ADC delivers best-in-class radiation-hardened performance

Renesas Electronics Corporation has released what is claimed to be the industry’s highest performance single-chip 14-Bit, 1-MSPS SAR ADC for rad-hard space applications. The company’s Intersil brand ISL73141SEH provides best in class dynamic and static performance, including SNR, ENOB, INL and DNL. The ADC fully resets after each sample, clearing any errors that stem from an SEU due to heavy-ion radiation throughout spaceflight.

The device is one of the key signal-path building blocks in long-duration geosynchronous/geostationary Earth orbit communication satellites and manned spacecraft, as well as lunar space missions. By providing the industry’s best dynamic and static performance, the new 14-bit ADC accurately captures real-world analog transmissions and converts them for processing in the digital domain. The ADC is one of seven ICs, including rad-hard temperature sensor, multiplexer, ADC driver, quad op-amp, LDO and voltage reference to create a complete sensor interface signal chain solution that accelerates telemetry, tracking, and control and flight computer system development.

“The ISL73141SEH offers satellite and spacecraft manufacturers the ultimate in ADC performance combined with a best-in-class sensor interface signal chain,” said Philip Chesley, vice president, Industrial and Communications Business Division at Renesas. “Our space-grade 14-bit ADC delivers significantly better data converter performance than any other competing solution, and it is backed by six decades of leadership in radiation performance testing and characterisation that gives spaceflight customers the mission assurance they demand.”