Ultra-Wide Temperature (-230°C to 130°C) DC-Motor Drive with SiGe Asynchronous Controller

Spacecraft routinely experience extreme environmental conditions, including cryogenic (as low as -230°C) and elevated temperatures (as high as +130°C). Presently, the temperature of the spacecraft electronics is regulated to its safe operating temperature. The need for temperature regulation on current spacecrafts imposes significant constraints on spacecraft design and also limits performance. This paper details efforts to develop a DC motor drive operational in extreme ambient temperatures (-230 to +130°C). The circuitry of this motor drive is to be based on mature, commercially available technologies and a custom silicon germanium (SiGe) low power asynchronous 8051-pin-compatible microprocessor ASIC. In this paper, the authors present results of passive and active commercial component testing carried out to date, a discussion of the developed automated asynchronous logic design flow, and a discussion of ultra-wide temperature range NULL Convention Logic (NCL™) IC design work accomplished to date. Developments made during this research project will allow for a more rapid and more reliable circuit design of ultra-wide range or cryogenic electronics, particularly NCL circuits and power electronic circuits.