Periodic Reporting for period 4 - INTERSTELLAR (Building the next generation high-speed data converters to strengthen European excellence and competitiveness on space applications and beyond)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-10-01 bis 2022-02-28
The goal of the INTERSTELLAR project is to build the next generation of high-speed data converters (Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog) to strengthen European excellence and competitiveness for Space and other applications
Higher integration with more channels on a board, lower power consumption, larger bandwidth and increased dynamic performance are all at stake here in order to enable the innovation expected by space industry and its customers, the satellite operators. Indeed, operators of currently foreseen satellite-borne telecommunications payloads are demanding more capable On Board Digital Signal Processors in order to interface effectively to complex antennas, flexibly generating hundreds of traffic beams and handling multi-GHz processed bandwidth per port.
This project will provide Space Industry with European key enabling data converters, ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) & DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), to:
* Ensure Europe’s non-dependence for such critical devices
* Boost Europe’s competitiveness
Circuits are most relevant for Telecommunications, Navigation, Earth Observation, and Science Missions.
The data converters of INTERSTELLAR show breakthrough innovation to reach Performances & Bandwidths beyond the state-of-the-art; these devices are:
* Multichannel ADC 12-bit resolution - very high bandwidth - high sampling rate - Output High Speed Serial Links
* Multi channel Broadband DAC, very high sampling rate, featuring unprecedented output frequency - Input High Speed Serial Links
In summary, here are 6 key objectives of the INTERSTELLAR project:
#1: Review the design and electrically characterize the multichannel 12-bit ADC then mature it up to TRL6.
#2: Design, manufacture, validate, electrically characterize the DAC and mature it up to TRL6.
#3: Validate the good behaviour of the ADC and DAC when submitted to mechanical and thermal stresses representative of space environment.
#4: Build and provide to partners demonstration boards to allow validating the devices, then to favour the adoption of the products by the market.
#5: Commercially evaluate the ADC and DAC within industrial applications and prepare the exploitation of the results
#6: Disseminate and communicate the results widely to maximize the impacts of the “INTERSTELLAR” H2020 project
Conclusion of the action: All initial objectives remained valid until the project end. INTERSTELLAR project has achieved most of its objectives and milestones for the period with relatively minor deviations.
Higher integration with more channels on a board, lower power consumption, larger bandwidth and increased dynamic performance are all at stake here in order to enable the innovation expected by space industry and its customers, the satellite operators. Indeed, operators of currently foreseen satellite-borne telecommunications payloads are demanding more capable On Board Digital Signal Processors in order to interface effectively to complex antennas, flexibly generating hundreds of traffic beams and handling multi-GHz processed bandwidth per port.
This project will provide Space Industry with European key enabling data converters, ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) & DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), to:
* Ensure Europe’s non-dependence for such critical devices
* Boost Europe’s competitiveness
Circuits are most relevant for Telecommunications, Navigation, Earth Observation, and Science Missions.
The data converters of INTERSTELLAR show breakthrough innovation to reach Performances & Bandwidths beyond the state-of-the-art; these devices are:
* Multichannel ADC 12-bit resolution - very high bandwidth - high sampling rate - Output High Speed Serial Links
* Multi channel Broadband DAC, very high sampling rate, featuring unprecedented output frequency - Input High Speed Serial Links
In summary, here are 6 key objectives of the INTERSTELLAR project:
#1: Review the design and electrically characterize the multichannel 12-bit ADC then mature it up to TRL6.
#2: Design, manufacture, validate, electrically characterize the DAC and mature it up to TRL6.
#3: Validate the good behaviour of the ADC and DAC when submitted to mechanical and thermal stresses representative of space environment.
#4: Build and provide to partners demonstration boards to allow validating the devices, then to favour the adoption of the products by the market.
#5: Commercially evaluate the ADC and DAC within industrial applications and prepare the exploitation of the results
#6: Disseminate and communicate the results widely to maximize the impacts of the “INTERSTELLAR” H2020 project
Conclusion of the action: All initial objectives remained valid until the project end. INTERSTELLAR project has achieved most of its objectives and milestones for the period with relatively minor deviations.
