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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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At least 109 records · Page 6

Sequence information signal processor for local and global string comparisons

A sequence information signal processing integrated circuit chip designed to perform high speed calculation of a dynamic programming algorithm based upon the algorithm defined by Waterman and Smith. The signal processing chip of the present invention is designed to be a building block of a linear systolic array, the performance of which can be increased by connecting additional sequence information signal processing chips to the array. The chip provides a high speed, low cost linear array processor that can locate highly similar global sequences or segments thereof such as contiguous subsequences from two different DNA or protein sequences. The chip is implemented in a preferred embodiment using CMOS VLSI technology to provide the equivalent of about 400,000 transistors or 100,000 gates. Each chip provides 16 processing elements, and is designed to provide 16 bit, two's compliment operation for maximum score precision of between -32,768 and +32,767. It is designed to provide a comparison between sequences as long as 4,194,304 elements without external software and between sequences of unlimited numbers of elements with the aid of external software. Each sequence can be assigned different deletion and insertion weight functions. Each processor is provided with a similarity measure device which is independently variable. Thus, each processor can contribute to maximum value score calculation using a different similarity measure.

Peterson, John C.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, April 2004

Topics covered include: Analysis of SSEM Sensor Data Using BEAM; Hairlike Percutaneous Photochemical Sensors; Video Guidance Sensors Using Remotely Activated Targets; Simulating Remote Sensing Systems; EHW Approach to Temperature Compensation of Electronics; Polymorphic Electronic Circuits; Micro-Tubular Fuel Cells; Whispering-Gallery-Mode Tunable Narrow-Band-Pass Filter; PVM Wrapper; Simulation of Hyperspectral Images; Algorithm for Controlling a Centrifugal Compressor; Hybrid Inflatable Pressure Vessel; Double-Acting, Locking Carabiners; Position Sensor Integral with a Linear Actuator; Improved Electromagnetic Brake; Flow Straightener for a Rotating-Drum Liquid Separator; Sensory-Feedback Exoskeletal Arm Controller; Active Suppression of Instabilities in Engine Combustors; Fabrication of Robust, Flat, Thinned, UV-Imaging CCDs; Chemical Thinning Process for Fabricating UV-Imaging CCDs; Pseudoslit Spectrometer; Waste-Heat-Driven Cooling Using Complex Compound Sorbents; Improved Refractometer for Measuring Temperatures of Drops; Semiconductor Lasers Containing Quantum Wells in Junctions; Phytoplankton-Fluorescence-Lifetime Vertical Profiler; Hexagonal Pixels and Indexing Scheme for Binary Images; Finding Minimum-Power Broadcast Trees for Wireless Networks; and Automation of Design Engineering Processes.

Source record↗

Reliability of Radioisotope Stirling Convertor Linear Alternator

Onboard radioisotope power systems being developed and planned for NASA s deep-space missions would require reliable design lifetimes of up to 14 years. Critical components and materials of Stirling convertors have been undergoing extensive testing and evaluation in support of a reliable performance for the specified life span. Of significant importance to the successful development of the Stirling convertor is the design of a lightweight and highly efficient linear alternator. Alternator performance could vary due to small deviations in the permanent magnet properties, operating temperature, and component geometries. Durability prediction and reliability of the alternator may be affected by these deviations from nominal design conditions. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the effect of these uncertainties in predicting the reliability of the linear alternator performance. This paper presents a study in which a reliability-based methodology is used to assess alternator performance. The response surface characterizing the induced open-circuit voltage performance is constructed using 3-D finite element magnetic analysis. Fast probability integration method is used to determine the probability of the desired performance and its sensitivity to the alternator design parameters.

