Teledyne digital-to-analog converter approved for space

1 min read

Teledyne e2v has announced its EV12DS480 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) has been approved for use in space applications after undergoing irradiation tests.

The EV12DS480 is a 12-bit 8 GSps DAC. It is designed for Newspace systems and offered in various reliability grades, including NASA Grade 1. It provides an analog bandwidth extending beyond 7GHz facilitating multi-band, direct digital synthesis up to K-band (26.5GHz).

The tests that were conducted, as part of its approval for space applications, included Total Ionizing Dose (TID) and Heavy Ions (HI) measurements. These were carried out to show that electronic components can perform in a space environment.

“Tests on several EV12DS480 DAC devices are still underway with a dose rate of 10 mrad/s, with neither failure, nor parameter drift up to 100 krad(Si). Teledyne e2v is planning to continue testing up to a targeted cumulative dose of 150 krad(Si),” commented Romain Pilard, Application Engineer at Teledyne e2v.

TID tests evaluated the functionality and performance parameter drifts of the Device Under Test (DUT). Heavy Ions tests were conducted at the RADiation Effects Facility (RADEF) and evaluated Single Event Latch-up (SEL) and Single Event Effects, which include Single Event Upset (SEU), Single Event Functional Interrupts (SEFI), and Single Event Transient (SET). Teledyne e2v explains these tests are important to ensure continuity and minimise drift.