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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRS1993

Positron lifetime spectroscopy for investigation of thin polymer coatings

In the aerospace industry, applications for polymer coatings are increasing. They are now used for thermal control on aerospace structures and for protective insulating layers on optical and microelectronic components. However, the effectiveness of polymer coatings depends strongly on their microstructure and adhesion to the substrates. Currently, no technique exists to adequately monitor the quality of these coatings. We have adapted positron lifetime spectroscopy to investigate the quality of thin coatings. Results of measurements on thin (25-micron) polyurethane coatings on aluminum and steel substrates have been compared with measurements on thicker (0.2-cm) self-standing polyurethane discs. In all cases, we find positron lifetime groups centered around 560 psec, which corresponds to the presence of 0.9-A(exp 3) free-volume cells. However, the number of these free-volume cells in thin coatings is larger than in thick discs. This suggests that some of these cells may be located in the interfacial regions between the coatings and the substrates. These results and their structural implications are discussed in this report.

Singh, Jag J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Planning for the semiconductor manufacturer of the future

Texas Instruments (TI) is currently contracted by the Air Force Wright Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the next generation flexible semiconductor wafer fabrication system called Microelectronics Manufacturing Science & Technology (MMST). Several revolutionary concepts are being pioneered on MMST, including the following: new single-wafer rapid thermal processes, in-situ sensors, cluster equipment, and advanced Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) software. The objective of the project is to develop a manufacturing system capable of achieving an order of magnitude improvement in almost all aspects of wafer fabrication. TI was awarded the contract in Oct., 1988, and will complete development with a fabrication facility demonstration in April, 1993. An important part of MMST is development of the CIM environment responsible for coordinating all parts of the system. The CIM architecture being developed is based on a distributed object oriented framework made of several cooperating subsystems. The software subsystems include the following: process control for dynamic control of factory processes; modular processing system for controlling the processing equipment; generic equipment model which provides an interface between processing equipment and the rest of the factory; specification system which maintains factory documents and product specifications; simulator for modelling the factory for analysis purposes; scheduler for scheduling work on the factory floor; and the planner for planning and monitoring of orders within the factory. This paper first outlines the division of responsibility between the planner, scheduler, and simulator subsystems. It then describes the approach to incremental planning and the way in which uncertainty is modelled within the plan representation. Finally, current status and initial results are described.

Fargher, Hugh E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

MIT Space Engineering Research Center testbed programs

The Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at M.I.T., started in July 1988, has completed two and one-half years of research. This Semi-Annual Report presents annotated viewgraph material presented at the January 1991 Steering Committee and Technical Representative Review. The objective of the Space Engineering Research Center is to develop and disseminate a unified technology of controlled structures. There has been continued evolution of the concept of intelligent structures (including in this past year the first successful embedding of a microelectronic component into a structural element).

Crawley, Edward F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

An application protocol for CAD to CAD transfer of electronic information

The exchange of Computer Aided Design (CAD) information between dissimilar CAD systems is a problem. This is especially true for transferring electronics CAD information such as multi-chip module (MCM), hybrid microcircuit assembly (HMA), and printed circuit board (PCB) designs. Currently, there exists several neutral data formats for transferring electronics CAD information. These include IGES, EDIF, and DXF formats. All these formats have limitations for use in exchanging electronic data. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, the Navy's MicroCIM program implemented a project to transfer hybrid microcircuit design information between dissimilar CAD systems. The IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) format is used since it is well established within the CAD industry. The goal of the project is to have a complete transfer of microelectronic CAD information, using IGES, without any data loss. An Application Protocol (AP) is being developed to specify how hybrid microcircuit CAD information will be represented by IGES entity constructs. The AP defines which IGES data items are appropriate for describing HMA geometry, connectivity, and processing as well as HMA material characteristics.

Azu, Charles C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Wireless infrared communications for space and terrestrial applications

Voice and data communications via wireless (and fiberless) optical means has been commonplace for many years. However, continuous advances in optoelectronics and microelectronics have resulted in significant advances in wireless optical communications over the last decade. Wilton has specialized in diffuse infrared voice and data communications since 1979. In 1986, NASA Johnson Space Center invited Wilton to apply its wireless telecommunications and factory floor technology to astronaut voice communications aboard the shuttle. In September, 1988 a special infrared voice communications system flew aboard a 'Discovery' Shuttle mission as a flight experiment. Since then the technology has been further developed, resulting in a general purpose of 2Mbs wireless voice/data LAN which has been tested for a variety of applications including use aboard Spacelab. Funds for Wilton's wireless IR development were provided in part by NASA's Technology Utilization Office and by the NASA Small Business Innovative Research Program. As a consequence, Wilton's commercial product capability has been significantly enhanced to include diffuse infrared wireless LAN's as well as wireless infrared telecommunication systems for voice and data.