Shah, Ashwin↗

JMOSFET: A MOSFET parameter extractor with geometry-dependent terms

The parameters from metal-oxide-silicon field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) that are included on the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) test chips need to be extracted to have a simple but comprehensive method that can be used in wafer acceptance, and to have a method that is sufficiently accurate that it can be used in integrated circuits. A set of MOSFET parameter extraction procedures that are directly linked to the MOSFET model equations and that facilitate the use of simple, direct curve-fitting techniques are developed. In addition, the major physical effects that affect MOSFET operation in the linear and saturation regions of operation for devices fabricated in 1.2 to 3.0 mm CMOS technology are included. The fitting procedures were designed to establish single values for such parameters as threshold voltage and transconductance and to provide for slope matching between the linear and saturation regions of the MOSFET output current-voltage curves. Four different sizes of transistors that cover a rectangular-shaped region of the channel length-width plane are analyzed.

Buehler, M. G.↗

Analysis of finite phased arrays of circular microstrip patches

A method is presented for analyzing a finite planar array of circular microstrip patches fed by coaxial probes. The self- and mutual impedances between array elements are calculated using the method of moments with the dyadic Green's function for a dielectric layer on a ground plane. The patch circuits are determined by using the reaction integral equation. The active input impedance as well as the active element pattern of the array are computed from a knowledge of the resultant patch currents. The calculated results for two-element and eight-element linear arrays are in good agreement with experimental data. The active reflection coefficient and element pattern for the center and edge elements of a two-dimensional array as a function of scan angle are also presented.

Deshpande, Manohar D.↗

Inclusion of Radiation Environment Variability for Reliability Estimates for SiC Power MOSFETs

Variability of the solar energetic particle environment is investigated for single-event-burnout reliability of silicon-carbide power metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors. A probabilistic assessment of failure evaluates the benefits of de-rating voltage, shielding, and mission length. The Prediction of Solar particle Yields for Characterizing Integrating Circuits code is used to calculate a cumulative density function for the fluence of the environment. The lethal ion method is then used to determine what proportion of the environment will cause single-event-burnout. The operating voltage determines the lowest linear-energy-transfer particle that will cause single-event-burnout and that should be included in the environment distribution. The shielding and mission length also determine the final environment distribution of the mission fluence. Through calculating the reliability for different operating voltages, shielding, and mission length for a specific device, it is shown that shielding thickness and operating voltage have a large effect on reliability and can be traded off during the design.

Heavy ion↗

Strongly-Refractive One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Prisms

One-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal prisms can separate a beam of polychromatic electromagnetic waves into constituent wavelength components and can utilize unconventional refraction properties for wavelength dispersion over significant portions of an entire photonic band rather than just near the band edges outside the photonic band gaps. Using a ID photonic crystal simplifies the design and fabrication process and allows the use of larger feature sizes. The prism geometry broadens the useful wavelength range, enables better optical transmission, and exhibits angular dependence on wavelength with reduced non-linearity. The properties of the 1 D photonic crystal prism can be tuned by varying design parameters such as incidence angle, exit surface angle, and layer widths. The ID photonic crystal prism can be fabricated in a planar process, and can be used as optical integrated circuit elements.

Ting, David Z.↗

Computer analysis of multicircuit shells of revolution by the field method

The field method, presented previously for the solution of even-order linear boundary value problems defined on one-dimensional open branch domains, is extended to boundary value problems defined on one-dimensional domains containing circuits. This method converts the boundary value problem into two successive numerically stable initial value problems, which may be solved by standard forward integration techniques. In addition, a new method for the treatment of singular boundary conditions is presented. This method, which amounts to a partial interchange of the roles of force and displacement variables, is problem independent with respect to both accuracy and speed of execution. This method was implemented in a computer program to calculate the static response of ring stiffened orthotropic multicircuit shells of revolution to asymmetric loads. Solutions are presented for sample problems which illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method.

Cohen, G. A.↗

Temperature compensated current source

A current source was designed which is substantially independent of variations of temperature. The current source may be made either to have a linear dependence upon changes of temperature or, by the simple addition of a resistor, may be made substantially independent of temperature variations. Since the current source consists only of transistors of one conductivity type and resistors, it is ideally suited for manufacture in the form of a monolithic integrated circuit.

