Renesas ships first driver for rad-hard GaN FETs
Optimised power supply solution for small satellite mega-constellations in Low Earth Orbit
Renesas Electronics has announced the space industry’s first plastic-packaged, radiation-tolerant PWM controller and GaN FET driver for DC/DC power supplies in small satellites (smallsats) and launch vehicles. The ISL71040M low-side GaN FET driver safely drives Renesas’ rad-hard GaN FETs in isolated topologies and boost type configurations.
Private ‘new space’ companies have begun launching smallsats to form large constellations operating in multiple low Earth orbit (LEO) planes. Smallsat mega-constellations provide global broadband Internet links, as well as high-resolution Earth observation imaging for sea, air, and land asset tracking.
“The ISL71043M and ISL71040M along with our GaN FETs and digital isolators give customers a size and cost optimised power supply solution for large constellations of smallsats,” said Philip Chesley, VP of Renesas' industrial analogue and power business division “Renesas’ radiation-tolerant plastic package flow and cutting-edge IC technology provides the optimal cost and radiation performance new space customers demand for 5-year mission profiles in low Earth orbit.”
