Application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with low power digitizer (ADC) for space imaging applications

As the number of image sensor output increase the circuit cards and cable designs have become complex and the power unmanageable in space payloads. This paper reports recent ADC integrated circuit (IC) developed for space environment to alleviate the most pressing concerns of the space payload systems. These ADCs are integrated into multi-channel ASICs (4 to 40 per chip) that greatly reducing the system size, weight, power and cost. The ADCs range from 8-bit to 16-bit digitizers with noise approaching the quantization limit while also maintaining ultra-low power dissipation. 14-bit 20 MSPS digitization at 50 mW and 16-bit 250 KSPS for just 5mW is acheived. Novel on the fly programmable architecture, linearity, power dissipation, SNR performance, radiation tolerance and other critical performance parameters are reported. Utility of these ICs is discussed in a wide variety of instruments suitable for LEO, GEO or other orbits.