Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, is the world's leading merchant supplier of the Highest-Efficiency Multijunction Solar Cells for Spacecraft Power Systems, with proven reliability drawn from 65 years of space heritage.
Cells & CICs
Spectrolab offers a range of GaInP/GaAs/Ge lattice matched 3J solar cells with efficiencies reaching 32%. All 3J technologies are fully AIAA S111 and S112 qualified. Spectrolab's space solar cells can be purchased as bare cells or assemblies complete with space-qualified coverglass, bypass diode, and interconnects for welded connections between solar cells (CICs).
NEW XTE Family of Cells
Spectrolab's Industry Leading Technology with 32% efficiency!
Fully qualified under AIAA-S111-2014 standard
Industry leading BOL & EOL
Three 32% efficient cells optimized for unique space missions:
XTE-SF for GEO and LEO (≤1e15). 27.9% efficiency at 1e15
XTE-HF for MEO (>1e15). 23.6% efficiency at 1e16
XTE-LILT for LILT. 37% efficiency at Jupiter conditions
XTJ Prime
Spectrolab's Production Leader
30.7% Average BOL efficiency
Best in class BOL & EOL
AIAA-S111 & AIAA-S112 qualified
Heritage upright lattice matched XTJ structure
26.7% EOL, 1E15 1MeV electron**
Multiple sizes available (26-84 cm2)
Legacy Triple Junction Solar Cells
XTJ Space Solar Cell 29.5% average efficiency
UTJ Space Solar Cell 28.3% average efficiency
Concentrator Cells
Spectrolab offers a variety of 3J concentrator solar cells with efficiencies up to 40% at concentration. Cells with performance optimized to concentrations above 1000 suns are available. Cells sold either as bare cells or binned discrete cells in waffle trays.
C4MJ– Upright 3J metamorphic cell
First 40% production solar
First fully qualified upright 3J metamorphic cell
C3MJ– Lattice matched 3J metamorphic cell
39.5% production solar cell
Heritage lattice matched technology
Low cost epitaxial design
Laser Power Converters
Spectrolab offers a variety of laser power convertors (LPC) optimized for maximum conversion of monochromatic laser light. The most common devices are multijunction GaAs devices for NIR lasers. However, metamorphic InGaAs PV convertors for lasers ranging in output wavelength from 900-1600 nm are also available.
2V Dual junction GaAs LPC
Optimized for 810 nm wavelength laser
1.5 mm diameter active area
50-55% conversion efficiency
6V Dual junction GaAs LPC
Monolithic power consisting of two cells in series
3 mm diameter active
30-35% conversion efficiency
2V LPC Package
2V LPC Package
2V LPC Chip
2V LPC Chip
6V LPC Package
6V LPC Package
6V LPC Chip
6V LPC Chip
NIR Photodetectors
InGaAs PiN sensors and sensor arrays
Telcordia qualified InGaAs P-I-N photodetector device dies for the telecommunication, laser power monitoring, test systems
Active area sizes from 25 μm to 1 mm.
