Miniaturised core element for Point of Load (PoL) conversion

Design, development, manufacturing and test of a core for PoL converters to be used in a distributed power conversion scheme (Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or advanced, low-cost and reliable hybrid technology).Note that the PoL converter core is the part of the DC/DC converter that do not contain the required magnetic elements and the input/output capacitance.

The need of integrated PoL conversion solution is linked with the appearance of advanced digital technologies, to be used in all ESA and non-ESA space programs. Note that PoL converters might become the ONLY feasible/efficient power supply solution for all equipments provided with advanced digital technologies (memories, programmable gate arrays, processors, line drivers and receivers), due to the relevant static and dynamic accuracies and noise requirements over very low supply voltages (down to 1.8V or less, one notable example being the sub-micron 65nm technologies for which voltages as low as 1.2V are foreseen).Additionally, point of load conversion architecture might allow quick and economic implementation of any secondary power distribution needs (within usual voltage and currents required for generic platform or payload users), with clear benefits on overall reliability.The activity shall entail 1. the evaluation of the promising, in-house, available, reliability-proven technologies to realise a radiation hardened Point of Load (PoL) conversion core (note that technology qualification is excluded from the activity);2. the selection and the robustness of the technology to meet space environment (especially Total Ionizing Dose (TiD) and Single Event Effects (SEE));3. the design, development, manufacturing and test of the core for PoL conversion.The deliverables of the activity shall be:- A prototype of the PoL converter core (in integrated form);- Preliminary analyses (application notes, Worst Case Analysis, Parts Stress Analysis, Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis , Thermal and Mechanical analyses, Reliability analysis, Radiation analyses - TiD/SEE - ) for the final qualified product(s)- Technical specification to identify the application corners of the final product(s)- Evaluation and qualification plan for following qualification phase