Total Dose and Single Event Transients in Linear Voltage Regulators

Abstract

Radiation effects on four common DC linear voltage regulators are investigated. Increasing total dose is shown to degrade converter regulation by degrading the loop gain and phase response. Regulator single event transient (SET) response is characterized, and a mitigation technique is proposed. Shunt regulator topologies are found to be superior to series regulator topologies in terms of radiation tolerance.