Semiconductors for Aerospace

NORWOOD, US: Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a player in high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, is providing its highly integrated iCoupler digital isolation solution to Siemens Aerospace for its PowerSCOE system, a sophisticated satellite power protection system that will shut down kilowatts of power within the satellite within microseconds in the case of an anomaly.

Serving as the advanced technology group for Siemens AG, Siemens Aerospace designed the system with other applications in mind, such as smart grid power monitoring  satellite’s power system is critical because any malfunction can seriously damage the spacecraft and derail the mission.

“With each channel containing an auxiliary analog input and digital and analog output, the most difficult challenge was ensuring each of 100 channels were individually isolated from each other,” said Alfred Fuchs, PowerSCOE project manager, Siemens Aerospace. “With over 100 analog and digital I/Os present, the PCB density we were looking for required a solution beyond traditional optocouplers and DC-to-DC converters. ADI’s highly integrated iCoupler digital isolators proved crucial in making our next-generation PowerSCOE protection system viable.”

“Delivering 500 mW of isolated power in a small surface-mount package, iCoupler digital isolators enable customers with sophisticated instrumentation challenges, such as Siemens, to put more channels of isolation into space-constrained designs at reduced cost,” said David Krakauer, product line manager, Analog Devices.