Device die characteristics with low dark current, low capacitance and high quantum efficiency
Wafer capability: 2", 3" and 4" on InP substrates
High volume and low cost production
InGaAs PiN Avalanche Photodetector Die (APD ) sensors and sensor arrays
Low capacitance InAlAs/InGaAs mesa design
TO-can, die and arrays
Linear and Geiger mode applications
40um to 200um designs
Foundry Services
10 Production Scale Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy Tools
5: Veeco K475 TurboDisc Reactors – 64 x 2", 32 x 3", 15 x 4", 7 x 6"
5: Veeco E400 TurboDisc Reactors – 32 x 2", 16 x 3", 12 x 4", 4 x 6"
GaAs & InP material systems growth capabilities
GaAs: GaInP, AlGaInP, AlInP, AlGaAs, GaInAs, GaInNAs
InP: GaInAs, GaInAsP, GaAsSb, AlGaInAs
Advanced wafer processing (Ge, GaAs, InP & Si) capabilities at R&D scale
Class 1,000 clean room
Wafer bonding: direct wafer-to-wafer bonding, metal bonding, adhesive bonding
Wet etching & Dry etching (RIE & Plasma cleaning)
Wafer thinning (lapping, polishing), CMP
Evaporation of thin films, both metals and dielectrics
Photolithography with front-to-back alignment
RTP (Rapid Thermal Processing)
Characterization Capability
HRXRD, PL, Reflectance, EL, ECV, DEKTAK
Spectral Response, LIV, SEM, EL, AFM
Knowledgeable Staff
9 engineers : 5 with PhD's in MOVPE/Device Physics, 3 Associate Technical Fellows
Extensive experience in optoelectronic materials and devices
Foundry Services
Packaging
Spectrolab operates a world-class packaging laboratory for prototype assembly and test. The engineers of the packaging team will work with you to custom design photodiodes, and laser fiber packages to meet your specific needs. We have the capability to inspect and test the package during and after assembly to meet the Bellcore standards. Finally, Spectrolab has state-of-the-art modeling tools and the expertise to perform thermal, mechanical, vibration and optical analysis.
Spectrolab's state-of-the-art packaging laboratory includes the following equipment:
Die Attach Equipment:
Manual epoxy die attach
Oven for temperature curing of epoxy
UV curable adhesives dispense system with the UV lamp for primary cure and UV oven for final cure Manual eutectic die bonder for installation of components using alloy material
Wire Bonding Equipment:
Fiber Coupling Equipment:
Microscope for visual inspection of fibers
Interferometer for mapping of fiber terminations
Splicer for fiber splicing and lens formation
Packaging
Environmental Testing
Spectrolab offers superior environmental (climatic simulation) testing services with over 80 collective years of experience.
A wide range of chamber volumes are available to test small spaceflight components such as diodes, connectors and cells, to full-size test articles such as solar arrays. Each test chamber offers redundant safety systems, multiple and expandable data acquisition instrumentation recording channels, and staffed by personnel proficient at test article assembly as well as test conduct.
During testing, all thermal cycling chambers are continuously purged with gaseous nitrogen. Spectrolab's Space Simulator can reach low pressures of < 1.0 x 10-7 Torr with liquid nitrogen flooded shrouds, and all non-contaminating pumps.
Environmental Testing Services
FAA Repair
Spectrolab is dedicated to providing you with complete service and support for all your Spectrolab Nightsun, StarSun and Starburst Searchlight products. Regular maintenance is needed to optimize Searchlight system performance. Our highly skilled & FAA Certified technician are dedicated to provide the most exceptional service and quality in the industry.
Spectrolab's certified FAA Repair Station 14 CFR, License number L9SR877X is also European Aviation Safety Agency approved, EASA Part 145 (EASA 145.6676).
FAA Repair Services
Engineering Services
Spectrolab, A Boeing Company, is leveraging over 65 years of industry leading space power experience to ensure our customers have reliable and safe access to space. We are opening our engineering talent with our best and brightest at your fingertips, to ensure a successful mission. The following key design and analysis tools available to industry:
Mission power analysis
An analysis for any orbit or interplanetary mission
Includes a radiation analysis
Can be done for any phase of the mission (BOL, EOL, mid mission, etc..)
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Analysis
ESD events on solar arrays are a known and significant failure mode
SPL will ensure design survivability for a given mission
Magnetic Moment Analysis
Magnetic interference with payloads or the earths magnetic field can be minimized via special layouts and design features
Cancellation across an axis or a center of gravity
Survivability and Reliability Analysis
Confirming use of solder/weld/other assembly processes confirmed vs. thermal-mechanical stresses for the mission
Atomic Oxygen analysis and design protection
FMEA (Failure mode effects analysis)
Reliability analysis to ensure compliance to reliability requirements
Acceptance Test & Qualification Test
Leverage SPL's heritage to avoid costly qualifications and acceptance test procedures!
Engineering Services
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