Microsemi announces new package for radiation tolerant "space flight" FPGAs

ALISO VIEJO, USA: Microsemi Corp. announced that its radiation tolerant RT ProASIC3 family of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) is now available in a ceramic quad flat pack (CQFP) package. CQFP packages comply with time-tested and flight-proven circuit board and assembly techniques. In addition, ceramic withstands extreme operating temperatures, which makes it an ideal material for demanding space applications.

Microsemi's RT ProASIC3 FPGAs are the first devices of their type to provide space-flight hardware designers a radiation-tolerant, reprogrammable, non-volatile logic integration solution. The devices are intended for low-power space applications requiring up to 350 MHz operation and up to 3 million system gates. The devices operate at a core voltage between 1.2 V for low-power applications and 1.5 V for performance-driven designs.

The RT ProASIC3 FPGAs are based on secure flash technology that provides immunity against damaging radiation-induced configuration upsets, while eliminating the need for additional code storage. The easily reprogrammable FPGAs also enable quick prototyping and design validation capabilities, which streamline product-development efforts.

Microsemi has been providing solutions for demanding space applications for more than 40 years and currently has more than 150 fully qualified space products in its portfolio. The company's standard and customized space solutions include converters, customizable system-on-chip (cSoC) solutions, MOSFETS, rectifiers, switching diodes, transistors, DC-DC converters and zener diodes.

RT ProASIC3 FPGAs in the CQ256 package will be available for prototyping in April 2012 with flight units available by June 2012.