Electronics Miniaturization with a System-on-a-Chip for Power Systems (PSOC)

This IRAD effort seeks to contribute in the research of alternatives to the reduction in volume of Power System Electronics (PSE) for the next generation of spacecraft avionics and instruments.  The proposal addresses an alternative to the control support area within the PSE by exploring applicable technologies to implement PSE functions in a System-on-a-Chip (SOC).  The results of this proposed first step is a definition of  the PSE candidate functions to implement in a SOC, an understanding of the feasible and available technologies to provide the desired functions and an outline of the cost and schedule associated with the design and implementation of such device.

The first year objective of this multi-year project is to develop a plan to assemble the common, essential monitoring and control functions required by spacecraft and instrument power systems and implement them in a semi-custom application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a Power System-on-a-Chip (PSOC). This approach promises at least 50% miniaturization of the presently used control circuits, to increase reliability and reduce development cost through re-use, and lower component count, while increasing robustness of spacecraft systems to extreme temperature and radiation environments.