The SkyFox Labs piDOSE-DCD is a Digital CubeSat Dosimeter designed to provide the information about local gamma ray radiation background aboard small satellites in space, based on ten seconds and minute period measurements, without the use of high voltage geiger-tube sensors.

The PIN diode solid state radiation sensor is equipped with a scintillation crystal to extend the lateral sensitive volume to almost omnidirectional and wider energy range (~0.2 - 10 MeV).

The unit contains electrical outputs to signalize the Alarm threshold reached (similar to two times the ISS average dose rate), ERROR signal in case of sensor overload (overdose), INTERRUPT signal to signalize UART data packet transfer, Digital Counts Per Minute pulse output with equalized pulse width and Analog Counts Per Minute Output from the analog comparator.

There are six packets sent about counts per 10 second period, followed by a summary packet indicating doserate integrated over past 60 seconds added with telemetry information (voltage, temperature, uptime).

Latchup Kills. | Monitor Radiation.

Majority of small satellites use commercial (CMOS) electronics which are more and more sensitive to the radiation environment of space. Miniaturization is to blame. The less the size of the semiconductor technology, the less resistant to radiation, particle hit or energy deposition the system is. Bit flips in memories are the better outcomes of the radiation event or fly-through via South Atlantic Anomaly. A true latch-up can work as a crowbar circuit in your power system. Imagine tiny bondwires in semiconductor chips. If the current is too high, they can burn as fuse. Forever. The piDOSE can tell within 1 second that the environment is dangerous. Use the alarm to wake up - and turn off the power, before it is too late.

OPTIONS

The piDOSE-DCD - Digital CubeSat Dosimeter is available as:

piDOSE-DCD/FM (Flight Model)

piDOSE-DCD/EM (Engineering Model)

piDOSE-DCD/EK (Evaluation Kit), includes the Demo SW for data & TM/TC communication over USB