High-Performance NED

Products

Overview

Micross High-Performance Nuclear Event Detector (NED, Figure 1) can detect gamma radiation pulses from a nuclear event. Within 15 ns following the leading edge of an incoming gamma radiation pulse, the High-Performance NED will assert its differential pulse and level output signals. The High-Performance NED’s level output may then be reset by the assertion of a differential input signal. The MYXRHNED features a minimum dose rate threshold of 5 x 104 rads(Si)/sec, thereby providing higher sensitivity than currently available NEDs. The dose rate threshold can be increased upwards up to 2 x 107 rads(Si)/sec, by means of an external adjustment resistor. The High-Performance NED, which is available in a 44 pin J-Lead ceramic package, is radiation hardened, enabling it to operate reliably in environments with high gamma dose and gamma dose rate, neutrons and heavy ions; and provide immunity to latch up.  It achieves this by using a custom designed PIN diode that’s optimized for gamma radiation, along with a rad-hard-by-design ASIC designed specifically for this purpose.  Since the ASIC contains the line drivers and receivers on-board as Rad Hard blocks, no additional consideration is needed for those functions.

Benefits

• 4X Lower Minimum Dose Rate Sensitivity
• 25% Faster Response Time at 5X Lower Overdrive – Enabling a More Rapid Shutdown of Critical Electronics
• Improved Noise Immunity
• Use Output Signal to Shut Down Power Supplies, Take Processors Offline and Block Memory Write Operations
• Manufactured on US Soil
• Improvements in Obsolescence Mitigation with In-House PIN Diode and Controller

Features

• Gamma Dose Rate Sensitivity Threshold Range Adjustable from 5 x 10⁴ to 2 x 10⁷ rads (Si) / sec.
• 44-Pin Hermetic Ceramic J-Lead SMT Package (.650in x .650in x .113in)
• Integrated Differential Line Drivers and Receivers Eliminates the Need for Shielding External Drivers and Receivers
• Total Dose (Device Survivability): 1 x 10⁶ rads (Si)
• Dose Rate (Operate Through): 1 x 10¹² rads (Si) / sec.
• Neutron Fluence (Operate Through): 5 x 10¹³ neutrons / cm²
• Delay from Radiation Detected to Output Signal Asserted: 15ns at 2X Overdrive
• 3.3V Power Requirement
• -55°C to +125°C Temperature Range
• Differential Line Drivers and Receivers All Operate Through Prompt Dose Without Extra Shielding
• Perform Minimum Dose Rate Threshold Test on 100% of Units

Documentation

• High-Performance NED Preliminary Datasheet (Rev 1.10)
• High-Performance NED Preliminary Product Brief
• Engineering Model NED Datasheet (Rev 1.0)

Press Release - April 8^th, 2024

"The race to prevent satellite Armageddon" - The Economist