Specifically this includes, modeling of customer-specific radiation environments and shielding analysis, testing and validation of electrical performance, and component/system level mitigation techniques resulting in products that meet or exceed the customer's radiation requirements.

Maxwell performs Total Ionizing Dose (TID) radiation testing on-site using the company's own Co60 source. Off-site, Maxwell completes Single Event Effects (SEE) testing at various facilities throughout the United States ­ such as Berkeley, Texas A&M, and Brookhaven.

Maxwell develops both the test hardware and software to completely characterize the components, and has recently modified the test criteria to include Single Event Latchup (SEL) high-temperature testing as standard for all future products.

Most recently, Maxwell has conducted extensive testing on SDRAM and the PowerPC750FX, which is the basis for its next generation super computer for space.

"This dedication to providing a radiation guarantee for our products falls directly in line with the product strategy Maxwell announced earlier this year," states Dr. Rich Balanson, president of Maxwell Technologies. "The strategy guarantees Maxwell's components for performance, radiation tolerance, and life-of-the-application availability," Dr. Balanson continues.

The company's focus on providing complete and accurate radiation characterization, along with any applicable mitigation approaches, provides customers with the necessary information ­ and guarantee ­ to ensure that the parts they purchase from Maxwell will meet the requirements of their mission.

Additionally, this strategy demonstrates Maxwell's commitment of selecting the highest performance commercial semiconductors backed by radiation data and integrating mitigation technologies that support the product's use in a space.

Maxwell has already begun rolling out its initiative of making available a formal radiation summary report for each part type, directly accessible from its website.

"Maxwell has the capability to perform most radiation testing required to characterize and qualify a device for space," said Chad Thibodeau, ProductManager for Maxwell Technologies' Microelectronics.

"This includes TID testing which is the accumulation of radiation over time ­ similar to that of a sunburn. Maxwell also performs Single Event Effects testing, which is the result of high-energy particles striking the die. Single Event testing is more complicated and elaborate; consisting of several elements such as Single Event Latchup, Single Event Upset, and Single Event Gate Rupture, among others."

"To take advantage of the superior performance of commercial parts in space you have to be able to completely characterize the part for all radiation effects and Maxwell has this capability. Along with this, Maxwell has the ability to analyze the performance of the part in the customer's particular environment; including TID and SEE performance, to verify that the device meets the mission requirement." added Thibodeau.

Additionally, Maxwell employs several different mitigation techniques such as Latchup Protection Circuitry (LPT), Rad-Pak shielding, Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) and Error Detection and Correction (EDAC) to provide a total radiation guaranteed product solution.

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