Design, construction and Programming of a Microcontroller-Based Testbench Suitable for Radiation Testing of Microelectronic Circuits

Abstract

This thesis describes the design, construction, and programming of a microcontroller- based testbench suitable for radiation testing microelectronic integrated circuits. It will be used to test circuits fabricated using the Low Temperature Gallium Arsenide (LT GaAs) fabrication process developed by the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Research Laboratory. The testbench will be used to test for sensitivity to Single Event Upsets (changes in logic level due to impact by high energy ions). Due to the spurious radiation around the particle accelerator, it will be remotely operated via a serial communication port. Radiation hardened components will eventually be used throughout, although for cost- savings, non-radiation hardened components are used in the initial design described here. The test bench is built around the Intel 8%C51 four-port microcontroller. As part of this research, it will be programmed to test two memory chips, one manufactured by Motorola Inc. and one by Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation. The Motorola chip requires that a special chip carrier with logic translation and output drivers be designed prior to testing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA333415

Entities

People

  • John A. Thompson

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Circuit Boards
  • Coast Guard
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Construction
  • Data Transmission
  • Electronic Circuits
  • Electronic Components
  • Instruction Set Architecture
  • Integrated Circuits
  • Operating Systems
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Printed Circuits
  • Semiconductors
  • Terminals

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems