Low-Orbit Satellites Carry On Board Hardened Politics Transformers
STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader, has announced the launch of the LEOPOL1, a radiation-hardened point-of-load (POL) step-down converter designed specifically for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite deployments. This innovative device targets the growing New Space market.
The LEOPOL1 is built with radiation hardness in mind, making it suitable for space environments. It can withstand a total ionizing dose (TID) of 50 krad(Si), demonstrating its resistance to cumulative radiation damage over time in orbit. Furthermore, it can tolerate a total non-ionizing dose (TNID) of approximately 3 × 10^11 protons/cm², protecting the device from displacement damage caused by high-energy particles.
Robust protection against single-event effects (SEE) is another key feature of the LEOPOL1. SEEs, caused by energetic particles, are critical to ensure reliable operation of satellites subjected to cosmic radiation. The LEOPOL1's SEE performance is characterized up to 62 MeV.cm/mg.
The LEOPOL1 adopts a POL step-down converter topology, providing regulated power conversion directly at spacecraft subsystems for optimized efficiency and reduced system complexity. It is tailored for the New Space sector, addressing the unique demands of LEO satellite equipment developers, focusing on size, power efficiency, and radiation resilience.
The LEOPOL1 leverages ST's space-proven BCD6-SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology. It is delivered with a Certificate of Conformance (CoC) and has demonstrated 5 A at 6 V at radiation levels of 62 MeV.cm/mg.
The device offers extended flexible features including out-of-phase current sharing, allowing for multiplying the current to the load with multiple LEOPOL1 converters working in parallel. It is currently in production and available in 31-piece tubes, 250-piece tape-and-reel, and 7-piece tape sticks for samples.
The LEOPOL1 converter is part of STMicroelectronics' LEO series of power, analog, and logic ICs, which includes logic gates and buffers, an LVDS transceiver, an 8-channel, 12-bit ADC, and a low-dropout regulator (LDO).
The LEOPOL1 converter is designed for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) deployments and supports synchronization, allowing for easy sequencing to power-up equipment with multiple voltage rails. This combination of radiation hardness and power conversion efficiency makes the LEOPOL1 a reliable choice for powering electronics in challenging LEO orbital conditions, complying with the requirements of safety-critical space systems.
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The LEOPOL1, designed for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite deployments, is not only a radiation-hardened POL step-down converter but also a testament to the intersection of science and space-and-astronomy, as it withstands extreme radiation conditions in space. Its advanced technology allows it to tolerate high levels of radiation and single-event effects, making it a crucial component in the growing New Space market.
