Engineering topics

Monacos, Steve P.

Publications and source records attributed to Monacos, Steve P..

11 records

NASA NTRS2015

Wireless Sensor Node for Autonomous Monitoring and Alerts in Remote Environments

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program products provides personal alert and tracking capabilities using one or more nodes. Each node includes radio transceiver chips operating at different frequency ranges, a power amplifier, sensors, a display, and embedded software. The chips enable the node to operate as either a mobile sensor node or a relay base station node while providing a long distance relay link between nodes. The power amplifier enables a line-of-sight communication between the one or more nodes. The sensors provide a GPS signal, temperature, and accelerometer information (used to trigger an alert condition). The embedded software captures and processes the sensor information, provides a multi-hop packet routing protocol to relay the sensor information to and receive alert information from a command center, and to display the alert information on the display.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Synthetic Foveal Imaging Technology

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that create a synthetic fovea in order to identify and highlight interesting portions of an image for further processing and rapid response. Synthetic foveal imaging implements a parallel processing architecture that uses reprogrammable logic to implement embedded, distributed, real-time foveal image processing from different sensor types while simultaneously allowing for lossless storage and retrieval of raw image data. Real-time, distributed, adaptive processing of multi-tap image sensors with coordinated processing hardware used for each output tap is enabled. In mosaic focal planes, a parallel-processing network can be implemented that treats the mosaic focal plane as a single ensemble rather than a set of isolated sensors. Various applications are enabled for imaging and robotic vision where processing and responding to enormous amounts of data quickly and efficiently is important.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Characterization and Absolute QE Measurements of Delta-Doped N-Channel and P-Channel CCDs

In this paper we present the methodology for making absolute quantum efficiency (QE) measurements from the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) through the near infrared (NIR) on delta-doped silicon CCDs. Delta-doped detectors provide an excellent platform to validate measurements through the VUV due to their enhanced UV response. The requirements for measuring QE through the VUV are more strenuous than measurements in the near UV and necessitate, among other things, the use of a vacuum monochromator, and good camera vacuum to prevent chip condensation, and more stringent handling requirements. The system used for these measurements was originally designed for deep UV characterization of CCDs for the WF/PC instrument on Hubble and later for Cassini CCDs.

Jacquot, Blake C.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Development of the Nano-HEB Array for Low-Background Far-IR Applications

We present an overview of the recent progress made in the development of a far-IR array of ultrasensitive hot-electronnanobolometers (nano-HEB) made from thin titanium (Ti) films. We studied electrical noise, signal and noisebandwidth, single-photon detection, optical noise equivalent power (NEP), and a microwave SQUID (MSQUID) basedfrequency domain multiplexing (FDM) scheme. The obtained results demonstrate the very low electrical NEP down to1.5x10-(sup 2)? W/Hz(sup 1)/(sup 2) at 50 mK determined by the dominating phonon noise. The NEP increases with temperature as ~ T(sup 3)reaching ~ 10-(sup 1)? W/Hz(sup 1)/(sup 2) at the device critical temperature TC = 330-360 mK. Optical NEP = 8.6x10-(sup 1)? W/Hz(sup 1)/(sup 2) at 357mK and 1.4x10-(sup 1)? W/Hz(sup 1)/(sup 2) at 100 mK respectively, agree with thermal and electrical data. The optical couplingefficiency provided by a planar antenna was greater than 50%. Single 8-?m photons have been detected for the first timeusing a nano-HEB operating at 50-200 mK thus demonstrating a potential of these detectors for future photon-countingapplications in mid-IR and far-IR. In order to accommodate the relatively high detector speed (~ ?s at 300 mK, ~ 100 ?sat 100 mK), an MSQUID based FDM multiplexed readout with GHz carrier frequencies has been built. Both the readoutnoise ~ 2 pA/Hz(sup 1)/(sup 2) and the bandwidth > 150 kHz are suitable for nano-HEB detectors.

