Microchip Technology is bringing serious power density to orbital systems with the launch of the POL-05-20S-T, a new radiation-tolerant Point-of-Load (POL) converter. By leveraging Gallium Nitride (GaN) power devices, Microchip has engineered a solution that pushes out up to 20A of continuous output current while maintaining the high efficiency that complex space applications demand.
Size and weight constraints are notoriously unforgiving in aerospace engineering, and this design addresses that directly.
Microchip has packed 20A of capability into a highly compact, 25-gram surface-mount footprint measuring just 1.51” x 1.51” x 0.45”. This GaN-driven density gives hardware teams crucial breathing room when managing power for increasingly capable, power-hungry onboard processors.
Under the hood, the POL-05-20S-T is purpose-built for the fast-transient, high-current workloads typical of core voltage rails in FPGAs, ASICs, and digital digital loads.
It pairs a synchronous buck topology with current-mode control to maintain rock-solid stability during rapid current spikes. It’s also highly adaptable to complex system architectures, offering a wide 4.75V to 13.2V input range and an adjustable 0.7V to 5V output.
Because it’s built for the harsh realities of space, the ruggedness is fully characterized. The converter is specified to hold its electrical parameters before and after irradiation up to a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of 50 krad, with Single Event Effects (SEE) characterization up to a Linear Energy Transfer (LET) of 43 MeV·cm²/mg. It will also maintain a full load across massive mission temperature swings, operating reliably from ?55°C straight up to +100°C.
To ensure flawless power delivery, Microchip loaded the device with essential safeguards including remote sensing, under/overvoltage protection, soft start, and output droop regulation.
This release slots perfectly into Microchip’s broader space heritage portfolio, providing an end-to-end power ecosystem that pairs smoothly with their EMI filters, discrete components, and new PIC64-HPSC spaceflight processors to help engineers mitigate design risk and accelerate mission deployment.
Leadership Comment
“Space designers are integrating increasingly powerful digital processing, creating demand for compact power solutions that can respond quickly, while operating reliably in harsh environments,” said Ronan Dillon, senior director of Microchip’s high-reliability and RF business unit. “The POL-05-20S-T extends our space power portfolio with a high-current GaN solution that helps customers achieve high power density, design flexibility and system-level reliability.”
For more information about Microchip’s space solutions, visit the website.
Pricing and Availability
The POL-05-20S-T is now available in production quantities.
You can purchase directly from Microchip or contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor.
