Deep Space Cryogenic Power Electronics, Phase I

Technology Application, Inc. (TAI) is proposing to demonstrate feasibility of implementing silicon germanium (SiGe) strained-gate technology in the power complementary metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOSFET) and logic devices for a logic and power transistor controller for space-approved stepper motors at cryogenic temperature. Power electronic systems contain digital and analog circuits, and the increasing complexity of these systems required for deep space missions and naval electric-powered propulsion requires a new approach in material and processes to operate efficiently at cryogenic temperature. The metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is the building block for both digital and analog circuits. Silicon (Si) is a good material for fabricating power MOSFET and electronic devices for operation from 300 K to 77 K. Devices made from Si suffer from carrier freeze-out below 77 K. Silicon carbide (SiC) is another material suitable for power switch transistors; however, SiC deivices suffer from carrier freeze-out at temperature higher than that of Si. SiGe heterostructure bipolar transistor (HBT) devices are good candidates for low temperature operation. However, SiGe HBT devices suffer changes in characteristics as the operating temperature gets colder. SiGe HBT device switching waveform of a dc-dc converter became distorted below 120 K.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.