This project (ASICs-AVATART) supposes a necessary and important technological activity of development of mixed signal ASICs for space applications. This activity was started in 2008 within the framework of the MetNet mission and resulted in the creation of a group at the Microelectronics Institute of Seville/University of Seville, which has since them specialized in this type of designs. Thanks to this effort, it has been possible to respond, for example, to the need arising within the framework of the aforementioned MEDA station (to condition the signal of its wind sensors) and the possibility of making recurrent systems more and more compact (less weight, volume, consumption, etc.) as the ASIC-SIS20 for solar irradiance sensors (InMars). It should be noted that IMSE/US has its own RHBD library in AMS 0.35μm technology, with designs that have been shown to operate at temperatures of -126°C, and that also has experience in designs for space with other technologies and libraries (IMEC-DARE in UMC 180 nm, SOI-XFAB).
It should be noted that the development of mixed-signal ASICs for space use is identified in H2020 as a strategic line for Europe and nondependence. This project aims to advance in the line of Integrated Circuits for radiation environments and with the particularity of very low temperatures. Specifically, the project focuses on High Voltage and High Speed cases. Although there are works in this regard, the particularity of the present project is that it is intended that the circuits work at very low temperatures without having to be heated to accommodate the operating situation to the typical industrial temperature ranges for which they are usually characterized. On the other hand, the high speed and / or high voltage features usually require different technologies, which is why this project seeks to integrate them into the same package by exploring the multi-die techniques. Of course, these techniques must also be adapted to operate at very low temperatures without the need for heating. In the end, this project aims to provide increasingly compact solutions that are equipped with added values such as reliability and re-usability.