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Vilnrotter, V. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Vilnrotter, V. A..

34 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Table look-up estimation of signal and noise parameters from quantized observables

A table look-up algorithm for estimating underlying signal and noise parameters from quantized observables is examined. A general mathematical model is developed, and a look-up table designed specifically for estimating parameters from four-bit quantized data is described. Estimator performance is evaluated both analytically and by means of numerical simulation, and an example is provided to illustrate the use of the look-up table for estimating signal-to-noise ratios commonly encountered in Voyager-type data.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A synchronization technique for optical PPM signals

A technique for maintaining synchronization between optical PPM (pulse-position modulation) pulses and a receiver clock by means of a delay-tracking loop is described and analyzed. The tracking loop is driven by a doubly stochastic Poisson process that contains information about the location of the desired slot boundaries. The slot boundaries are subject to slowly varying random delays that are ultimately tracked by the loop. The concept of fractional rms delay error is introduced to quantify the effects of signal and background induced shot noise on the performance of the delay-tracking loop.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

High dynamic GPS receiver validation demonstration

The Validation Demonstration establishes that the high dynamic Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver concept developed at JPL meets the dynamic tracking requirements for range instrumentation of missiles and drones. It was demonstrated that the receiver can track the pseudorange and pseudorange rate of vehicles with acceleration in excess of 100 g and jerk in excess of 100 g/s, dynamics ten times more severe than specified for conventional High Dynamic GPS receivers. These results and analytic extensions to a complete system configuration establish that all range instrumentation requirements can be met. The receiver can be implemented in the 100 cu in volume required by all missiles and drones, and is ideally suited for transdigitizer or translator applications.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Synchronization for Optical PPM Signals

Method based on statistical properties of weak pulse-positionmodulated (PPM) signal enables synchronization of receiver clock with received-signal time base. Method applies to weak optical M-ary PPM signals, for which there is only one pulse of length Tp transmitted during one of timeslots of length T in each successive interval of M timeslots. Method requires small dead time, Td, at beginning and end of each timeslot, during which pulse amplitude is zero.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Optical receivers using rough reflectors

This report examines the possible use of rough, or nondiffraction-limited, reflectors for collecting optical signals. It is shown that in the absence of background radiation, the reflector's surface quality has little effect on the performance of a properly designed receiver, but that the presence of even small amounts of background radiation can lead to severe performance degradation. Techniques are suggested for improving receiver performance in high-background environments, and bounds and approximations to the exact error-probability expressions are derived.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Optical Quantum Receiver For Binary Signals

In quantum optical receiver, both amplitude and phase of received optical signal measured to extract as much information as possible, thereby reducing error probability. Phase-modulated received signal mixed with equal amplitude replica of optical carrier generated in phase locked loop. Two signals interfere with each other at photomultiplier cathode. Probability of error with this scheme close to theoretical minimum and implemented with current technology.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

GPS high dynamic receiver tracking demonstration results

Demonstration results are presented for a high dynamic GPS receiver. The receiver tested is a breadboard unit capable of tracking one simulated satellite signal in pseudorange and range rate. The receiver makes approximate maximum likelihood estimates of pseudorange and range rate each 20 ms, and tracks these observables using a third order filter with a time constant of 0.14 s. Carrier phase is not tracked, which eliminates the typical failure mode of loss of carrier lock associated with PLLs at high dynamics. The receiver tracks with pseudorange lag errors of under 0.06 m when subjected to simulated 50 g turns with 40 g/s peak jerk. Pseudorange errors due to receiver noise alone are approximately 0.6 m rms at a carrier power to noise spectral density ratio of 34 dB-Hz. The tracking threshold SNR is approximately 28 dB-Hz, which provides 12 dB margin relative to the 40 dB-Hz that occurs with minimum specified satellite signal strength, 3.5 dB system noise figure, and 0 dBi antenna gain.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A generalization of the near-optimum binary coherent state receiver concept

The structure of a maximum a posteriori decoder is derived for binary optical fields processed according to Kennedy's near-optimum scheme, but operating in the presence of random optical phase-error and interfering background fields. An exact expression is found for the error probability, and examples to illustrate decoder performance under various operating conditions of interest are provided.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Background sources in optical communications

