Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has introduced the POL-05-20S-T, a radiation-tolerant point-of-load (POL) converter designed to meet the power requirements of space processing applications. Using gallium nitride (GaN) power devices, the converter delivers up to 20 amperes of continuous output current in a compact package.
The new device is designed for both new space and traditional space applications, where onboard processing systems require efficient power delivery within strict limits on size, weight and energy consumption. Its GaN-based design combines high efficiency and power density with continuous high-current capability. The POL-05-20S-T comes in a 25-gram surface-mount package measuring 1.51 x 1.51 x 0.45 inches. Its compact dimensions are intended to help engineers manage the power demands of increasingly capable digital processing systems used in space missions.
“Space designers are integrating increasingly powerful digital processing, creating demand for compact power solutions that can respond quickly, while operating reliably in harsh environments,” said Ronan Dillon, senior director of Microchip’s high-reliability and RF business unit. He added that the converter expands the company’s space power portfolio with a high-current GaN solution offering power density, design flexibility and system-level reliability.
The converter is intended for high-current applications with rapid changes in power demand, including core voltage rails for field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microcontrollers, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and other processing-intensive digital components.
It uses a synchronous buck topology with current-mode control to support fast transient response and stable operation. The device has an input voltage range of 4.75V to 13.2V and an adjustable output range of 0.7V to 5V, allowing it to support different power rails and system designs.
For operation in radiation-prone environments, the POL-05-20S-T has electrical parameters specified before and after irradiation at a total ionizing dose of up to 50 krad. It is also characterised for single-event effects at a linear energy transfer of up to 43 MeV·cm²/mg. The operating temperature range is -55°C to +100°C at full load.
Additional features include remote sensing, undervoltage and overvoltage protection, soft start, an enable pin and a power-good indication pin. Adjustable output voltage and droop regulation help engineers configure the device for loads requiring tight voltage control and rapid response to changes in current demand.
Microchip’s space power portfolio includes electromagnetic interference filters, DC-DC converters, point-of-load regulators, high-reliability discrete components, FPGAs and PIC64-HPSC high-performance spaceflight computing devices. The company offers these technologies as part of an integrated portfolio intended to help space system designers simplify development and reduce design risks in mission-critical applications.
Microchip Technology is widely recognized for its semiconductor, embedded systems, and timing solutions used across automotive, industrial, aerospace, communications, and consumer electronics applications. Through ongoing innovation in frequency control and precision timing technologies, the company aims to support next-generation electronic systems that demand higher performance, lower power consumption, and improved operational resilience.
