Microsemi Continues Leadership in Satellite Electronics with New Class V and Q Qualifications and QML Certification for its Radiation-Tolerant Telemetry Controller IC
Qualifications are Vital for Design-ins for Space Programs and Validate Quality Assurance and Reliability of LX7730 Device
ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 29, 2017 - Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced its LX7730 radiation-tolerant telemetry controller integrated circuit (IC) has been successfully qualified and certified by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) as Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class V and Q. The qualifications, key requirements for the LX7730 to operate in space environments, are mandatory for design-ins for space programs and for manufacturers to be listed on the QML by the DLA.
"Successfully completing these qualifications and obtaining QML status are vital in providing the highest quality and most reliable solutions demanded by our customers," said Dorian Johnson, Microsemi's high-reliability product marketing manager. "Our LX7730 not only offers space system architects and designers the highest level of integration for telemetry applications available today, but also guarantees they are using a product that meets the stringent requirements of MIL-PRF-38535 defining the quality assurance and reliability conditions for the manufacture of ICs for high-reliability applications."
As the first member of Microsemi's radiation-tolerant Space System Manager (SSM) family of special purpose mixed signal devices, launched in March 2015, the LX7730 integrates the required functions in satellite telemetry systems. These functions include a 64-channel analog multiplexer, a 12-bit analog to digital converter, break-before-make switching and a precision adjustable current source. It supports parallel or dual serial peripheral interfaces (SPIs) and also provides cold sparing. The new IC interfaces with radiation-tolerant field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) such as Microsemi's new RTG4™ high-speed signal processing FPGA and the RTAX family offered in the company's growing portfolio of FPGA solutions.
"We selected the LX7730 for our telemetry and control card designed to the ANSI ratified 3U SpaceVPX specification based on the critical functions offered in the device," said Drew Boudreau, principal systems engineer at Trident Systems Incorporated. "The 64-channel multiplexer is key to addressing our needs for acquiring numerous system sensor data and paired with an RTAX-SL provides a true low power telemetry processing solution."
Microsemi's expertise in mixed signal space solutions comes from over 20 years of custom and standard design and manufacturing experience in providing its customers with innovative space system solutions. As satellite manufacturers typically require Class V and Q qualifications, the new designations provide customers with an added level of assurance that the LX7730 has met the stringent industry standards. The QML qualification achievement allows designers across the entire spectrum of space designs, from low cost commercial and scientific applications to human rated and top priority government systems, to use the parts without cumbersome part selection justifications or source control drawings.
"Increasing demands to reduce printed circuit board (PCB) area combined with the high level of functionality integrated into the LX7730 led us to choose the telemetry controller for our precision optical design for space," said Reiner Henkelmann, EE system and component engineer at Hensoldt Optronics. "Besides processing housekeeping data like temperatures, voltages and supply currents, the LX7730 takes an active part in several closed loop controls necessary for an accurate laser operation with low electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels. Regular calibration procedures reduce temperature and lifetime dependent drifts and ensure the required accuracy of the acquired digitized values."
According to Allied Market Research, in its "Small Satellite Market by Type" report from March 2017, the small satellite market is expected to grow approximately 20 percent during 2016-2022. The LX7730 enables a higher level of flight-critical telemetry acquisition without compromising the small form-factor and low mass of these emerging minisat and microsat satellite programs, while at the same time reducing power consumption and providing mitigation for the damaging effects of radiation in space. Additional benefits of the new IC are a significant reduction in board space and weight compared to traditional discrete solutions, making this a desirable component for telemetry data handling in small satellite systems.
The newly qualified versions of Microsemi's LX7730, the LX7730MFQ-Q and the LX7730MFQ-V, now in production, are ideal for a number of applications within the aerospace market, including communications, Earth observations and weather satellites.
Product Availability
Microsemi's LX7730MFQ-Q and LX7730MFQ-V radiation-tolerant telemetry controller ICs are available in production quantities now and are listed under SMD 5962-1721901 with the DLA. For more information, visit http://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/space-system-managers/3575-telemetry-controller-ic or contact sales.support@microsemi.com.
Microsemi Leading Space Innovation for 60 Years
With one of the industry's most comprehensive portfolios of space products, Microsemi provides radiation-tolerant FPGAs, radiation-tolerant mixed-signal ICs, radiation-hardened DC-to-DC converters, precision time and frequency solutions, linear and POL hybrids, custom hybrid solutions, and radiation-hardened discretes including the broadest portfolio of JANS Class diodes and bipolar products. Microsemi is committed to supporting its products throughout the lifetime of its customer programs. The company continues to innovate and expand its portfolio, which includes its LX7730 radiation-tolerant telemetry controller IC, the new LX7720 radiation-tolerant power driver IC with rotational and position sensing, as well as its RTG4™ high-speed signal processing radiation-tolerant FPGA family. The RTG4's reprogrammable flash technology offers complete immunity to radiation-induced configuration upsets in the harshest radiation environments, requiring no configuration scrubbing, unlike SRAM FPGA technology. For more information about Microsemi's space products, visit http://www.microsemi.com/applications/space.
About Microsemi
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace & defense, communications, data center and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world's standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; enterprise storage and communication solutions, security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, and has approximately 4,800 employees globally. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.
