Satellite subsystem delivers ultra-high spaceflight performance in small package

Renesas Electronics has announced the ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH radiation-hardened precision current sources created to give current excitation to over 300 resistive sensors that monitor the health of a satellite’s subsystems. The two new devices are the first current source ICs in its line of space products, and are perfectly suited for telemetry, attitude and orbital control, tracking and command, and electrical power subsystem applications. The devices come in four-lead ceramic flatpack packages and provide 100µA and 1mA of output current, respectively. They provide a smaller footprint than similar devices and displace the discrete solutions that often need three to five components. The smaller package size increases reliability by placing the excitation source closer to the sensor. The Renesas current source ICs also reduce system errors by delivering ultra-low noise for higher accuracy over temperature and radiation. The device's high output impedance rejects voltage variations on the supply line and allows developers parallel multiple current sources if they require higher current. “Our new precision current source devices give satellite customers the high performance, ease of use, and small footprint they need for their designs,” said Philip Chesley, vice president of Industrial Analog and Power Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH provide a scalable and highly reliable solution that simplifies the sensor health monitoring of critical spaceflight subsystems.”