Engineering topics

Pettiti, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Pettiti, V..

6 records

NASA NTRS1994

An algorithm for the Italian atomic time scale

During the past twenty years, the time scale at the IEN has been realized by a commercial cesium clock, selected from an ensemble of five, whose rate has been continuously steered towards UTC to maintain a long term agreement within 3 x 10(exp -13). A time scale algorithm, suitable for a small clock ensemble and capable of improving the medium and long term stability of the IEN time scale, has been recently designed taking care of reducing the effects of the seasonal variations and the sudden frequency anomalies of the single cesium clocks. The new time scale, TA(IEN), is obtained as a weighted average of the clock ensemble computed once a day from the time comparisons between the local reference UTC(IEN) and the single clocks. It is foreseen to include in the computation also ten cesium clocks maintained in other Italian laboratories to further improve its reliability and its long term stability. To implement this algorithm, a personal computer program in Quick Basic has been prepared and it has been tested at the IEN time and frequency laboratory. Results obtained using this algorithm on the real clocks data relative to a period of about two years are presented.

Cordara, F.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Performances of a date dissemination code on telephone lines using commercial modems

A coded time/date information dissemination system (CTD), based on telephone lines and commercial modems, is now in its experimental phase in Italy at IEN. This service, born from a cooperation with other metrological laboratories (TUG, Austria, SNT, Sweden, VSL, The Netherlands), represents an attempt towards an European standardization. Some results of an experimental analysis in which a few modems were tested, both in laboratory conditions and connected to the telephone network, in order to evaluate the timing capability of the system are given. When the system is used in a one-way mode, in many practical cases the modems delay turns out to be the main factor which limits the accuracy, even more than the telephone line delays. If the two-way mode is used, the modems asymmetry, i.e., the delay difference between transmission and reception, is almost always the most important source of uncertainty, provided the link is not including a space segment. Comparing the widely used V.22 modems to the old V.21 ones, the latters turn out to be better both in delay time (30-100 ms V.22, and 7-15 ms V.21) and asymmetry (10-50 micro-s V.22, and 10 ms V.22). Time transfer accuracies of 10 micron-s (same turn) to 100 micro-s (long distance calls) were obtained in two-way mode with commercial V.21 modems.

Cordara, F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Time and frequency comparisons in Europe by means of ECS 5 geostationary satellite

A time synchronization experiment between some European laboratories using the passive television method applied to the signals broadcasted by Eutelsat I-F5 telecommunication satellite was completed in 1990. The results obtained in the last period, when also range measurements from a Telespazio ground station were performed, are analyzed to evaluate the accuracy level of the time comparisons corrected for the effect of the satellite movement with position data obtained either from the European Space Agency (ESA) or from orbit determination with range data entered into GEODYN program of NASA/GSFC.

Cordara, Franco↗

NASA NTRS1985

GPS navigation experiment using high precision GPS timing receivers

Global Positioning System (GPS) Time Transfer receivers were developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to provide synchronization for the NASA Global Laser Tracking Network (GLTN). The capabilities of the receiver are being expanded mainly through software modification to: Demonstrate the position location capabilities of a single channel receiver unsign the GPS C/A code; and Demonstrate the time/navigation capability of the receiver onboard a moving platform, by sequential tracking of GPS satellites.

Buisson, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Time code dissemination experiment via the SIRIO-1 VHF transponder

An experiment to evaluate the possibility of disseminating a time code via the SIRIO-1 satellite, by using the onboard VHF repeater is described. The precision in the synchronization of remote clocks was expected to be of the order of 0.1 to 1 ms. The RF carrier was in the VHF band, so that low cost receivers could be used and then a broader class of users could be served. An already existing repeater, even if not designed specifically for communications could be utilized; the operation of this repeater was not intended to affect any other function of the spacecraft (both the SHF repeater and the VHF telemetry link were active during the time code dissemination via the VHF transponder).

Detoma, E.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Time coded distribution via broadcasting stations

The distribution of standard time signals via AM and FM broadcasting stations presents the distinct advantages to offer a wide area coverage and to allow the use of inexpensive receivers, but the signals are radiated a limited number of times per day, are not usually available during the night, and no full and automatic synchronization of a remote clock is possible. As an attempt to overcome some of these problems, a time coded signal with a complete date information is diffused by the IEN via the national broadcasting networks in Italy. These signals are radiated by some 120 AM and about 3000 FM and TV transmitters around the country. In such a way, a time ordered system with an accuracy of a couple of milliseconds is easily achieved.

Leschiutta, S.↗