Improving Radiation Tolerance of COTS-Based Systems With Fast Nuclear Event Detection and Circumvention System

Nu-Trek will develop a prototype monolithic nuclear event detector, “Nu-Det”. The key innovation is the Built-In-Test (BIT) capability. The BIT enables: (1) Verification of functionality of the transistors in the transistor bank; and (2) Verification of radiation “trip” threashold. Since the base-collector junction is all that is required for radiation detection, functionality is a 100% test. This significantly reduces calibration costs, as once a sample lot has been calibrated, the BIT will pick up any deviations and malfunctions in the silicon. In contrast, in present detectors (such as Maxwell’s HSN-3000) an LED is used for operational checkout. Not only is calibration required prior to instillation, the detector is also periodically removed from the missile for re-calibration. In Phase II, Nu-Trek’s Phase I design will be reduced to Si using the Ti BiCom and the BIT will be demonstrated experimentally. It is expected that the prototype Nu-Det will be enhanced, customized, qualified, and used by MDA Systems to initiate circumvention. Letters of endorsement have been received from THAAD (Honeywell and BAE Systems), MKV (Lockheed-Martin), and GBI (Boeing and GBI Program Office).