Prompt Dose Radiation Hardened Point-of-Load Power Converter

VPT proposes an innovative, point-of-load (POL) power converter that is immune to radiation effects, including prompt dose. This addresses the demanding low voltage, high current, power requirements of advanced data processing circuitry in MDA applications. VPT will build on its recently-introduced military thick-film hybrid DC-DC POL power converter. VPT will accomplish the radiation hardening by incorporating: (a) a radiation-hardened (RH) pulse-width-modulator integrated circuit (PWM-IC) for POL applications recently developed by Sandia National Laboratories, (b) recent radiation characterization of new low voltage power MOSFETs for POL applications, (c) RH-by-design techniques including MOSFET gate voltage control, latchup current limiting, and transient filtering. The proposed POL will be designed to VPT’s Mil-PRF-38534 Class K certified standards. In Phase I of the SBIR VPT will: (a) perform an electrical design of the RH-POL and build a breadboard, (b) perform a radiation analysis to determine the total dose, SEU, and prompt dose radiation capability of the RH-POL, (c) perform a mechanical design that can pass Mil-PRF-38534 requirements, and (d) perform a prompt dose Flash Xray test of the breadboard with aid from Lockheed Martin. The resulting RH-POL will have wide application in MDA and defense space missions where low voltage electronics are employed.