Microchip Announces Industry's Only Standard Non-Hybrid Space-Grade Power Converter Family

Microchip announces new 28-volt (V) input radiation-tolerant option for the industry’s only family of standard, non-hybrid space-grade power converters

This hybrid converter replacement increases design flexibility while reducing system size, cost and development time

Space system designers cannot easily use traditional hybrid power converters to support non-standard voltages or add functions. By providing a series of space-grade DC-DC power converters based on discrete components, Microchip Technology Inc. (Microchip Technology) eliminates the challenges of cost, complexity and customization of such hybrid solutions. Microchip recently announced that the series of devices now has a new 28V input, 50 watt (W) radiation-resistant option.

“Our newest 28V input SA50-28 products greatly simplify and accelerate system development,” said Leon Gross, vice president of Microchip’s discrete products business unit. “They are more easily customized than other space-grade power converters so they can meet specific voltage, current and other requirements. Customers gain flexibility while reducing the size, cost and complexity of their space system designs.”

Microchip's SA50-28 series is the only off-the-shelf 28V input, radiation-tolerant power converter product in the industry. The product is based on discrete components, surface mount structure and non-hybrid assembly process. Compared with other off-the-shelf space-grade power converters, SA50-28 devices with customized parameters provide more functions and eliminate the size, weight and complexity of multiple devices and surrounding circuits generated by using hybrid solutions.

Microchip's complete SA50-28 product family has an input voltage of 20V to 40V, a power of 50W, and nine standard outputs of 3.3V, 5V, 12V, 15V and 28V in single and triple output configuration modes. Compared with hybrid power converter products, this series of devices can be customized according to the strict power requirements of the system in a relatively short time and with lower additional cost. Other features include high efficiency, low output noise, output suppression control, overcurrent protection, external synchronization, and full rated power operation in the range of -55°C to +85°C, linear derating, and operating temperature can be extended to +125°C.

The SA50-28 family is part of Microchip’s growing portfolio of standard, non-hybrid, space-grade power converters. These converters are space-proven, proven circuits available to space application designers as commercial off-the-shelf components. They are also part of the radiation-hardened SA50-120 power converter family, introduced in February 2021, which helps designers start with proven commercial off-the-shelf technology in ceramic or plastic packages and quickly scale up development with lower screening levels than traditional Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) requirements, thereby reducing risk and development time for qualified space systems.

Availability

Microchip's radiation-tolerant SA50-28 family is available for volume production with limited sample quantities. Prototype-grade units are in stock, and non-radiation-tolerant engineering units are also available, with the same performance as space-grade units but at a lower cost. Delivery times are typically faster than mixed-structure units because there are no associated batch losses. In addition to this family of devices, Microchip also offers a family of FPGAs, high-reliability radiation-tolerant power semiconductors and space-grade timing devices.

For information including pricing, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip's website.