MICRO DIGITAL SUN SENSOR: A LOT OF SENSOR FOR SUCH A SMALL PACKAGE

摘要

A novel micro Digital Sun Sensor (μDSS) is underdevelopment in the frame of a micro systemstechnology (MST) development program (Microned)from the Dutch ministry of economic affairs. Use ofavailable micro system technologies allows TNO TPDto developing a fully autonomous and wireless sunsensor that is small enough to be flown on amicrosatellite [4].Using a dedicated solarcell for power supply and awireless link for data communication to an optimisedmasked APS ASIC, allows building a trulyautonomous system in a package.Due to a careful trade-off between mass, complexity,flexibility and performance, a sensor can be devisedwhich is small enough to be flown on even the smallestsatellite without compromising the measurementperformance.Key performance figures for the sensor are:FOV > 120°,accuracy<0.1°,mass < 30g.Due to the high level of integration and the use of submicron CMOS technology, the sensor is expected toexhibit a large reliability and radiation tolerance, andforemost a low recurring cost.