ADC main achievements
RP1:
ADC design review
ADC package design
Definition and specification of the electrical characterizations means (hardware, mechanics and software)
Specification of characterizations means to take into account irradiation tests constraints
RP2:
ADC electrical Characterization including demonstration of multi-ADC synchronization
Specification upgrade - Sampling rate up to 6.4 GSps
Demonstration board development and validation
Development and validation of industrial test means (Automatic Test equipment)
Development and validation of Qualification means (Burn-in, THB boards, ESD & Latch-up interfaces)
Many communications events related to Interstellar (presentation @ AMICSA, videos, press releases...)
RP3:
Qualification of standard grades ADC + start of space qualification
ADC Total dose tests with no drift up to 150Krad + preparation of SEE tests
Completion of Mechanical and thermal tests: The ADC was successfully evaluated with 792 thermal cycles which make it compatible with all GEO missions and some LEO/MEO mission
ADC evaluation by end users based on ADC Demo Board
New communications related to the ADC (presentation of radiation results at RADECs 2021, Press conference, …)
RP4:
Finalisation of qualification tests (ADC Spaced qualified and listed in EPPL1)
Finalisation of radiation tests (no drift up to 150Krad and no Latchup up to 67 MeV.cm2/mg)
Evaluation of ADC by end users (TAS and Airbus)
DAC main achievements
RP1:
Preliminary Thermal simulation
Sign-off of specification with updated challenging key features ahead of initial target
RP2:
Addition of new features to improve performances at high output frequencies and ease DAC usage at system level
Design of the DAC die (3 patents)
DAC package design
Definition and specification of the electrical characterizations means (hardware, mechanics and software)
RP3:
DAC electrical characterization
DAC Demo board development and validation
Development and validation of industrial test means (Automatic Test equipment)
Development and validation of Qualification means (Burn-in, THB boards, ESD & Latch-up interfaces)
RP4:
Finalisation of DAC characterization and identification of bugs and their workarounds
DAC irradiation tests (no drift up to 100Krad and no Latchup up to 65.39 MeV.cm2/mg)
Completion of Mechanical and Thermal tests: The DAC was successfully evaluated with 780 thermal cycles which make it compatible with all GEO missions and some LEO/MEO mission
Evaluation by end users (TAS and Airbus)
New communications related to the DAC (Live Demo Session at Electronica 2020 and Space Tech Expo 2021, …)
Overview of dissemination and exploitation of the results:
Results were disseminated all along the execution of Interstellar Program with a high number of Press Conferences, videos, articles, publications, and International shows.
About tens of concrete projects which are using INTERSTELLAR results (ADC and/or DAC) have already started as part of the exploitation plan, and a new commercialization route through System-in-Package has been opened in addition to the sales of ADC and DAC as standalone component. The components will fly on a JAXA mission and they are currently part of Galileo 2G and in the Copernicus program (Sentinel 6).
RP1:
ADC design review
ADC package design
Definition and specification of the electrical characterizations means (hardware, mechanics and software)
Specification of characterizations means to take into account irradiation tests constraints
RP2:
ADC electrical Characterization including demonstration of multi-ADC synchronization
Specification upgrade - Sampling rate up to 6.4 GSps
Demonstration board development and validation
Development and validation of industrial test means (Automatic Test equipment)
Development and validation of Qualification means (Burn-in, THB boards, ESD & Latch-up interfaces)
Many communications events related to Interstellar (presentation @ AMICSA, videos, press releases...)
