Miniaturization of ExoMars Seismometer electronics using ASIC technology.

Planetary missions like ExoMars usually have very tight power- and mass budgets for the read out electronics, while the performance requirements have increased to a level that cannot be achieved by commercially available electronic components. This is a trend that has been recognized by SRON several years ago and has led to the decision to develop mixed-signal Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) technology for read-out electronics in future space missions. In general ASIC technology gives better performance while reducing size, mass and power dissipation of the electronics. To address the specific challenges coming with ASIC technology, SRON together with academic and industrial partners has carried out several pilot projects and feasibility studies of high resolution data conversion for very low frequencies (10-3 Hz regime and below, essential for geosciences). The results of this project were recognized as a solution for the instrument performance and power dissipation issues of the SEIS Very Broadband Seismometer electronics of the ExoMars mission, leading to an essential role for SRON in the development and realization of these electronics. The contribution consists of an ASIC performing the 24-bit A/D seismometer science data acquisition, the 24-bit D/A conversion used in the temperature control feed-back, and various signal processing functions.