Crimmins, James W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

NASA SBIR product catalog, 1991

This catalog is a partial list of products of NASA SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) projects that have advanced to some degree into Phase 3. While most of the products evolved from work conducted during SBIR Phase 1 and 2, a few advanced to commercial status solely from Phase 1 activities. The catalog presents information provided to NASA by SBIR contractors who wished to have their products exhibited at Technology 2001, a NASA-sponsored technology transfer conference held in San Jose, California, on December 4, 5, and 6, 1991. The catalog presents the product information in the following technology areas: computer and communication systems; information processing and AI; robotics and automation; signal and image processing; microelectronics; electronic devices and equipment; microwave electronic devices; optical devices and lasers; advanced materials; materials processing; materials testing and NDE; materials instrumentation; aerodynamics and aircraft; fluid mechanics and measurement; heat transfer devices; refrigeration and cryogenics; energy conversion devices; oceanographic instruments; atmosphere monitoring devices; water management; life science instruments; and spacecraft electromechanical systems.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1990

An Overview of MCC and Its Research

Viewgraphs on Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) are presented. The MCC is a cooperative enterprise whose mission is to strengthen and sustain America's competitiveness in information technologies. Their objective is excellence in meeting broad industry needs through application-driven research, development, and timely deployment of innovative technology. Research programs include: software technology; VLSI/computer aided design; packaging/interconnect; electronic applications of high temperature superconductors; and advanced computing technology.

Lundstrom, Stephen F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Transfer Orbit Plasma Interaction Experiment (TROPIX)

Viewgraphs on the Transfer Orbit Plasma Interaction Experiment (TROPIX) are presented. Objectives of this research are (1) to map the charged particles in Earth's magnetosphere from LEO to GEO at high inclinations; (2) to measure plasma current collection and resulting shifts in vehicle electrical potential from LEO to GEO across range of orbital inclinations; (3) to study spacecraft interaction with plasma environment using solar electric propulsion (SEP) thrusters as plasma contactors; (4) to measure array degradation over mission duration; (5) to evaluate the potential of various microelectronics, spacecraft components, and instruments for future space missions; and (6) to demonstrate SEP technology applied to a flight vehicle. An overview of TROPIX is presented.

Hickman, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1992

North American Fuzzy Logic Processing Society (NAFIPS 1992), volume 1

This document contains papers presented at the NAFIPS '92 North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society Conference. More than 75 papers were presented at this Conference, which was sponsored by NAFIPS in cooperation with NASA, the Instituto Tecnologico de Morelia, the Indian Society for Fuzzy Mathematics and Information Processing (ISFUMIP), the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), the International Fuzzy Systems Association (IFSA), the Japan Society for Fuzzy Theory and Systems, and the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). The fuzzy set theory has led to a large number of diverse applications. Recently, interesting applications have been developed which involve the integration of fuzzy systems with adaptive processes such as neural networks and genetic algorithms. NAFIPS '92 was directed toward the advancement, commercialization, and engineering development of these technologies.

Villarreal, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

WARP: Weight Associative Rule Processor. A dedicated VLSI fuzzy logic megacell

During the last five years Fuzzy Logic has gained enormous popularity in the academic and industrial worlds. The success of this new methodology has led the microelectronics industry to create a new class of machines, called Fuzzy Machines, to overcome the limitations of traditional computing systems when utilized as Fuzzy Systems. This paper gives an overview of the methods by which Fuzzy Logic data structures are represented in the machines (each with its own advantages and inefficiencies). Next, the paper introduces WARP (Weight Associative Rule Processor) which is a dedicated VLSI megacell allowing the realization of a fuzzy controller suitable for a wide range of applications. WARP represents an innovative approach to VLSI Fuzzy controllers by utilizing different types of data structures for characterizing the membership functions during the various stages of the Fuzzy processing. WARP dedicated architecture has been designed in order to achieve high performance by exploiting the computational advantages offered by the different data representations.

Pagni, A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

North American Fuzzy Logic Processing Society (NAFIPS 1992), volume 2

This document contains papers presented at the NAFIPS '92 North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society Conference. More than 75 papers were presented at this Conference, which was sponsored by NAFIPS in cooperation with NASA, the Instituto Tecnologico de Morelia, the Indian Society for Fuzzy Mathematics and Information Processing (ISFUMIP), the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), the International Fuzzy Systems Association (IFSA), the Japan Society for Fuzzy Theory and Systems, and the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). The fuzzy set theory has led to a large number of diverse applications. Recently, interesting applications have been developed which involve the integration of fuzzy systems with adaptive processes such a neural networks and genetic algorithms. NAFIPS '92 was directed toward the advancement, commercialization, and engineering development of these technologies.

