Packaging Computer Circuitry for Space Applications—A Two-Part Compendium

Abstract

As electronic components become smaller and smaller, the mechanical design engineer must devise packaging techniques to assure optimum use of these components. The first paper in this compendium describes precisely how the packaging of digital circuitry for a command storage programmer unit was accomplished. The second paper describes a computer program developed at G.E. to assure an optimum package for this or any similar digital unit. The final product of this combined effort has been a reliable command unit with the impressive circuit density of approximately 1100 transistors, 5000 diodes, 2500 resistors, and 200 capacitors, packaged in 32 separate modules in a total volume of 155 in.³