A Robust Design Against Failure Propagation of an All-in Multi-chip Hybrid DC-DC Converters Controller

A new approach to design low/medium Power Supply Unit (PSU) has been developed. It is based on the design of a custom ASIC that integrates all the control and protection functions, leaving outside transformers and power MOSFET. The ASIC has been designed in a 150nm High Voltage CMOS Rad Hard technology and it is composed of three different dice placed inside the same cavity package. A CQFP64 package has been used to assembly the ASIC. Selection of suitable materials and the design approach used have allowed to obtain a component robust against temperature and electrical failure propagation. The ASIC has been tested in the temperature range from −40°C to +125 °C and the behavior under single event and total ionization has been evaluated as well. A validation campaign based on the design of a PSU exploiting the ASIC functionality has been performed.