Villarreal, James A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

LET spectra measurements of charged particles in the P0006 experiment on LDEF

Measurements are under way of the charged particle radiation environment of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite using stacks of plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTD's) placed in different locations of the satellite. In the initial work the charge, energy, and linear energy transfer (LET) spectra of charged particles were measured with CR-39 double layer PNTD's located on the west side of the satellite (Experiment P0006). Primary and secondary stopping heavy ions were measured separately from the more energetic particles. Both trapped and galactic cosmic ray (GCR) particles are included, with the latter component being dominated by relativistic iron particles. The results from the P0006 experiment will be compared with similar measurements in other locations on LDEF with different orientation and shielding conditions. The remarkably detailed investigation of the charged particle radiation environment of the LDEF satellite will lead to a better understanding of the radiation environment of the Space Station Freedom. It will enable more accurate prediction of single event upsets (SEU's) in microelectronics and, especially, more accurate assessment of the risk - contributed by different components of the radiation field (GCR's, trapped protons, secondaries and heavy recoils, etc.) - to the health and safety of crew members.

Benton, E. V.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An integrated eddy current detection and imaging system on a silicon chip

Eddy current probes have been used for many years for numerous sensing applications including crack detection in metals. However, these applications have traditionally used the eddy current effect in the form of a physically wound single or different probe pairs which of necessity must be made quite large compared to microelectronics dimensions. Also, the traditional wound probe can only take a point reading, although that point might include tens of individual cracks or crack arrays; thus, conventional eddy current probes are beset by two major problems: (1) no detailed information can be obtained about the crack or crack array; and (2) for applications such as quality assurance, a vast amount of time must be taken to scan a complete surface. Laboratory efforts have been made to fabricate linear arrays of single turn probes in a thick film format on a ceramic substrate as well as in a flexible cable format; however, such efforts inherently suffer from relatively large size requirements as well as sensitivity issues. Preliminary efforts to fully extend eddy current probing from a point or single dimensional level to a two dimensional micro-eddy current format on a silicon chip, which might overcome all of the above problems, are presented.

Henderson, H. Thurman↗
NASA NTRS1992

Perspectives on integrated modeling of transport processes in semiconductor crystal growth

The wide range of length and time scales involved in industrial scale solidification processes is demonstrated here by considering the Czochralski process for the growth of large diameter silicon crystals that become the substrate material for modern microelectronic devices. The scales range in time from microseconds to thousands of seconds and in space from microns to meters. The physics and chemistry needed to model processes on these different length scales are reviewed.

Brown, Robert A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Using the stereokinetic effect to convey depth - Computationally efficient depth-from-motion displays

Recent developments in microelectronics have encouraged the use of 3D data bases to create compelling volumetric renderings of graphical objects. However, even with the computational capabilities of current-generation graphical systems, real-time displays of such objects are difficult, particularly when dynamic spatial transformations are involved. In this paper we discuss a type of visual stimulus (the stereokinetic effect display) that is computationally far less complex than a true three-dimensional transformation but yields an equally compelling depth impression, often perceptually indiscriminable from the true spatial transformation. Several possible applications for this technique are discussed (e.g., animating contour maps and air traffic control displays so as to evoke accurate depth percepts).

Kaiser, Mary K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Implementation of ionizing radiation environment requirements for Space Station

Proper functioning of Space Station hardware requires that the effects of high-energy ionizing particles from the natural environment and (possibly) from man-made sources be considered during design. At the Space Station orbit of 28.5-deg inclination and 330-440 km altitude, geomagnetically trapped protons and electrons contribute almost all of the dose, while galactic cosmic rays and anomalous cosmic rays may produce Single Event Upsets (SEUs), latchups, and burnouts of microelectronic devices. Implementing ionizing radiation environment requirements for Space Station has been a two part process, including the development of a description of the environment for imposing requirements on the design and the development of a control process for assessing how well the design addresses the effects of the ionizing radiation environment. We will review both the design requirements and the control process for addressing ionizing radiation effects on Space Station.

Boeder, Paul A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

DSMC simulation of ionized rarefied flows

Recently a renewed interest has been exhibited in understanding contamination and space environmental effect in the LEO range of 200 to 600 km as well as in low density microelectronics manufacturing technologies. Realistic simulations must model the physics of the highly coupled effects of neutral and charged particle flows, thermodynamic nonequilibrium, surface charging, and electromagnetic field effects. The computational requirements are enormous for this level of modeling and are almost impossible on current single processor supercomputers. An effort was initiated to develop this capability on a massively parallel MIMD supercomputers. The Wake Shield Facility experiment will be used for test case calculations. Preliminary results indicate that parallel supercomputers may be the only computers capable of simulating the required level of physics and spatial resolution. Calculations which contain from 1 to 8 million simulation particles are presented.

Bartel, Timothy J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Insoluble, Low-Dielectric-Constant Polyimides

In process, insoluble, low-dielectric-constant polyimides produced by combining dianhydride of bis{4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) phenyl}perfluoroisopropylidene (BFDA) with fluorinated aromatic diamine; each molecule contains at least one or more CF3 groups. These fully fluorinated polyimides have dielectric constants in range of 2.4 to 2.5 at 10 GHz. Suitable for use as composite matrix resins in advanced aerospace applications. Potential use in microelectronics industry, particularly as insulating resins in production of printed-circuit boards.

St. Clair, Anne K.↗