Nuclear event detector from C-MAC helps with design of rad-hard electronics

C-MAC Microtechnology in Old Amersham, England, is introducing a low-power nuclear event detector (NED) that detects a pulse from an ionizing radiation event, such as from space radiation, and mitigates the effect by protecting sensitive electronic systems via a controlled power-down or transition to a known state. The device helps engineers design radiation-hardened (rad-hard) electronics. The company developed the NED in association with MBDA UK Ltd. (MBDA) in London. After the detected pulse has passed, the NED returns power to the system in a controlled manner. Primarily available in a 14-pin, flat-pack configuration, the circuit was designed by MBDA and manufactured on C-MAC’s MIL-PRF-38534 certified production line. Before the end of 2009, the NED will be available for procurement under the Standard Microcircuit Drawing (SMD) program managed by the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit C-MAC online at www.cmac.com.