The aLFA-C device is an advanced programmable interfacing ASIC developed specifically for space-borne infrared read-out integrated circuits (ROICs) and other image sensors. This product functions by substituting much of the infrastructure generally found in traditional front-end electronics. It operates on a single unregulated power supply through on-chip LDOs and regulators and is highly adaptable, supporting both external clock or crystal oscillator interfaces.
The device communicates via the SpaceWire protocol and includes a fully programmable sequencer for ROIC, featuring eight levels of nesting for on-the-fly reprogrammability. It offers 32 programmable digital outputs that can be combined into 16 differential outputs across different formats such as CMOS, LVDS, or CML. Additionally, it boasts 16 programmable digital inputs that can be similarly reconfigured.
The aLFA-C features intricate analog capabilities with 32 signal inputs plus four reference channels, equipped with 16-bit ADCs. These channels are noted for their low INL and DNL, enabling unsupervised calibration and post-correction. They can be parallelized or interleaved for enhanced operation speeds. This device is built to endure severe environments, offering TID, SEU, and SEL tolerance, functioning effectively across a wide temperature range from 35K to 330K.