RP3:
Qualification of standard grades ADC + start of space qualification
ADC Total dose tests with no drift up to 150Krad + preparation of SEE tests
Completion of Mechanical and thermal tests: The ADC was successfully evaluated with 792 thermal cycles which make it compatible with all GEO missions and some LEO/MEO mission
ADC evaluation by end users based on ADC Demo Board
New communications related to the ADC (presentation of radiation results at RADECs 2021, Press conference, …)
RP4:
Finalisation of qualification tests (ADC Spaced qualified and listed in EPPL1)
Finalisation of radiation tests (no drift up to 150Krad and no Latchup up to 67 MeV.cm2/mg)
Evaluation of ADC by end users (TAS and Airbus)
DAC main achievements
RP1:
Preliminary Thermal simulation
Sign-off of specification with updated challenging key features ahead of initial target
RP2:
Addition of new features to improve performances at high output frequencies and ease DAC usage at system level
Design of the DAC die (3 patents)
DAC package design
Definition and specification of the electrical characterizations means (hardware, mechanics and software)
RP3:
DAC electrical characterization
DAC Demo board development and validation
Development and validation of industrial test means (Automatic Test equipment)
Development and validation of Qualification means (Burn-in, THB boards, ESD & Latch-up interfaces)
RP4:
Finalisation of DAC characterization and identification of bugs and their workarounds
DAC irradiation tests (no drift up to 100Krad and no Latchup up to 65.39 MeV.cm2/mg)
Completion of Mechanical and Thermal tests: The DAC was successfully evaluated with 780 thermal cycles which make it compatible with all GEO missions and some LEO/MEO mission
Evaluation by end users (TAS and Airbus)
New communications related to the DAC (Live Demo Session at Electronica 2020 and Space Tech Expo 2021, …)
Overview of dissemination and exploitation of the results:
Results were disseminated all along the execution of Interstellar Program with a high number of Press Conferences, videos, articles, publications, and International shows.
About tens of concrete projects which are using INTERSTELLAR results (ADC and/or DAC) have already started as part of the exploitation plan, and a new commercialization route through System-in-Package has been opened in addition to the sales of ADC and DAC as standalone component. The components will fly on a JAXA mission and they are currently part of Galileo 2G and in the Copernicus program (Sentinel 6).
The ultra-fast maximum real sampling rate in conjunction with the extended analogue bandwidths, attractive linearity performance and specific power consumption levels make these components very useful in broadband telecommunications applications by reducing or even eliminating the need for RF down (Rx) and up (Tx) converters.
Both ADC and DAC components bring a significant advantage to Europe in term of independence, thus strengthening the competitiveness of the overall European space industry.
Package size and power consumption are worked out in order to optimize the SWaP (Size, Weight and Power).
The key feature of the ADC is its Cross Point Switch which enables to reconfigure ADC depending on the applications.
The key feature of the DAC is its ability to operate directly in Ka-band, thus allowing direct conversion.
ADC & DAC developed within Interstellar brings state of the art data converters highly reconfigurable. It allows to develop multi-mission satellites, reducing the need to launch a new satellite for each mission. It therefore reduce the wastes in Space and the power consumption linked to satellites launch.
The future commercialization of these two components will enable to maintain an historical know-how and high skilled jobs on the facility of Saint Egrève:
As it is complex products assembled and tested in France, it represents an important contribution on production (around 200 jobs for all products assembled in Grenoble).
Both ADC and DAC components bring a significant advantage to Europe in term of independence, thus strengthening the competitiveness of the overall European space industry.
Package size and power consumption are worked out in order to optimize the SWaP (Size, Weight and Power).
The key feature of the ADC is its Cross Point Switch which enables to reconfigure ADC depending on the applications.
The key feature of the DAC is its ability to operate directly in Ka-band, thus allowing direct conversion.
ADC & DAC developed within Interstellar brings state of the art data converters highly reconfigurable. It allows to develop multi-mission satellites, reducing the need to launch a new satellite for each mission. It therefore reduce the wastes in Space and the power consumption linked to satellites launch.
The future commercialization of these two components will enable to maintain an historical know-how and high skilled jobs on the facility of Saint Egrève:
As it is complex products assembled and tested in France, it represents an important contribution on production (around 200 jobs for all products assembled in Grenoble).