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Several existing network analysis programs have been modified and combined to employ a variable topological approach to circuit translation. Efficient numerical integration techniques are used for transient analysis.
Device used in mixers, modulators, and function generators provides stable sine-wave signal compatible with both integrated circuits and discrete-component assemblies. Oscillator's frequency is tunable over narrow band about design value. Frequency range, stability, linearity, and low power drain of device are suited to communications receivers and transmitters and digital microprocessors, computers, and displays. Circuit simplicity allows for easy monolithic construction.
An infrared imager, such as a spectrometer, includes multiple infrared photodetectors and readout circuits for reading out signals from the photodetectors. Each readout circuit includes a buffered direct injection input circuit including a differential amplifier with active feedback provided through an injection transistor. The differential amplifier includes a pair of input transistors, a pair of cascode transistors and a current mirror load. Photocurrent from a photodetector can be injected onto an integration capacitor in the readout circuit with high injection efficiency at high speed. A high speed, low noise, wide dynamic range linear infrared multiplexer array for reading out infrared detectors with large capacitances can be achieved even when short exposure times are used. The effect of image lag can be reduced.
Endfire-tapered slot antennas are suitable for many integrated circuit applications, imaging and phased arrays. An investigation of single elements of such antennas, including slots which are exponentially tapered (Vivaldi), linearly tapered, and constant width. For antennas of all types, a good general agreement is obtained for curves of beamwidth-versus-length, normalized to wavelength, when one compares the data with that for traveling-wave antennas published by Zucker (1961). An important condition for this agreement is that the effective dielectric thickness, defined in the text, is in a certain optimum range. This condition is qualitatively explained in terms of the theory for traveling-wave antennas.
The radiation response of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) devices and Integrated Circuits (ICs) was studied theoretically. The case of short-term annealing and the rebound effect are modeled mathematically using the linear response theory.
A frequency multiplier with active linearly tapered slot antennas (LTSA's) has been demonstrated at the second harmonic frequency. In each antenna element, a GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) distributed amplifier is integrated with two LTSA's. The multiplier has a very wide bandwidth and large dynamic range. The fundamental-to-second harmonic conversion efficiency is 8.1 percent. The spatially combined second harmonic signal is 50 dB above the noise level. The design is suitable for constructing a large array using monolithic integration techniques.
The continued development of monolithic InSb charge coupled infrared imaging devices (CCIRIDs) is discussed. The processing sequence and structural design of 20-element linear arrays are discussed. Also, results obtained from radiometric testing of the 20-element arrays using a clamped sample-and-hold output circuit are reported. The design and layout of a next-generation CCIRID chip are discussed. The major devices on this chip are a 20 by 16 time-delay-and-integration (TDI) area array and a 100-element linear imaging array. The development of a process for incorporating an ion implanted S(+) planar channel stop into the CCIRID structure and the development of a thin film transparent photogate are also addressed. The transparent photogates will increase quantum efficiency to greater than 70% across the 2.5 to 5.4 micrometer spectral region in future front-side illuminated CCIRIDs.
Mercury-column electrochemical coulometer is a linear ampere-hour integrating device consisting of a sealed glass tube containing two columns of mercury separated by a gap containing an electrolyte. The drive circuit uses operational amplifier techniques to match nonlinear charge-discharge characteristics of an alkaline battery.
This short paper describes work in progress on the conceptual design of a control system for a cryogenic cooler intended for use aboard spacecraft. The cooler will produce 5 watts of cooling at 65 K and will be used to support experiments associated with the following: earth observation; atmospheric measurements; infrared, x-ray, and gamma-ray astronomy; and magnetic field characterization. The cooler has been designed and constructed for NASA/GSFC by Philips Laboratories and is described in detail. The cooler has a number of unique design features intended to enhance long life and maintenance free operation in space including use of the high efficiency Stirling thermodynamic refrigeration cycle, linear magnetic motors, clearance-seals, and magnetic bearings. The proposed control system design is based on optimal control theory and is targeted for custom integrated circuit implementation. The resulting control system will meet the following mission requirements: efficiency, reliability, optimal thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical performance; freedom from operator intervention; light weight; and small size.
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) of a proposed type would be designed and fabricated to effect lateral and vertical alignment of optical fibers with respect to optical, electro-optical, optoelectronic, and/or photonic devices on integrated circuit chips and similar monolithic device structures. A MEMS device of this type would consist of a pair of oppositely sloped alignment wedges attached to linear actuators that would translate the wedges in the plane of a substrate, causing an optical fiber in contact with the sloping wedge surfaces to undergo various displacements parallel and perpendicular to the plane. In making it possible to accurately align optical fibers individually during the packaging stages of fabrication of the affected devices, this MEMS device would also make it possible to relax tolerances in other stages of fabrication, thereby potentially reducing costs and increasing yields. In a typical system according to the proposal (see Figure 1), one or more pair(s) of alignment wedges would be positioned to create a V groove in which an optical fiber would rest. The fiber would be clamped at a suitable distance from the wedges to create a cantilever with a slight bend to push the free end of the fiber gently to the bottom of the V groove. The wedges would be translated in the substrate plane by amounts Dx1 and Dx2, respectively, which would be chosen to move the fiber parallel to the plane by a desired amount Dx and perpendicular to the plane by a desired amount Dy. The actuators used to translate the wedges could be variants of electrostatic or thermal actuators that are common in MEMS.