The characterization and measurement of background radiation relevant to optical communications system performance is addressed. The necessary optical receiver parameters are described, and radiometric concepts required for the calculation of collected background power are developed. The most important components of optical background power are discussed, and their contribution to the total collected background power in various communications scenarios is examined.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Optical deep space communication via relay satellite

The possible use of an optical for high rate data transmission from a deep space vehicle to an Earth-orbiting relay satellite while RF links are envisioned for the relay to Earth link was studied. A preliminary link analysis is presented for initial sizing of optical components and power levels, in terms of achievable data rates and feasible range distances. Modulation formats are restricted to pulsed laser operation, involving bot coded and uncoded schemes. The advantage of an optical link over present RF deep space link capabilities is shown. The problems of acquisition, pointing and tracking with narrow optical beams are presented and discussed. Mathematical models of beam trackers are derived, aiding in the design of such systems for minimizing beam pointing errors. The expected orbital geometry between spacecraft and relay satellite, and its impact on beam pointing dynamics are discussed.

Gagliardi, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The effects of pointing errors on the performance of optical communications systems

Optical communications systems operating over interplanetary distances require the use of extremely narrow optical beams for maximum power concentration near the receiver. Consequently, pointing errors must be kept to a small fraction of a beamwidth to avoid severe deterioration in receiver performance, due to the decrease in received power associated with pointing errors. Mathematical moels required for studying the effects of random pointing errors were developed and applied to the problem of quantifying the effects of pointing errors on the performance of coherent and incoherent optical receivers.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A binary coherent optical receiver for the free-space channel

The structure of a coherent binary optical MAP receiver was derived and the effects of background radiation and phase estimation errors on receiver performance were evaluated. It was found that random phase errors do not affect the performance of the coherent receiver significantly, as long as the standard deviation of the phase error remains less than roughly 0.14 radians (or 8 degrees). It was also shown that background radiation is effectively suppressed by the optical homodyne receiver: Significant deterioration in receiver performance is observed only in the presence of extremely intense background fields. The most notable characteristic of the binary optical homodyne receiver therefore appears to be its ability to achieve quantum limited performance in high background environments, provided that sufficiently accurate estimates of the received phase can be obtained.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spatial acquisition of optical sources in the presence of intense interference

The problem of spatially acquiring an optical beacon in the presence of intense optical interference is considered. It is demonstrated that conventional acquisition procedures cannot establish acceptable levels of acquisition probability when competing with strong optical interference without requiring unreasonable amounts of prime power. As a possible solution, it is shown that a more sophisticated acquisition scheme can virtually eliminate the effects of optical interference while requiring only a modest increase in system complexity.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Optical-communication systems for deep-space applications

The feasibility of using optical communication systems for data telemetry from deep space vehicles to Earth based receivers is evaluated. Performance analysis shows that practical, photon counting optical systems can transmit data reliably at 30 to 40 dB high rates than existing RF systems, or can be used to extend the communication range by 15 to 20 dB. The advantages of pulse-position modulation (PPM) formats are discussed, and photon counting receiver structures designed for PPM decoding are described. The effects of background interference and weather on receiver performance are evaluated. Some consideration is given to tracking and beam pointing operations, since system performance ultimately depends on the accuracy to which these operations can be carried out. An example of a tracking and pointing system utilizing an optical uplink beacon is presented, and it is shown that microradian beam pointing is within the capabilities of state-of-the-art technology. Recommendations for future theoretical studies and component development programs are presented.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Performance of a near-optimum receiver for optical antipodal signals

The well known photon-counting, heterodyning and homodyning optical receivers (operating over a free-space channel) do not achieve the performance of the optimum quantum receiver, which attains significantly lower error-probabilities than the above receiver structures. A demonstration and analysis are given of a binary antipodal optical receiver that exponentially approaches the performance of the optimum quantum receiver. A general mathematical model is developed, and subsequently used to evaluate the effects of external interference and internal error-sources on receiver performance.

Vilnrotter, V. A.↗