ELECTRIC PROPULSION

SystematIC is development partner in the European (H2020) project for high-performance low-cost (hence 'HiperLoc') Electric Propulsion. It aims to demonstrate and develop a novel implementation of an Electrospray Colloid Electric Propulsion System (ECEPS) suitable for small (cubesat) form factors.

Space industries, Integrated power

ABOUT THE PROJECT

State-of-the-art electric propulsion (EP) systems used in satellites may exhibit impressive performance, but the used technologies cannot be scaled down in size and power whilst retaining system performance. As a result, no conventional technologies for propulsion are available for the upcoming micro- and nanosatellite market. SystematIC partners in the HiperLoc-EP project which aims to use a novel electric propulsion approach and develop an Electrospray Colloid Electric Propulsion System (ECEPS) suitable for small (cubesat) form factors.

The HiperLoc project seeks to develop a disruptive electric propulsion technology that provides a high performance EP system – to a cost that is at least one order of magnitude lower than today.

CHALLENGE

The propulsion system requires ions to be extracted and accelerated using high voltages in the order of several kiloVolts. In order to maintain charge neutrality a balanced system is used, which means both negative and positive high-voltage pulses are needed which can be controlled in amplitude and width. For small satellites the power level that is needed is much smaller than what the few available of-the-shelf high-voltage switches are optimal for. The challenge for our electronics development is to achieve good control, good efficiency at low-cost and suitable for small form-factor implementation.

SOLUTION

SystematIC develops a dedicated and miniaturized power control system for the Electric Propulsion unit. We succeeded in obtaining the relevant system performance like high efficiency and accurate high-voltage control, taking into account space industry requirements for latch up protection and redundancy.

Our understanding of power-conversion techniques as well as our knowledge of circuit integration helped a great deal to realize this. For this application we developed of a dedicated high-voltage (but low-power) switch ASIC in an XFAB HV technology. A complete system demonstration unit is targeted for end of 2018.

The following functions are implemented in our PPU (Power Processing Unit):

Efficient high voltage generation
Accurate high-voltage switching and control
Microcontroller-based control, detection, protection and communication

TIME

Several years of R&D in multiple generations of high-voltage power units for Electric Propulsion, starting in the FP7 project called MicroThrust and taken to the next readiness level in the H2020 project called HiperLoc.

WE ARE PROUD

SystematIC is succesfully cooperating in multi-disciplinary international consortia for space-industry developments.

SystematIC demonstrated high-performance electronic power units for EP using low-cost components and a novel high-voltage (7.5kV) switch topology based on a specific ASIC which SystematIC developed in a 650V CMOS technology.

KEY TECHNICAL STATISTICS

High voltage generation from 12V input to +/- 3kV outputs with 10W output power
High power conversion efficiency 83%
Accurate voltage control to maintain satellite charge neutrality
Solid-state high-voltage switch matrix design with >7.5 kV breakdown
Microcontroller driven control algorithms and communication

The project seeks to develop a disruptive electric propulsion technology that provides a high performance EP system – to a cost that is at least one order of magnitude lower than today. This high-performance low-cost (HiperLoc) Electric Propulsion system would enhance the functionality, improve performance and hence increase value of many micro/nanosatellite missions in the future. The project objectives include identifying the performance requirements, incrementing the TRL (technology-readiness-level) and understanding key processes to optimize operation of such an ECEPS.

WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE HIPERLOC PROJECT

SystematIC converted this idea into a high-level system model which allowed simulation of the audible effects of the algorithm on recoded sound fragments and this helped to improve the algorithm.

OUR OTHER SUCCESS STORIES

Successful achievement of your company’s goals will require IC solutions that are tailor made for your business needs. SystematIC was founded to help businesses imagine, plan, and develop these IC solutions.

INTEGRATED MAGNETIC SENSOR

Our customers is the Isolation Products Division of a semiconductor leader, who has a strong portfolio based on optical isolation techniques. Application of this fully integrated single chip magnetic sensor opened a new line of magnetic isolation products. Based on our reference high speed magnetic design in 2 months’ time a 180nm CMOS prototype was shipped.

