Radiation Hardened Digital to Analog Converter

ABSTRACT:There is a need for a moderate resolution, high speed, radiation hardened (RH) Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) to support new satellite developments. Scientic proposes to develop a high speed, radiation-hardened DAC to be produced on-shore in a trusted semiconductor foundry to meet the data conversion needs of the US Air Force (AF) and other military and aerospace system developers. To accomplish this, Scientic has teamed with Honeywell Aerospace to define a state-of-the-art digital to analog conversion architecture to be implemented in an advanced technology at a trusted foundry. The DAC capabilities described in our proposal will provide direct and significant benefits to satellite communications and other space-borne applications by addressing their demanding requirements on performance, size, weight and power (SWaP). The operational parametric goals for our device are; 12 bit resolution, 2 GSPS sample rate, Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 70dB or better, and Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) of 80dB or better. The radiation-hardness goals for the DAC are; Total Ionizing Dose 1e6 rads(Si), Single-Event Upset 1e-10 err/bit-day, Single-Event Latchup = None, Dose-Rate Upset 1e10 rads(Si)/s, and Dose-Rate Survivability 1e12 rads(Si)/s. The DAC will balance the tradeoffs between speed, resolution, noise, and radiation hardness with SWaP reductions.BENEFIT:Successful completion of the three-phase efforts briefly outlined in this proposal will result in a fully qualified, radiation hardened 12 bit, 2GSPS DAC device to satisfy system needs for signal processing. Within the radiation hardened electronics user base, there is a ready market for technology innovations that offer advanced, capable, and reliable radiation hardened devices to address critical component requirements for a wide range of defense, aerospace, and space science applications. This device will have relevance to defense, aerospace, and space science markets with significance to satellite (including micro/nano-satellite), missile defense, and other strategic defense systems. Specific applications for this device will include navigation, communication, command and control, and data acquisition for defense and commercial satellites, other space flight systems, interceptors, and radar/antenna arrays. Scientics commercialization strategy seeks to leverage Honeywells unique marketplace knowledge, as well as their integration, fabrication, and distribution expertise to establish a market basis for development and fabrication of the proposed radiation hardened DAC. This approach has particular advantage with respect to, risk reduction, product financing, market penetration, market credibility, manufacturing, production, and distribution. Upon successful completion of this program, Honeywell will be the primary source of production for this device. Honeywell has the capacity to produce and deliver thousands of devices per year. Members of our team have successfully developed numerous advanced radiation hardened devices for space and strategic applications in the past, including a 12-bit, 20 MSPS ADC currently used to support Trident and multiple other programs, a 14-bit, 125MSPS ADC currently undergoing QML qualification, and a 10Gbps multi-protocol SerDes transceiver. Scientic personnel, along with our technology partners, have extensive experience in the DoD market area. This experience has been gained over many years while working at this and previous corporations, both large and small, bringing sophisticated technology to the defense marketplace. For example, working in close cooperation with organizations such as Honeywell Aerospace, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aeroflex, and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), we have developed and brought to market a number of radiation-hardened electronic devices. In addition Scientic personnel have established working relationships with defense component suppliers such as Kearfott for IMU technology and Rockwell Collins for missile defense interceptor communications applications.