Space CSAC: From Concept to Qualified Product

Stewart Hampton, Matt Stanczyk, Peter Cash, Mike Silveira

Abstract:	Soon after Microchip’s SA.45s Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) entered production, prospective customers began inquiring about the part’s radiation tolerance. These inquiries resulted in a series of TID tests from 2011 to the present day. It became clear that the standard production CSAC was not a good candidate for LEO applications; the first two CSACs tested failed shortly after 10 kRad (Si) exposure. However, it was determined that either with shielding or component selection, a radiation tolerant unit could be produced. The first incarnation was a shielded version of the standard CSAC. The version that was eventually qualified is fit, form and function with the Standard SA.45s and has selected radiation tolerant components. This paper will discuss the alternate design philosophies in greater detail and highlight the Qualification testing and the Lot Qualification requirements that are now imposed on Space CSAC.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 50th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting January 28 - 31, 2019 Hyatt Regency Reston Reston, Virginia
Pages:	214 - 234
Cite this article:	Hampton, Stewart, Stanczyk, Matt, Cash, Peter, Silveira, Mike, "Space CSAC: From Concept to Qualified Product," Proceedings of the 50th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Reston, Virginia, January 2019, pp. 214-234. https://doi.org/10.33012/2019.16755
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