Renesas develops space-ready reference design for AMD Versal adaptive SoC

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced a complete space-ready reference design for the AMD Versal adaptive system-on-chip (SoC) XQRVC1902.

Developed in collaboration with AMD, the ISLVERSALDEMO2Z reference design integrates key radiation-hardened components for power management, including four new and recently released products in an ultra-compact design.

These Intersil-brand ICs are specifically designed to support a wide range of power rails for next-generation space avionics systems that demand tight voltage tolerances, high current, and efficient power conversion while withstanding the harsh environment of space.

As core voltages decrease and currents increase for FPGAs and ASICs, it has become more difficult to meet the stringent power requirements of these devices to ensure that they operate error-free. This is especially critical in space missions where power availability is limited, and systems are exposed to extreme temperatures and radiation for an extended period of time.

Renesas has collaborated with AMD to develop a complete power-management solution for the AMD Versal platform to address these challenges. The Versal Adaptive SoC is a space-grade compute platform that delivers full radiation tolerance, accelerated AI inference and high-bandwidth signal processing performance. The ISLVERSALDEMO2Z generates each of the power rails used by the Versal platform, including a low 0.80V core voltage supply that can source up to 140 A (amps) of current.

“As the number of satellite and spacecraft launches continues to accelerate rapidly, high-performance computing platforms such as the Versal Adaptive SoC are becoming more prevalent, necessitating new power solutions,” said Chris Stephens, VP, and GM of the HiRel Business Division at Renesas. “Our new reference design has been meticulously engineered to meet the rigorous demands of operations in space, while integrating all of the essential components into a very small footprint. It is an ideal turnkey solution for Versal Adaptive SoC power management.”

“Power management for high-performance digital platforms like our AMD XQRVC1902 Versal space-grade adaptive SoCs cannot be taken for granted, particularly when they are used in the harsh environment of space,” said Minal Sawant, senior director, Aerospace & Defense Vertical Market, AMD. “The combination of our radiation-tolerant Versal space-grade SoC and Renesas ISLVERSALDEMO2Z power solution provides our customers with the precision, efficiency, and dependability that are paramount for the successful execution of space missions.”

Renesas’ new reference design comes with an array of power-management devices that have been tested and verified to withstand exposure to high levels of radiation. These include Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers, GaN FET half-bridge drivers, point-of-load (POL) regulators, power and enable switches, and power sequencers. The devices come in small-footprint packages, so the core power rail components take up just 104 square centimeters of board area, approximately equivalent to two business cards.

Additionally, the ISLVERSALDEMO2Z comes with all of the design files that customers need for rapid integration into their systems, including schematics, bill-of-materials and PCB Gerber files.

Key features

ISL73847SEH Rad-hard dual output PWM controller

Synchronous buck controller
Single- or Dual-phase
4.5V to 19V input voltage range
Output voltage as low as VREF: 0.6V+/- 0.67% (temperature, radiation, and life)
Differential remote sensing of output voltage
Radiation tolerant, LDR (0.01 rad(Si)/s): 75krad(Si)
Operating range: -55° to +125° C

ISL73041SEH and ISL71441M

Interfaces with ISL73847SEH synchronous buck controller
Programmable gate drive, 4.5V to 5.5V
Bi-directional communications with ISL73847SEH for start-up synchronization and fault detection.
Highly matched, fast propagation delays between high- and low-side drivers
Wide VDD input voltage range, up to 13.2V
Best-in-class Single Event Effects (SEE) performance
Available in ceramic (ISL73041SEH) or plastic packaging (ISL71441M)
Operating range: -55° to +125° C

ISL73007SEH Rad-hard POL regulator

3V to 18V input voltage range
Internal or external loop compensation
1% reference voltage over temperature and radiation
Efficiency ≥90% from 1A to 3A
Industry’s smallest footprint in 14 lead ceramic dual flatpack package
Radiation tolerant, LDR (0.01rad(Si)/s): 75krad(Si)
Operating range: -55° to +125° C

The reference design along with the new products will be demonstrated at the Renesas booth (# 112/113) at the upcoming IEEE Nuclear & Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC), July 24-28, in Kansas City, Missouri.