A Universal Resonator Controller (URC) ASIC is proposed, primarily to measure inertial sensors. High performance, navigation-grade IMUs use discrete parts to sense accelerometers and gyroscopes. By using ASICs instead of COTS ICs IMU size and power consumption can be reduced. A major issue in both rad-hard and terrestrial IMU markets is the lack of volume for high-performance systems when spread out across many players. It is not particularly feasible to develop a cutting-edge product with all the difficulties of an ASIC for a single specific sensor. Instead, the URC casts a wide net, allowing integrators to pick and choose which sensors to interface with. With only a handful of passives and support ICs, the proposed URC would be able to operate with most inertial sensors operating with resonant frequencies between 5kHz-150kHz. Nearly any resonating system may be controlled or sensed with this architecture due to its flexible digital programmable settings and selected external passives. A prototype with limited bandwidth and only amplitude modulation has been developed. Both voltage and current transduction modes are already available. Phase I efforts will be dedicated to improving and implementing targeted innovations. Due to the duration of work and award amount Phase I focuses on simulation and selected transistor-level designs. Radiation hardening methods will be simulated, ADC bandwidth improved, and frequency demodulation architectures designed. The existing ADC will be migrated to a rad-hard process and architecturally improved to guard against SETs. Phase II will then proceed with full chip design and migration efforts, culminating in the tapeout of a wide bandwidth, rad-hard URC ASIC with best in-class SWaP. Anticipated
Benefits: Rendevous, Proximity Operations, and Capture Maneuvering; Formation Flying, Precison Pointing, Station Keeping, and Relative Navigation; Affordable GNC for Expendable Vehicles; Mars Sample & Return Missions (Mars Ascent Vehicle); High Volume SmallSat Constellations; Entry, Descent & Landing GNC; North Finding and Latitude Determination; Down-Hole Navigation and Mapping for Geothermal and Oil; Autonomous Vehicles and Drone Navigation/Stabilization; Longer Duration Navigation for Munitions and GPS denied environments.