PROXIMITY AND AMBIENT LIGHT DETECTION

SystematIC has designed a family of products which combines Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) and Infra-red Proximity Detection Sensor (PS) in a single SoC. The ambient light sensor matches the response of the human eye. The infra red proximity sensor measures the distance to an object. Our client is a leading global organization providing components to mobile phone manufacturing companies.

CURRENT SENSOR

We were handed the responsibility of a current sensor IC that monitors charge and discharge currents of a battery in a mobile phone and will remain insensitive to the variations of the supply voltage. We took charge of the entire design trajectory along with evaluation and redesign that was needed to make the final product a notch better than competition.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR

In this project we developed an analog front-end architecture for a given capacitive MEMS pressure sensor. The front end must accurately measure the pressure in a tire and be robust against leakage, parasitics and noise. The SystematIC methodology was applied. First off, the sensor was electronically modelled to determine an optimal excitation and read out architecture. Next, during the detailed design phase the front-end was designed and layouted for a modern automotive IC application, including safety and test features.

X-RAY DETECTOR READOUT

The customer has a leading international position in industrial X-ray crystallography systems. In one of these products a multi-channel HV passive X-ray sensor is applied for material analysis and an accurate matched channel readout and signal processing ASIC is required. SystematIC proposed an architecture of ultra-low noise front ends that are noise optimized to the sensor element and applied in a matched channel configuration. The digital electronics where designed as special CMOS CML logic to obtain low crosstalk.

AC LED DRIVER IC

Our customer produces a range of AC LED modules for lamp manufacturers. The products were originally built with discrete components, a different set for each module type. For performance enhancement and simplification of production steps and supply chain, the customer was looking for a custom ASIC solution. The customer was also expecting improved performance on TRIAC dimmer compatibility and a reduction in product costs. With a programmable high-voltage ASIC and only a few external components (rectifier, fuse and surge) all module types can be made. LED modules with such an ASIC are directly driven from the AC mains voltage, are low-cost and are very compact and reliable. An electronic solution was created that made the customer AC LED lamp compatible with TRIAC dimmers. A discrete prototype was built and demonstrated to the customer just a few weeks after the first contact. The discrete electronics where chosen such that they could be implemented in a HV IC process.

POINT-OF-LOAD POWER CONTROLLER

Our customer, a fabless semiconductor company, started a new product line of drivers and controllers for power converter applications in industrial applications. SystematIC took care of the design of a complex power controller IC targeting application in Point-of-Load Power Modules, used in Ethernet Routers and Switches and other Industrial Applications. The customer’s approach was to offer a very versatile IC to the market that also realized excellent performance parameters (efficiency, ripple, etc). The customer discovered a strong market interest and had marketing & sales and application support in place but lacked the IC design resources for a quick product development. Within a year SystematIC developed all accurate analog functions in a new IC process and delivered the verified mixed-signal chip design and layout.

INTEGRATED POWER SWITCH

Applications supporting plug-and-play connections require (accurate) over-current protections, preferably implemented in a low-cost solid-state IC. For a division of a large semiconductor company the accurate current control was a design challenge that was tackled by involving SystematIC in the design. The area, cost-of-silicon and on-resistance of the integrated power switch are relevant parameters for the technology choice, but in any case dictate preference for an NMOS power switch. Using an NMOS switch however complicates the design of driver and sensing circuits. SystematIC did the challenging full-chip circuit design, including current sensing circuits using low-offset chopped amplifiers, adjustable over-current current control, over-temperature protection, and push-pull chargepumps to drive the NMOS.

EAR PROTECTION CONTROL IC

Our customer DEC develops and produces Dynamic Sound technology products which can typically be used as stand-alone hearing protection or embedded in headphone systems, hearing aids and hearables. The IC we designed for DEC was an example of an integration project for SME and it covers most aspects of a SystematIC turnkey solution. Our contribution extends from system study to implementation, manufacturability and testability for ears, from zeroing in the IC process to IC design and layout and the production preparation.