SILICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are necessary for many applications, including sensors

Description

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are necessary for many applications, including sensors, hardware based radio station, wireless systems, instrumentation, and power. These applications are often used in harsh environments which magnify the difficulty of designing complex ADCs due to the fact that ionizing radiation and even a single ionizing particle can generate charge in the semiconductor circuit. The radiation can drastically alter the performance of the ADC. For example, the effects of ionizing radiation on MOS transistors can cause shifts in the threshold voltage, changes in the gain and a marked increase in the leakage currents which significantly affect the ADC. The availability of small geometry SOI and conventional CMOS processes has made it possible to design and fabricate circuits with greatly improved rad-hard characteristics using RadHard by Design or RadHard by Process techniques. Silicon Technologies, Inc. (STI) proposes to design and commercialize a high-performance, Rad Hard Analog converter (RDADC) technology to serve space markets. We will review existing process literature, evaluate findings, pick a process and technology and incorporate this into existing design tools developed for DARPA contract # W31P4Q-11-C-0046 and an ongoing Air Force contract #FA9453-13-M-0125. Circuit design, layout and simulations will be included for a representative RHADC.