Cobham unveils world's first highly-integrated power switch controllers for space

Courtesy Cobham

The UT36PFD103 and UT05PFD103 Smart Power Switch Controllers (SPSC) provide extensive fault detection, isolation, and recovery capabilities as well as digitized telemetry of input voltage, output voltage, and load current into a single device. In addition, Cobham’s new controllers feature PMBus protocol over I2C communication, thereby enabling significantly reduced size, weight, power and cost benefits, often yielding better than 75% area and 50% cost reduction over equivalent discrete implementations.

With the availability of Cobham’s UT36PFD103 and UT05PFD103 Smart Power Switch Controllers, developers can easily design 4.5V through 36V spacecraft power distribution systems, with the assurance that no load fault will cause undo harm to the bus and associated electronics.

“Cobham has a long heritage as a leader in space and satellite technologies, having powered hundreds of missions over the past 30+ years. Our broad portfolio of semiconductors, radiation hardened, high reliability microelectronic products and IP solutions are recognized worldwide for their pedigree, performance and dependability,” said Kevin Jackson, Vice President and General Manager, Semiconductor and Space Solutions, Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions. “As the latest addition to our product portfolio and the first of its kind for space and satellite applications, our new Smart Power Switch Controllers continue to offer unparalleled features, integration and functionality, making them the most exemplary intelligent power switch controlling solutions in the market today.”