The upper part of the figure illustrates the major functional blocks of a direction-sensitive analog tachometer circuit based on the use of an unexcited two-phase brushless dc motor as a rotation transducer. The primary advantages of this circuit over many older tachometer circuits include the following: Its output inherently varies linearly with the rate of rotation of the shaft. Unlike some tachometer circuits that rely on differentiation of voltages with respect to time, this circuit relies on integration, which results in signals that are less noisy. There is no need for an additional shaft-angle sensor, nor is there any need to supply electrical excitation to a shaft-angle sensor. There is no need for mechanical brushes (which tend to act as sources of electrical noise). The underlying concept and electrical design are relatively simple. This circuit processes the back-electromagnetic force (back-emf) outputs of the two motor phases into a voltage directly proportional to the instantaneous rate (sign magnitude) of rotation of the shaft. The processing in this circuit effects a straightforward combination of mathematical operations leading to a final operation based on the well-known trigonometric identity (sin x)2 + (cos x)2 = 1 for any value of x. The principle of operation of this circuit is closely related to that of the tachometer circuit described in Tachometer Derived From Brushless Shaft-Angle Resolver (MFS-28845), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 19, No. 3 (March 1995), page 39. However, the present circuit is simpler in some respects because there is no need for sinusoidal excitation of shaftangle- resolver windings.
In this paper we present the design and measurement results, both on-wafer and in package, of an ultra-low-noise and wideband monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifier in the frequency range of 75 to 116 GHz. The three-stage amplifier packaged in a WR10 waveguide housing and fabricated using a 35-nm InP HEMT technology achieves a record noise temperature of 23 K at 108 GHz when cryogenically cooled to 27 K. The measured gain is 22 to 27 dB for frequency range of 75 to 116 GHz. Furthermore, the amplifier utilizes four finger devices with total gate width of 60 um resulting for improved linearity.
Feedback shift registers are efficient periodic binary sequence generators. Polynomials of degree r over a Galois field characteristic 2(GF(2)) characterize the behavior of shift registers with linear logic feedback. The algorithmic determination of the trinomial of lowest degree, when it exists, that contains a given irreducible polynomial over GF(2) as a factor is presented. This corresponds to embedding the behavior of an r-stage shift register with linear logic feedback into that of an n-stage shift register with a single two-input modulo 2 summer (i.e., Exclusive-OR gate) in its feedback. This leads to Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuit architecture of maximal regularity (i.e., identical cells) with intercell communications serialized to a maximal degree.
The criteria of the significant value of the panel instruments used in general aviation were examined and kinematic equations were added for comparison. An instrument survey was performed to establish the present state of the art in linear and angular accelerometers, pressure transducers, and magnetometers. A very preliminary evaluation was done of the computers available for data evaluation and estimator mechanization. The mathematical model of a light twin aircraft employed in the evaluation was documented, the results of the sensor survey and the results of the design studies were presented.
The construction of time-domain solutions by the superposition of modes is explained for the general case, which may not have any symmetry in the lines or terminations. This simplified method requires that the logic-gate terminal impedances be approximated by linear effective resistances that can be adequately determined by SPICE analysis of the actual logic gates. Several examples of results of crosstalk calculations made by the simplified method are presented and compared with corresponding results obtained using the SPICE transmission-line methods of Tripathi and Rettig (1985) along with full SPICE models of the logic gates. The simplified approach is shown to give satisfactory agreement for most purposes.
Small magnetic sweep deflection circuits operate a hand-held lunar television camera. They convert timing signals from the synchronizer into waveforms that provide a raster on the vidicon target. Raster size remains constant and linear during wide voltage and temperature fluctuations.
The design and development of a small, optically controlled phased array antenna suitable for communication satellite applications are discussed. A vertical integration architecture is used which minimizes the size of the array with its associated beamforming network (BFN). The antenna features a four-element linear microstrip array that uses aperture coupling of the antenna elements to the BFN; a modified Wilkinson power divider BFN; and 32 GHz, four-bit monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) phase shifters in customized quartz packages with corresponding optoelectronic interface circuits (OEIC's) for control signal reception.
A space power amplifier composed of active linearly tapered slot antennas (LTSA's) has been demonstrated and shown to have a gain of 30 dB at 20 GHz. In each of the antenna elements, a GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) three-stage power amplifier is integrated with two LTSA's. The LTSA and the MMIC power amplifier has a gain of 11 dB and power added efficiency of 14 percent respectively. The design is suitable for constructing a large array using monolithic integration techniques.