Ballistic Missile System Innovative Radiation Hardened/Tolerant Electronics Products

In this SBIR proposal, Orora Design Technologies (ODT) proposes toimprove radiation hardness of affordable mixed-signal processors throughdevelopment of VHDL-AMS behavioral modeling capability for the effectsof radiation. This innovative approach would provide simulation, analysis,and optimization of radiation performance, enabling evaluation of the degreeof radiation hardness/tolerance with respect to manufacturing variations priorto fabrication. The use of VHDL-AMS is compatible with current electricalsimulation, allowing for easy addition of radiation simulation in currentcommercial design flows. The methodology would be applicable to all designsfor radiation hard/tolerant circuits including ASICs, analog circuits, memories,microprocessors, and SOI circuits. The simulation/optimization capabilitywould decrease cycle time of mixed-signal processor design, thereby decreasingdevelopment cost and lowering design risk. It also would allow quantificationof methods and techniques to improve radiation hardness. This approach wouldalso improve product reliability and performance since problems could beidentified and manufacturing tolerances tested earlier in the productdevelopment cycle. Significantly lower development costs and cycle time by avoiding expensivecost overruns due to redesign and characterization cycles (potentially cut costs by1.5-3 times).Enable designers to quickly explore and access the effects of new process, circuit,and architecture techniques through simulation lowering risk of design failure andaiding in identification of low cost alternatives.Allow study of parametric effects for manufacturing robustness. This couldpotentially be done for existing designs in VHDL.Support simulation not just of blocks, but also complete systems and theirsensitivities to radiation-induced noise.Benefit not just one product design, but support DoD and commercial product developmentfor all classes of radiation hard/tolerant electronic systems for years to come.