Configurable and Compact isolated DC/DC converter

Payloads and platform equipment need isolated voltages from the primary bus to supply both low voltage digital electronics and analog devices. This is achieved using multi-output DC/DC converters, which, generally, need to be custom designed for each application.

A TDE activity with Sitael, Italy, has engineered a compact custom ASIC and a compatible, configurable DC-DC converter (DC2I) that makes it possible to buy in a converter design and perform the specific modifications needed to make it suitable for the specific application.

If the appropriate modifications are made then the converter can be used in payloads and platform equipment, reducing the development time, the cost and the size of the converters.

DC2I was expected to provide a configurable, isolated converter, meaning that with very few changes each input/output voltage configuration could be adopted.

To make DC2I work, a custom ASIC also had to be developed to perform the control loop to afford the appropriate protections. The activity designed and tested two different converters, able to manage up to 40W (called PSU2) and 12W (called PSU1) respectively. Both were able to withstand a temperature range between -40° and 70°C.

The fully tested DC2I ASIC will be used in future projects containing isolated, peak current control DC/DC converters, in particular if compactness of the converters is a specific requirement.

Next, the activity intends to further develop the DC2I ASIC to be more suitable for market.

All documentation for T903-017EP was received in November 2020.