The alternatives to inflexible hybrid-style converters improve design flexibility, claims the company, while reducing system size, cost and development time.

Space system designers cannot easily support non-standard voltages or add functions with traditional hybrid-style power converters. The discrete component-based DC/DC power converter family is intended to simplify and accelerate system development. According to Leon Gross, vice president of Microchip’s discrete product business unit, “They are easier to customise than alternative space-grade power converters so they can meet specific voltage, current and other needs. Customers gain flexibility while reducing the size, cost and complexity of their space system designs,” he added.

Microchip’s SA50-28 family is believed to be the industry’s only off-the-shelf, 28V-input, radiation-tolerant power converter and is based on discrete components with surface-mount construction and non-hybrid assembly processes. A single SA50-28 device with customised parameters eliminates the volume, weight and complexity problems of using hybrid solutions which involves multiple devices and surrounding circuitry.

The SA50-28 product line is a 20 to 40V-input, 50W family with nine standard outputs (3.3, 5.0, 12, 15 and 28V) in single- and triple-output configurations. The devices can be tailored to a system’s exacting power needs in a relatively short time with minimal additional costs, compared to hybrid-style power converters, claims the company. They also have high efficiency, low output noise, output inhibit control, over-current protection, external synchronisation and full-rated power operation through −55 to 85 degrees C with linear derating to 125 degrees C.

The SA50-28 family joins the radiation-hardened SA50-120 power converter family, for COTS technology in ceramic or plastic packages and for quickly scaling up development using lower screening levels than traditional Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) requirements.

The Microchip’s radiation-tolerant SA50-28 family is available for volume production and limited sampling. Prototype-grade units are available from stock, and non-radiation-tolerant engineering units are also available with the same performance as the space-grade units at a lower cost, says Microchip. Delivery times are usually faster than hybrid-construction units with no associated lot penalty. The devices are complemented by Microchip’s FPGAs, high-reliability radiation-hardened power semiconductors and space-grade timing devices.