Microchip Technology has announced the release of a new family of Radiation-Tolerant (RT) LE50-28 isolated DC-DC 50W power converters, aimed at meeting the growing demands of the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) market. With the increasing exploration of LEO by private and public entities for various applications such as 5G communication, cube satellites, and IoT, there is a need for reliable, cost-effective, and configurable space-grade solutions.
The LE50-28 power converters are available in nine variants with single- and triple-outputs, covering a voltage range from 3.3V to 28V. These off-the-shelf converters are designed to comply with MIL-STD-461 and come with a companion EMI filter. The flexibility of the LE50-28 series allows customers to choose the number of outputs based on their specific voltage requirements, providing ease of design scalability and customization. Up to four power converters can be paralleled to achieve a total power output of 200 Watts.
Specifically designed for 28V bus systems, the LE50-28 isolated DC-DC power converters can be integrated with Microchip's PolarFire FPGAs, microcontrollers, and LX7720-RT motor control sensors, enabling a complete electrical system solution. By using these high-reliability radiation-tolerant power converters, designers can significantly reduce the development time of their system-level applications.
According to Leon Gross, the vice president of Microchip's discrete products group, the LE50-28 devices are intended to enable customers to succeed in the challenging environments of new space and LEO, where components must withstand harsh conditions. Microchip's off-the-shelf products aim to provide a reliable and cost-effective solution that meets the durability expectations of customers.
The LE50-28 power converters offer various electrical connection and mounting options, with manufacturing utilizing conventional surface mount and thru-hole components on a printed wiring board. This manufacturing approach can help reduce time to market and mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruptions.
The LE50-28 family of power converters is designed to be space-grade radiation-tolerant, with a total ionizing dose (TID) capability of 50 Krad and Single Event Effects (SEE) latch-up immunity of 37 MeV·cm2/mg linear energy transfer.
Microchip aims to support the evolving space industry with a wide range of components, employing a sub-QML strategy that bridges the gap between traditional Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) components and Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. These sub-QML components are specifically designed for new space applications, offering radiation tolerance similar to QML components but with lower screening requirements, resulting in reduced costs and shorter lead times.
Microchip's extensive space solutions portfolio includes FPGAs, power and discrete devices, memory products, communication interfaces, oscillators, microprocessors (MPUs), and MCUs. The company offers options across different qualification levels and boasts the largest qualified plastic portfolio for space applications. For more information, interested parties can visit Microchip's space solutions webpage.
