High power COTS LEDs reliability assessment for robotic applications
Programme
TDE
Programme Reference
T323-701ED
Prime Contractor
ALTER TECHNOLOGY TUV NORD S.A.
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
Spain
Objectives
Evaluate the performances and the failures modes of high power light-Emitting-Diodes (LEDs) encapsulated into organic glob-top
Description
LEDs have been used for years within space missions and are even offered as space qualified components. Those parts are packaged in very specific cases, providing a full hermeticity at few typical wavelengths and offering limited optical power. Such LEDs are used to convey a signal from electric to optical or for optical wavelength reference.
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To illuminate a scene at a 50 cm distance, none of the qualified components have sufficient power or spectral coverage..
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Nowadays, LEDs are baselined for use in a number of exploration missions for broadband illumination, where incandescent bulbs would have been used in the past, but LEDs are attractive also due to reduced size, weight and power consumption.
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Reconstructing a broadband illumination leads to select various wavelengths within the visible to near infrared spectra. The packaging of the selected designs is rather simple: the chip is attached to a ceramic substrate and encapsulated with a dome-shaped glob top made of an organic material. Such packaging provides both a first protection to the environment and a lens to narrow down the emitting angle.
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This material can be vulnerable both in space environment (radiation, vacuum, thermo-mechanical stresses). The impact of the on-ground period is also unknown, for instance many years storage in a humid environment of the clean room. This activity will enable space qualification and use of such components.
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This activity encompasses the following tasks
- selection and procurement of COTS LEDs packaged in open cavity, covering visible and near infrared wavelengths
- stress testing including humidity, radiation, vacuum, low temperature, regolith dust resistance as a minimum
- identification of the failure mode(s) after stress, and definition of the scope for application in space missions
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The remaining untested components would be delivered to ESA for use in space application if the design is found suitable.
Application Domain
EXP-Exploration
Technology Domain
23-Electrical, Electronic and Electro-mechanical (EEE) Components and Quality
Competence Domain
1-EEE Components, Photonics, MEMS
Keywords
1-Avionics and Processing
Initial TRL
TRL 3
Target TRL
TRL 4
Achieved TRL
TRL 4