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A current limiter for satellite power protection

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Abstract

Latching current limiters (LCL) are used in space missions to improve the reliability of spacecrafts. The LCL is used in DC power distribution systems to isolate faults and protect satellite payloads. The presented LCL topology is a PMOS power transistor associated with a control circuit, which allows the adjustment of the limiting current and to set the trip-off time. These parameters are important to keep the transistor operating inside the safe operating area. An inductor was added to the power path to eliminate the short-circuit peak current, keeping the entire network stable. Moreover, the LCL provides current and voltage telemetries and a fault indication signal to check the status of the load. The functionality of the LCL was verified by simulations and by tests on prototyping circuits. Radiation tests were performed on MOSFETs and the drift in \(V_\mathrm{th}\) (threshold voltage), due to ionizing radiation exposure, was extracted and used to analyze the response of LCL in harsh environment. The control circuit was designed and partially integrated into the \(0.6 \mu m\) CMOS technology.

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Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank CTI’s Division of Projects, Analysis and Qualification of Electronic Circuits (DIPAQ) and Assembly, Packaging and System Integration Division (DIMES). CEITEC for the manufacture of integrated circuits through the PMUB program. FACTI, FINEP, FAPESP, and CNPq for financing the Radiation Tolerant Integrated Circuits Project (CITAR project).

Funding

This study was funded by Brazilian projects and studies funding (FINEP).

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Author notes

  1. Agnaldo Vieira Dias, Ângela Alves dos Santos, Paula Cristiane Secheusk, Tássio Côrtes Cavalcante, Silvio Manea, José Alexandre Diniz and Saulo Finco are contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Projects, Analysis and Qualification of Electronic Circuits (DIPAQ), Center for Information Technology Renato Archer (CTI), Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Ronald Hassib Galvis Chacón & Ângela Alves dos Santos

  2. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (FEEC), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Ronald Hassib Galvis Chacón, Ângela Alves dos Santos, Paula Cristiane Secheusk, José Alexandre Diniz & Saulo Finco

  3. Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Agnaldo Vieira Dias & Silvio Manea

  4. Nuclear Energy Division (ENU), Institute for Advanced Studies (IEAv), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Tássio Côrtes Cavalcante

Authors
  1. Ronald Hassib Galvis Chacón
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  2. Agnaldo Vieira Dias
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  3. Ângela Alves dos Santos
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  4. Paula Cristiane Secheusk
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  6. Silvio Manea
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  8. Saulo Finco
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Correspondence to Ronald Hassib Galvis Chacón.

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Chacón, R.H.G., Dias, A.V., Santos, Â.A.d. et al. A current limiter for satellite power protection. Analog Integr Circ Sig Process 112, 289–300 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-022-02041-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10470-022-02041-y

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