A Modular Set of Analog Microcircuits Intended for Satellite Experiments

A set of four modular building block elements have been designed for use in a variety of satellite experiments. These elements comprise an amplifier, a zero crossing discriminator, a linear gate and a pulse shaper. The circuits are constructed in hybrid form using discrete transistors and tantalum thin film resistors on ceramic substrates. This form of construction was dictated by considerations of radiation damage, component tolerances and power consumption. An attempt has been made to design the elements so that they can be used in a variety of ways. Individual examples of these applications are given in the context of a particular space experiment. This experiment involves the use of a multielement semiconductor detector telescope and employs approximately 100 of the analog building blocks. The total transistor count is approximately 500 and the power consumption is less than 1.5 watts.