Development of Configurable Controller ASIC for Spacecraft Power Systems

Miniaturization of legacy designs in spacecraft avionics has to preserve the electrical and functional performance of the subsystem, adhering to the high reliability and quality standards. This paper presents the challenges and strategies adopted for development of a configurable power bus controller ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) for spacecraft power system using 180 nm bulk Silicon CMOS technology. The additional steps incorporated in the ASIC design flow to overcome the challenges are also illustrated.