Cryogenic DC-DC Converter Using Magnetic Amplifier Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bipolar transistors become unusable at extreme cold temperatures and most insulating gate devices are not functional after high radiation exposure, limiting their use in planetary exploration applications.

Innovation Solution

A radiation-hardened DC-DC converter is designed using industry standard discrete parts, specifically combining JFETs and P-channel MOSFETs with a saturable core magnetic amplifier, capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures and high radiation levels, eliminating the need for bipolar transistors and providing efficient power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If bipolar transistors are used in integrated circuits, then the circuits can operate at moderate temperatures, but the current gain drops to unusable levels at extreme cold temperatures below -80°C

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating temperature rangeVSAvoidcurrent gain

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by replacing bipolar transistors with JFETs and MOSFETs, which have different temperature-dependent characteristics. These field-effect devices maintain acceptable performance at cryogenic temperatures where bipolar transistors fail, thus resolving the temperature-gain contradiction through device parameter substitution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If insulating gate devices (CMOS) are used, then power consumption is reduced, but gate threshold voltage shifts considerably after radiation exposure, rendering them non-functional

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidgate threshold stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses discrete JFETs and MOSFETs as radiation-hardened copies of standard commercial devices. These discrete field-effect devices replicate the low power consumption benefits of CMOS while being inherently more resistant to radiation-induced threshold shifts, thus resolving the power-radiation reliability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional discrete parts are used instead of specially designed integrated circuits, then production cost is reduced, but radiation hardening and cryogenic operation capabilities are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidradiation hardness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite solution by combining discrete JFETs and MOSFETs with external radiation shielding materials. This composite approach achieves radiation hardening and cryogenic operation capabilities using off-the-shelf commercial parts, resolving the cost-reliability contradiction without requiring expensive custom radiation-hardened integrated circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If radiation shielding is added to protect electronic circuits, then radiation resistance is improved, but the added weight and volume compromise mission capabilities in planetary exploration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation resistanceVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the radiation sensitivity problem from the system level and addresses it at the component level by selecting inherently radiation-resistant discrete devices. This eliminates the need for heavy external radiation shielding, thus resolving the radiation resistance-weight contradiction by moving the protection mechanism from system-level shielding to component-level selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables the DC-DC converter to operate effectively at extremely low temperatures and high radiation environments, achieving low quiescent current consumption and low dropout characteristics, making it suitable for planetary exploration applications at a relatively low cost.

Implementation Method 1

a transformer; and an output side, the output side including a magnetic amplifier, wherein the pre-regulated high frequency AC voltage is fed to the magnetic amplifier through the transformer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an output side, the output side including a magnetic amplifier, wherein the pre-regulated high frequency AC voltage is fed to the magnetic amplifier through the transformer allowing the magnetic amplifier to provide a pulse width modulation function for voltage regulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic saturation: Magnetic Saturation

Implementation Method 3

a magnetic amplifier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic hysteresis: Magnetic Hysteresis

Data Source

PatentUS10090667B2Radiation hardened DC-DC converter for operation at cryogenic temperatures

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 SUMMER STEVEN E

AI summary

A radiation-hardened DC-DC converter capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures in high radiation environments. The radiation-hardened DC-DC converter can include an input side, the input side producing a high frequency AC voltage; a transformer; and an output side, the output side including a magnetic amplifier, wherein the pre-regulated high frequency AC voltage is fed to the magnetic amplifier through the transformer allowing the magnetic amplifier to provide a pulse width modulation function for voltage regulation.