In this SBIR, VPT has proposed a point-of-load (POL) power converter that is immune to radiation effects, including total dose, prompt dose, and SEU. Such a RH-POL converter addresses the demanding low voltage, high current, power requirements of advanced data processing circuitry in MDA applications. In Phase I, VPT built on its recently-introduced military thick-film hybrid DC-DC POL power converter to implement a design suitable for radiation hardened applications by incorporating: (a) a radiation-hardened (RH) pulse-width-modulator integrated circuit (PWM-IC) for POL applications recently developed by Sandia National Laboratories, (b) radiation characterization of low voltage power MOSFETs for POL applications, (c) RH-by-design techniques including MOSFET gate voltage control, latchup current limiting, and transient filtering. The RH-POL converter developed in this SBIR is designed to VPTs Mil-PRF-38534 Class K certified standards. The resulting RH-POL will have wide application in MDA and defense space missions where low voltage electronics are employed.
Keywords: Dc-Dc Power Converter, Point-Of-Load, Synchronous Buck, Radiation Hard By Design
