System-on-Chip ASICs for Space Instrumentation

This line is devoted to the development of integrated circuits and analog/mixed-signal systems for space applications, and in general, for applications in environments suffering radiation and extreme temperatures, with high reliability requirements. The use of conventional CMOS technologies is emphasized, following the concept of radiation hardening by design (RHBD).

Specific activities include the characterization of the effects of high-energy electromagnetic and particles radiation (total ionizing dose –TID, and single-event effects –SEE) on integrated circuit production technologies, on devices and circuits, and the development of robust strategies for the design of circuits and systems.

Other topics of interest include the tolerance of circuits to extended temperature ranges, and the resistance of packages and systems to thermal cycles, impacts, and vibration.

Accomplished tasks include:

  • Characterization of a 0.35µm CMOS technology concerning radiation effects and extended temperature ranges.
  • Development of radiation tolerant digital-cells libraries.
  • Development of electrical models for the simulation of MOS transistors with specific radiation-hardened layouts (ELTs).
  • Design and test of several mixed-signal ASICs for space use.
    - OWLS: intra-satellite optical communications based on diffuse light.
    - MOURA: tri-axial magnetometer and accelerometer.
    - MEDA: wind sensor for MEDA, for Mars'2020.
    - SIS: solar irradiance sensor for Exomars'18.
  • Formal qualification processes for the space-use of mixed-signal ASICs.
ASIC OWLS
ASIC for MEDA wind sensor

Contact


Servando Espejo Meana >

Joaquín Ceballos Cáceres >

Keywords


  • Radiation Hardening
  • Extended Temperature Ranges
  • Reliability
  • Total Ionizing Dose
  • Single-Event Effects
  • Redundancy
  • Latch-up Prevention

Research Highlights


S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido, "CMOS Rad-Hard Front-End Electronics for Precise Sensors Measurements", IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 63, pp. 2379-2389, 2016  »  doi

S. Sordo-Ibáñez, B. Piñero-García, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Espejo-Meana, A. Arias-Drake, J. Ramos-Martos, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez and M.A. Lagos-Florido, "A Front-End ASIC for a 3-D Magnetometer for Space Applications by Using Anisotropic Magnetoresistors", IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 51, pp. 1-4, 2015  »  doi

S. Sordo-Ibáñez, S. Espejo-Meana, B. Piñero-García, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, M. Muñoz-Díaz, L. Carranza-González, A. Arias-Drake, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, M.A. Lagos-Florido and J. Ramos-Martos, "Four-channel self-compensating single-slope ADC for space environments", Electronics Letters, vol. 50, pp. 579-581, 2014  »  doi

J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, J.M. Mora-Gutiérrez, M. Muñoz-Díaz, A. Ragel-Morales, B. Piñero-García, J. Ceballos-Cáceres, L. Carranza-González, S. Sordo-Ibáñez, M.A. Lagos- Florido and S. Espejo-Meana, "SEE Characterization of the AMS 0.35 µm CMOS Technology", in Proc. of the 14th European Conf. on Radiation and its Effects on Components and Systems, pp. 1-4, 2013  »  doi

J. Ramos-Martos, A. Arias-Drake, A. Ragel-Morales, J. Ceballos-Caceres, J.M. Mora-Gutierrez, B. Pinero-Garcia, M. Munoz-Diaz, M.A. Lagos-Florido and S. Espejo-Meana, "Radiation Characterization of the austriamicrosystems 0.35 µm CMOS Technology", in Proc. of the 12th European Conf. on Radiation and its Effects on Components and Systems, 2011  »  doi

Key Research Projects & Contracts


Microelectrónica para instrumentación espacial: ASIC del sensor de viento de MEDA (ESP2016-79612-C3-3-R)
PI: Servando Espejo Meana
Funding Body: Min. Economía y Competitividad
Jan 2017 - Dec 2018

Microelectrónica de espacio para instrumentación ambiental en Marte (ESP2014-54256-C4-4-R)
PI: Servando Espejo Meana
Funding Body: Min. Economía y Competitividad
Jan 2015 - Dec 2015

Diseño y testado de ASICs para el espacio para la misión a Marte 'MEIGA-METNET Precursor' (AYA2011-29967-C05-05)
PI: Servando Espejo Meana
Funding Body: Min. de Ciencia e Innovación
Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

Diseño y testado de ASICs para el espacio para la misión a Marte 'MEIGA-METNET Precursor' (AYA2009-14212-C05-04)
PI: Servando Espejo Meana
Funding Body: Min. de Ciencia e Innovación
Jan 2010 - Dec 2011

Diseño y testado de ASICs para el espacio para la misión a Marte 'MEIGA-METNET Precursor' (AYA2008-06420-C04-02/ESP)
PI: Servando Espejo Meana
Funding Body: Min. de Ciencia e Innovación
Jan 2009 - Dec 2009

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