Extreme Environment Power Electronic Building Block (EE-PEBB) devices are applicable to deep space applications such as orbiters, landers, Heliophysics and earth observation platforms. QorTek's new integrated sensing EE-PEBB devices are also an ideal solution for NASA missions such as inter-planetary probes, outer planetary exploration and deep space probes for use potentially down to cryogenic temperatures, as well as high temperatures Venus Integrated Weather Sensor (VIWS) or high radiation environment Van Allen belts or Europa. The planned design incorporates packaging in a modular formfactor that lends itself to new and existing platforms with seamless integration. The inherently radhard nature of the sensors and WBG switches introduces further advantages for such missions, as they will reduce risks associated with harsh space environment installations. It would directly impact the ability to reduce the requirements for radioisotope heating units (RHUs) to maintain higher operating temperatures of the electronics and radiation shielding for the current technology.
Applications include ruggedized, high-temperature switching devices for electric vehicle (EV) applications and high temperature sustainable power electronics for down hole gas exploration. The EE-PEBB will be a smaller/less expensive solution than typical piecemeal power electronics circuits. All existing commercial applications would require external circuitry to condition both the input (gate drive) and output (sensor data) signals and in most cases isolate them. QorTek's system will include all of the necessary circuitry in one modular package. QorTek plans to utilize its ongoing relationship with CREE to further facilitate commercializing a high temperature variant of the proposed technology specifically for emerging Green technology applications. EE-PEBBs can replace IGBTs and MOSTFETS in industrial communication applications including power conversion systems, inverter systems, power supplies, electric motor drive, and medical systems such as MRI machines are a few potential applications.
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