'Off-the-shelf' dc/dc converters and filters
ease aerospace power-system design
The rapid growth in aerospace systems, particularly space satellites,
has prompted power supply maker Interpoint (Redmond, WA) to develop a line
of radiation-hardened dc/dc converters and EMI filters. Available with
screening up to MIL-PRF-38534 Class K, the converters will be offered at
prices and with lead times closer to those of commercial-use converters–“off
the shelf” by space program standards.
Until now, space-qualified converters have only been manufactured on
a custom basis–at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars and with lead
times stretching out to several years. Interpoint will offer the converters
in combinations of three environmental screening levels–standard screening,
Class H, and Class K–and three levels of radiation-tolerance guarantees
(see table ). The Class H and K converters are MIL-PRF-38534 qualified.
Environmental Screening Level Codes
|
Radiation tolerance level |
Standard screening (O) |
Screening to Class H levels (H) |
Screening to Class K levels (K) |
O– No radiation guarantee. Electrically and mechanically comparable to L and R level parts. For system evaluation. |
OO |
HO |
Not available |
L–Radiation hardened. Tested lots. Up to 50 krads total dose (Si). No single-event-upset (SEU) guarantee. |
Not available |
HL |
KL |
R–Radiation hardened. Tested lots. Up to 100 krads (Si) total dose. SEU guarantee greater than 40 MeV. |
Not available |
HR |
KR |
Initially two converters, the SMHF and SMSA, and a filter, the SFMC,
will be available, with additional products to be introduced later this
year. All of the parts use thick-film hybrid technology to improve reliability
and minimize weight. The parts operate over the full military temperature
range of –55° to +125°C.
Interpoint's line of “off-the-shelf” radiation-hardened
dc/dc converters and filters offers screening through
Class K and prices and lead times closer to those of
commercial converters.
The SMHF converter is rated at 15 W with single outputs of 3.3, 5, 12,
or 15 Vdc, and dual outputs of ±12 and ±15 Vdc. It measures
1.46 (L) x 1.125 (W) x 0.325 (H) in.and weighs 30 g. Rated at 5 W, the
SMSA converter comes in single- or dual-output configurations of 5, 12,
or 15 Vdc. It measures 1.075 (L) x 1.075 (W) x 0.27 (H) in.and weighs
15 g.
The SFMC EMI filter is compatible with both converters to meet MIL-STD-461
CE03. It is rated at 2.7 A max and provides a minimum attenuation of 50
dB at 400 kHz to 50 MHz. The filter comes in flanged or nonflanged packages
measuring 2.125 (L) x 1.125 (W) x 0.417 (H) in.and weighing 55 g.
Prices for the converters and filters range from $1,000 to $10,000,
depending on environmental screening and radiation tolerance levels. Lead
time is about 12 weeks. For more information, contact the Customer Service
Team of Interpoint at 800-822-8782.
–Spencer Chin
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