Hardened by Design (HBD) Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC) Technology

"Electronics technology for space systems is at a critical juncture, especially for strategic systems. Maintenance and improvement of the two dedicated radiation hardened foundries will cost a lot of money and may still fall short of commercial foundryperformance. Hardened by design techniques have been applied to digital electronics produced on commercial foundries with good success in both performance and radiation hardness. Design techniques are also being applied to analog and mixed-signalelectronics with success. Cryogenic electronics are currently being overlooked. This project will revisit readout integrated circuit (ROIC) electronics technology for focal place arrays applied in space systems. Specifically, this project will examinealternative foundries for development of radiation hardened ROICs. MRC will perform an analysis of ROIC needs, develop a test device, and evaluate its radiation response under cryogenic conditions. This project will advance technology for spacesurveillance systems, enabling the application of improved focal plane arrays. As a result, this capability will improve nuclear weapons surety."