single-photon↗

NASA NTRS2003

Design of an Event-Driven Random-Access-Windowing CCD-Based Camera

Commercially available cameras are not design for the combination of single frame and high-speed streaming digital video with real-time control of size and location of multiple regions-of-interest (ROI). A new control paradigm is defined to eliminate the tight coupling between the camera logic and the host controller. This functionality is achieved by defining the indivisible pixel read out operation on a per ROI basis with in-camera time keeping capability. This methodology provides a Random Access, Real-Time, Event-driven (RARE) camera for adaptive camera control and is will suited for target tracking applications requiring autonomous control of multiple ROI's. This methodology additionally provides for reduced ROI read out time and higher frame rates compared to the original architecture by avoiding external control intervention during the ROI read out process.

event driven↗

NASA NTRS2003

Design of an event-driven random-access-windowing CCD-based camera

Commercially available cameras are not designed for the combination of single frame and high-speed streaming digital video with real-time control of size and location of multiple regions-of-interest (ROI). A new control paradigm is defined to eliminate the tight coupling between the camera logic and the host controller. This functionality is achieved by defining the indivisible pixel read out operation on a per ROI basis with in-camera time keeping capability. This methodology provides a Random Access, Real-time, Event-driven (RARE) camera for adaptive camera control and is well suited for target tracking applications requiring autonomous control of multiple ROIs. This methodology additionally provides for reduced ROI read out time and higher frame rates compared to the original architecture by avoiding external control intervention during the ROI read out process.

Ortiz, Gerardo G.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Optical Circuit Switched Protocol

The present invention is a system and method embodied in an optical circuit switched protocol for the transmission of data through a network. The optical circuit switched protocol is an all-optical circuit switched network and includes novel optical switching nodes for transmitting optical data packets within a network. Each optical switching node comprises a detector for receiving the header, header detection logic for translating the header into routing information and eliminating the header, and a controller for receiving the routing information and configuring an all optical path within the node. The all optical path located within the node is solely an optical path without having electronic storage of the data and without having optical delay of the data. Since electronic storage of the header is not necessary and the initial header is eliminated by the first detector of the first switching node. multiple identical headers are sent throughout the network so that subsequent switching nodes can receive and read the header for setting up an optical data path.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Scalable Wrap-Around Shuffle Exchange Network with Deflection Routing

The invention in one embodiment is a communication network including plural non-blocking crossbar nodes, first apparatus for connecting the nodes in a first layer of connecting links, and second apparatus for connecting links independent of the first layer, whereby each layer is connected to the other layer at each point of the nodes. Preferably, each one of the layers of connecting links corresponds to one recirculating network topology that closes in on itself.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Non-blocking crossbar permutation engine with constant routing latency

The invention is embodied in an N x N crossbar for routing packets from a set of N input ports to a set of N output ports, each packet having a header identifying one of the output ports as its destination, including a plurality of individual links which carry individual packets. Each link has a link input end and a link output end, a plurality of switches. Each of the switches has at least top and bottom switch inputs connected to a corresponding pair of the link output ends and top and bottom switch outputs connected to a corresponding pair of link input ends, whereby each switch is connected to four different links. Each of the switches has an exchange state which routes packets from the top and bottom switch inputs to the bottom and top switch outputs, respectively, and a bypass state which routes packets from the top and bottom switch inputs to the top and bottom switch outputs, respectively. A plurality of individual controller devices governing respective switches for sensing from a header of a packet at each switch input for the identity of the destination output port of the packet and selecting one of the exchange and bypass states in accordance with the identity of the destination output port and with the location of the corresponding switch relative to the destination output port.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

High-Speed Optical Wide-Area Data-Communication Network

Proposed fiber-optic wide-area network (WAN) for digital communication balances input and output flows of data with its internal capacity by routing traffic via dynamically interconnected routing planes. Data transmitted optically through network by wavelength-division multiplexing in synchronous or asynchronous packets. WAN implemented with currently available technology. Network is multiple-ring cyclic shuffle exchange network ensuring traffic reaches its destination with minimum number of hops.

Monacos, Steve P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Crossbar Switches For Optical Data-Communication Networks

Optoelectronic and electro-optical crossbar switches called "permutation engines" (PE's) developed to route packets of data through fiber-optic communication networks. Basic network concept described in "High-Speed Optical Wide-Area Data-Communication Network" (NPO-18983). Nonblocking operation achieved by decentralized switching and control scheme. Each packet routed up or down in each column of this 5-input/5-output permutation engine. Routing algorithm ensures each packet arrives at its designated output port without blocking any other packet that does not contend for same output port.

Monacos, Steve P.↗