STMicroelectronics LEOPOL1 point-of-load converter for LEO applications

The emerging New Space industry, driven by private-sector companies, is enabling services such as communication and Earth observation, delivered from satellites built and launched into low Earth orbit (LEO). STMicroelectronics’ LEOPOL1 point-of-load step-down converter has been optimised for LEO satellites, leveraging automotive best practices including statistical process control.

The product has been radiation hardened to withstand the hazards encountered in LEO altitudes, leveraging ST’s BCD6-SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology. Key hardness parameters include 50 krad(Si) total ionising dose (TID) and 3.10¹¹ proton/cm² total non-ionising dose (TNID). Single-event effects (SEE) performance is characterised up to 62 MeV.cm²/mg.

The device provides extended flexible features including out-of-phase current sharing, which permits multiplying the current to the load with multiple converters working in parallel. In addition, its synchronisation capability allows easy sequencing to power up equipment with multiple voltage rails. The converter delivers up to 7 A, accepts an input voltage up to 12 V at ground level, and has demonstrated 5 A at 6 V at 62 MeV.cm²/mg s.