Rad hard fpgas for space applications
In a move designed to bring design flexibility to the space market, Actel has launched a range of radiation tolerant flash based fpgas.
Two devices have been announced, both based on Actel’s ProASIC3 architecture. The 600,000 gate RT3PE600L and 3million gate RT3PE3000L support power supplies ranging from 1.2 to 1.5V.
Ken O’Neill, director of high reliability marketing for Actel, said: “For aerospace designers, reprogrammable fpgas can simplify prototyping and permit early hardware timing validation of complex space systems. However, not all reprogrammable space grade devices offer immunity to radiation induced configuration upsets, thereby increasing risk, cost, design complexity, size and weight.
“RT ProASIC3 devices give aerospace designers the flexibility they desire, combined with freedom from the cumbersome triple chip redundancy required by sram based solutions in space.”
