Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions

The objective of this Phase II SBIR is to develop extreme environment hardened high-power switching vacuum transistors, based on InnoSys innovative micro-thermionic-vacuum (MTV) device technology. This patented, cutting edge technology is crucial for power supply designs including but not limited to switching and linear converters and regulators that support the operation of electronic systems necessary to survive and operate through exposure to extreme temperature, radiation, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) environments encountered in high altitudes, space, nuclear facilities, etc. as well as man-made events including those due to or related to bad actor scenarios. To accomplish this, in Phase II we will develop extreme environment insensitive high-power switching vacuum transistors based on MTV device technology that has current successful commercial applications in down hole, geothermal, space, nuclear facilities and reactors, etc. Air Force specific design and manufacturing processes will first be developed. Environmental testing to include single event effects (SEE), EMP, shock and vibration will then be conducted on the manufactured extreme environment insensitive high-power switching vacuum transistors. Reliability; mean time to failure; part lifetime; aging; failure mechanisms; lot-to-lot variation; quality control; surveillance testing of fielded components for the extreme environment high-power switching vacuum transistors will all be studied carefully.