Power delivery network challenges
High power density
Compact and lightweight power
Thermal management
Overcoming wave-front aberrations in search of deep space discoveries
Overcoming wave-front aberrations in search of deep space discoveries
Microgate, established in 1989 and located in Bolzano, Italy designs linear motor-driven control systems for Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), which are the biggest telescope installations on the planet. Used for deep space exploration, ELT’s require highly sophisticated automated optics to capture the smallest photons arriving from trillions of miles away. Every photon is essential to producing high resolution images. Atmospheric disturbances known as a wave-front aberration, degrade light sources and distort imagery. It is a delicate process to re-align and remove these aberrations.
solution-statement
Thermally adept high density power modules are mission critical to adaptive optics
Combatting wave-front aberrations is very difficult. Microgate’s adaptive optics technology corrects for this by reflecting captured light from the primary mirror to a secondary, adaptive mirror. The secondary mirror physically deforms the light to re-establish what is known as a “plane” wave-front. Microgate hardware and software mechanically deform the mirror manipulating the incoming wave-front using sophisticated contactless linear motors designs in real-time. These motors, driven by power modules, correct for atmospheric disturbances and enhance images.
Vicor advantages
Vicor advantages
Power dense
Small and lightweight
Thermally adept power modules
Power dense modules enable a thermally-adept solution with precise voltage regulation
The adaptive mirror is 2.4 meters in diameter and is made of specialized glass, 1.9 millimeters thick. Linear motors are driven by a precise current driver and a series of co-located permanent magnets. These are attached to the back of the mirror and provide the force to deform the glass. This process is performed across the entire surface of the adaptive optics using 5,316 motors, each with an inter-axis distance, or pitch, of about 30 millimeters.
Precise manipulation and thermal management of the adaptive optics system is critical and requires all exposed surfaces to be kept close to ambient temperature to avoid local turbulence.
The Vicor DCM3623 series of DC-DC converter powers the liner motors in the adaptive mirror. The power system board is mounted on the underside of the gas-cooled cold plate, and each module powers up to 36 motor’s, eliminating complex wiring.
The power delivery network
Isolated regulated
Input: 9 – 420V
Output: 3.3, 5, 12, 13.8, 15, 24, 28, 36, 48V
Power: Up to 1300W
Efficiency: Up to 96%
As small as 24.8 x 22.8 x 7.21mm