Lattice 5962-8983902RA: A High-Reliability Rad-Hard FPGA for Demanding Space Applications
The relentless environment of space presents a formidable challenge for electronic systems. Intense radiation, extreme thermal cycles, and the impossibility of physical repair demand components of the highest caliber. For critical functions in satellites, deep space probes, and launch vehicles, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer invaluable flexibility, but only if they can withstand these harsh conditions. The Lattice 5962-8983902RA is a radiation-hardened FPGA engineered specifically to meet this challenge, representing a pinnacle of reliability for the most demanding space applications.
This device is not a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) component but a high-reliability (Hi-Rel) unit manufactured and screened to the stringent MIL-PRF-38535 qualified manufacturer list (QML) standards. Its pedigree ensures that every chip is built and tested to perform reliably over its entire lifetime in orbit. The "5962" prefix in its part number signifies its compliance with this military standard, giving system designers supreme confidence in its quality and performance.
The core strength of the 5962-8983902RA lies in its radiation-hardened (Rad-Hard) design. It is specifically engineered to mitigate the damaging effects of space radiation, which can disrupt or destroy conventional electronics. Key rad-hard features include:
Immunity to Latch-Up: The technology is inherently immune to single-event latch-up (SEL), a destructive condition caused by high-energy particles.
Tolerance to TID: It can withstand high levels of total ionizing dose (TID), which accumulates over time and can cause gradual performance degradation and functional failure.
Mitigated SEU Effects: The FPGA is designed to minimize the impact of single-event upsets (SEU), which are transient errors caused when a particle strikes a memory cell. While not always eliminated, the architecture allows for mitigation techniques to ensure continuous correct operation.
Beyond its rad-hard characteristics, the FPGA provides a robust and programmable logic fabric. Based on proven non-volatile flash technology, it is instant-on and immune to configuration upsets, a significant advantage over SRAM-based FPGAs that require constant shielding and scrubbing to prevent configuration memory corruption. This feature simplifies system design and enhances overall reliability.
The applications for the Lattice 5962-8983902RA are found wherever failure is not an option. It is ideally suited for:
Satellite payload control and data handling systems
Flight avionics and command & data handling (C&DH) in launch vehicles
Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) systems
Instrument control and data processing for deep space missions
Radiation-tolerant processing and interface management
ICGOOODFIND: The Lattice 5962-8983902RA stands as a benchmark for high-reliability reconfigurable logic in space. Its rigorous MIL-PRF-38535 certification, combined with its inherent radiation-hardened architecture and non-volatile flash technology, provides system architects with a trusted, flexible, and resilient solution for ensuring mission success in the unforgiving environment of space.
Keywords:
Radiation-Hardened (Rad-Hard)
FPGA
MIL-PRF-38535
Total Ionizing Dose (TID)
Single-Event Upset (SEU)
