SPACE TALKS 6 | Tommazo Vergina from IC ALPS

Mr. Tommazo Vergina, who will speak during this space, talks about ASIC. He’s considered as an expert for analog ASIC design at IC ALPS company located In France.

Tommazo has done his study in Italy and has received a Ph.D. degree covering all aspects related to the design of IC considering radiation effects.

He started collaborating with CERN at Geneva during this period, designing analog and mixed signals IPs for high-energy physics experiments with radiation tolerances up to 1Grad.

In 2016 (twenty-sixteen), he joined the CERN’s microelectronics group to design radiation-tolerant analog blocks.

Finally, since 2019 (twenty nineteen), he’s an analog and mixed-signal IC designer at IC’Alps, where he works on ultra-low power, low-noise, and high resolution integrated circuits.

His background will allow us to understand well ASIC’s interests and key points for space application.

Topics treated in the conversation

• Introduction of the interviewee
• Can you tell us a little bit about IC’Alps?
• When should space companies consider the development of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit?
• Is there any limitation to the use of ASIC solutions?
• Which manufacturing process do you recommend to space companies, and which design techniques need to be implemented to secure ASIC design robustness?
• At what time is it needed to fix the complete supply chain for the ASIC?
• How do the constraints specific to the space industry are affecting the ASIC supply chain? (ITAR free, EU located, production volume, test…)
• Which are the main challenges that a space company has to face when starting an ASIC project?
• How can IC’Alps help to cope with them?
• What would be needed to develop the ASIC market in hi-rel further?

Have an enjoyable space talk.