Questions and answers:
- What is the main upgrade Holt Integrated Circuits is making to the HI-1592 transceiver? Increased radiation resistance by testing it to higher levels of single-event effects (SEE), including a higher LET threshold of at least 86.3 MeV-cm²/mg.
- Why is radiation hardness important for space electronics like the HI-1592? Space radiation can cause temporary or permanent damage to electronics due to cosmic rays and solar particles, so radiation hardness ensures components can operate reliably in space environments.
- Where was the radiation testing for the HI-1592 performed? The testing was conducted by Holt Integrated Circuits in collaboration with Zero-G Radiation Assurance at Texas A&M University.
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Holt Integrated Circuits in Aliso Viejo, Calif., is increasing the radiation-resistance level of the company's HI-1592 radiation-hardened 3.3-volt MIL-STD-1553 dual transceiver for high-reliability and space applications.
Holt experts are testing the HI-1592 to higher single-event effects (SEE) levels. SEE effects include single-event transient (SET), single-event functional interrupt (SEFI), single event latch-up (SEL), and single event burnout (SEB).
These radiation-induced single-event effects can cause temporary or permanent damage to electronic components as a result of heavy ion or proton impact.
The HI-1592 MIL-STD-1553 dual transceiver is latch-up immune for and was proven to withstand a single-event upset (SEU) with a linear energy transfer (LET) of at least 86.3 mega electron volts per square centimeter per milligram (MeV-cm2/mg). Previously the device had been tested to 67.7 MeV-cm2/mg.
Tell me more about space radiation hardness ...
- Space radiation hardness describes the ability of electronics to withstand or function reliably in the harsh radiation environment of space, where electronics are exposed to radiation far beyond what is encountered on Earth from galactic cosmic rays, solar particle events, and trapped radiation belts. Radiation can flip bits in memory and degrade semiconductor materials over time to cause total failure of components. Military satellites use rad-hardened components due to critical missions, but even commercially developed satellites for short missions may require some levels of radiation tolerance.
Testing was performed by Holt together with Zero-G Radiation Assurance at Texas A & M University in College Station, Texas. The device is radiation tolerant to a total ionizing dose (TID) of 100 kilorads of silicon krad(Si).
The higher LET rating demonstrates additional radiation resistance in rockets, high-altitude aircraft, or space applications that use MIL-STD-1553 data bus communications.
The device also features 1.8-volt, 2.5-volt and 3.3-volt-compatible digital I/O to give users more flexibility to interface with a broad range of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and controllers, and avoid using level shifters and other additional circuitry.
The HI-1592 is for use with Holt's DO-254 certifiable MIL-STD-1553 IP Core, HI-6300, instantiated in a radiation-hardened FPGA. For more information contact Holt Integrated Circuits online at www.holtic.com.
