage to the payload modules. This allows a standardization of the power interface is possible, which enables every module to be supplied locally by small POL converters, serve to improve both energy and cost efficiency.