Breuer, D. R.↗

Challenges and Techniques in Measurements of Noise, Cryogenic Noise and Power in Millimeter-Wave and Submillimeter-Wave Amplifiers

We will present the topic of noise measurements, including cryogenic noise measurements, of Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) and Sub-Millimeter-Wave Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (S-MMIC) amplifiers, both on-wafer, and interfaced to waveguide modules via coupling probes. We will also present an overview of the state-of-the-art in waveguide probe techniques for packaging amplifier chips, and discuss methods to obtain the lowest loss packaging techniques available to date. Linearity in noise measurements will be discussed, and experimental methods for room temperature and cryogenic noise measurements will be presented. We will also present a discussion of power amplifier measurements for millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave amplifiers, and the tools and hardware needed for this characterization.

Samoska, Lorene↗

HSCT Sector Combustor Hardware Modifications for Improved Combustor Design

An alternative to the stepped-dome design for the lean premixed prevaporized (LPP) combustor has been developed. The new design uses the same premixer types as the stepped-dome design: integrated mixer flameholder (IMFH) tubes and a cyclone swirler pilot. The IMFH fuel system has been taken to a new level of development. Although the IMFH fuel system design developed in this Task is not intended to be engine-like hardware, it does have certain characteristics of engine hardware, including separate fuel circuits for each of the fuel stages. The four main stage fuel circuits are integrated into a single system which can be withdrawn from the combustor as a unit. Additionally, two new types of liner cooling have been designed. The resulting lean blowout data was found to correlate well with the Lefebvre parameter. As expected, CO and unburned hydrocarbons emissions were shown to have an approximately linear relationship, even though some scatter was present in the data, and the CO versus flame temperature data showed the typical cupped shape. Finally, the NOx emissions data was shown to agree well with a previously developed correlation based on emissions data from Configuration 3 tests performed at GEAE. The design variations of the cyclone swirler pilot that were investigated in this study did not significantly change the NOx emissions from the baseline design (GEAE Configuration 3) at supersonic cruise conditions.

Greenfield, Stuart C.↗

A New GaAs Laser Radar for Atmospheric Measurements

A special GaAs lidar using fiber coupled diode lasers was constructed for the purpose of measuring the extinction coefficient distribution within a large atmospheric volume at a rate compatible with atmospheric kinematics. The technique is based on taking backscatter signature ratios over spatial increments after the returns are normalized by pulse integration. Essential aspects of the lidar design are beam pulse power, repetition rate, detection system dynamic range and decay linearity. It was necessary to preclude the possibility of eye hazard under any operating conditions, including directly viewing the emitting aperture at close distance with a night-adapted eye. The electronic signal processing and control circuits were built to allow versatile operations. Extinction coefficient measurements were made in fog and clouds using a low-power laboratory version of the lidar, demonstrating feasibility. Data are presented showing range squared corrected backscatter profiles converted to extinction coefficient profiles, temporal signal fluctuations, and solar induced background noise. These results aided in the design of the lidar which is described. Functional tests of this lidar and the implications relevant to the design of a prototype model are discussed. This work was jointly sponsored by Sperry Rand Corporation under its Independent Research and Development program; the Air Force Avionics Laboratory, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio; and the Naval Ammunition Depot, Crane, Indiana.

Brown, R. T.↗

Ka-Band Beam Steering Reflectarray Study

A one-meter diameter, 32 GHz active microstrip reflectarray capable of electronic beam steering has been studied. The 15_500 element array consists of rnicrostrip patch antennas, microstrip phase shifters, and dc bias lines. Specifically, the study focused on the solid-state devices and dc bias layouts for scanning the beam linearly 45 from boresight using 2-bit phase shifters. Three configurations are recommended for the reflectarray with integrated 2-bit phase shifters where the total substrate and cladding mass varies from 8 kg to 14 kg. Additionally, dc power requirements for p-i-n diodes in 1-bit, 2-bit and 3-bit phase shifting circuits are approximately 19 W, 19 W, and 39 W, respectively. The dc power requirement for phase shifters using passive MESFETs is much less than 1 W.

McSpadden, James O.↗

High-density Schottky barrier IRCCD sensors for remote sensing applications

It is pointed out that the ambitious goals envisaged for the next generation of space-borne sensors challenge the state-of-the-art in solid-state imaging technology. Studies are being conducted with the aim to provide focal plane array technology suitable for use in future Multispectral Linear Array (MLA) earth resource instruments. An important new technology for IR-image sensors involves the use of monolithic Schottky barrier infrared charge-coupled device arrays. This technology is suitable for earth sensing applications in which moderate quantum efficiency and intermediate operating temperatures are required. This IR sensor can be fabricated by using standard integrated circuit (IC) processing techniques, and it is possible to employ commercial IC grade silicon. For this reason, it is feasible to construct Schottky barrier area and line arrays with large numbers of elements and high-density designs. A Pd2Si Schottky barrier sensor for multispectral imaging in the 1 to 3.5 micron band is under development.

Elabd, H.↗

Linear Fresnel Spectrometer Chip with Gradient Line Grating

A spectrometer that includes a grating that disperses light via Fresnel diffraction according to wavelength onto a sensing area that coincides with an optical axis plane of the grating. The sensing area detects the dispersed light and measures the light intensity associated with each wavelength of the light. Because the spectrometer utilizes Fresnel diffraction, it can be miniaturized and packaged as an integrated circuit.

Choi, Sang Hyouk↗

A Discrete Component Low-Noise Preamplifier Readout for a Linear (1x16) SiC Photodiode Array

A compact, low-noise and inexpensive preamplifier circuit has been designed and fabricated to optimally readout a common cathode (1x16) channel 4H-SiC Schottky photodiode array for use in ultraviolet experiments. The readout uses an operational amplifier with 10 pF capacitor in the feedback loop in parallel with a low leakage switch for each of the channels. This circuit configuration allows for reiterative sample, integrate and reset. A sampling technique is given to remove Johnson noise, enabling a femtoampere level readout noise performance. Commercial-off-the-shelf acquisition electronics are used to digitize the preamplifier analogue signals. The data logging acquisition electronics has a different integration circuit, which allows the bandwidth and gain to be independently adjusted. Using this readout, photoresponse measurements across the array between spectral wavelengths 200 nm and 370 nm are made to establish the array pixels external quantum efficiency, current responsivity and noise equivalent power.

low-noise preamplifier↗

Biomedical ultrasonoscope

An instrument with a single ultrasonic transducer probe and a linear array of transducer probes permitting three operator modes is described. An 'A' and an 'M' mode scanner were combined with a 'C' mode scanner and a single receiver is used. The 'C' scanner mode enables two-dimensional cross sections of the viewed organ. Video-produced markers enable measurement of the dimensions of the heart. COS/MOS integrated logic circuit components are used to minimize power consumption and permit battery operation.

Lee, R. D.↗

High-Speed Edge-Detecting Line Scan Smart Camera

A high-speed edge-detecting line scan smart camera was developed. The camera is designed to operate as a component in a NASA Glenn Research Center developed inlet shock detection system. The inlet shock is detected by projecting a laser sheet through the airflow. The shock within the airflow is the densest part and refracts the laser sheet the most in its vicinity, leaving a dark spot or shadowgraph. These spots show up as a dip or negative peak within the pixel intensity profile of an image of the projected laser sheet. The smart camera acquires and processes in real-time the linear image containing the shock shadowgraph and outputting the shock location. Previously a high-speed camera and personal computer would perform the image capture and processing to determine the shock location. This innovation consists of a linear image sensor, analog signal processing circuit, and a digital circuit that provides a numerical digital output of the shock or negative edge location. The smart camera is capable of capturing and processing linear images at over 1,000 frames per second. The edges are identified as numeric pixel values within the linear array of pixels, and the edge location information can be sent out from the circuit in a variety of ways, such as by using a microcontroller and onboard or external digital interface to include serial data such as RS-232/485, USB, Ethernet, or CAN BUS; parallel digital data; or an analog signal. The smart camera system can be integrated into a small package with a relatively small number of parts, reducing size and increasing reliability over the previous imaging system..

Prokop, Norman F.↗