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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 55 records · Page 3

Infrared predetection dynamic range compression via photorefractive crystals

The theoretical basis and practical implementation of a predetection dynamic-range compression technique for IR sensor systems are discussed. The approach takes advantage of the nonlinear intensity dependence of the gain coefficient in photorefractive crystals. Its feasibility is demonstrated in numerical computations using the experimental data of Cheng and Partovi (1986) on two-wave mixing in GaAs at 1.15 micron wavelength.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Development of a precision, wide-dynamic-range actuator for use in active optical systems

The design, operation, and performance of a wide-dynamic-range optical-quality actuator are discussed. The actuator uses a closed-loop control system to maintain accurate positioning and has an rms noise performance of 20 nm. A unique force offloading mechanism allows the actuator coil to dissipate less than 3 mW under quiescent conditions. The operation of an experimental segmented optical system that uses 18 of the actuators is examined to show how they are integrated into an actual system.

Lorell, K. R.↗

Wind dynamic range video camera

A television camera apparatus is disclosed in which bright objects are attenuated to fit within the dynamic range of the system, while dim objects are not. The apparatus receives linearly polarized light from an object scene, the light being passed by a beam splitter and focused on the output plane of a liquid crystal light valve. The light valve is oriented such that, with no excitation from the cathode ray tube, all light is rotated 90 deg and focused on the input plane of the video sensor. The light is then converted to an electrical signal, which is amplified and used to excite the CRT. The resulting image is collected and focused by a lens onto the light valve which rotates the polarization vector of the light to an extent proportional to the light intensity from the CRT. The overall effect is to selectively attenuate the image pattern focused on the sensor.

Craig, G. D.↗

Effect of inoculation with prion dilutions within the dynamic range of ELISA absorbance on prion incubation period

This study examines the effect of various infectious prion titers within the dynamic range as measured by ELISA on incubation period. We inoculated ovinized transgenic mice with seven decreasing dilutions of a fast-incubating scrapie strain. The highest inoculum group was a 20% w/v brain homogenate from a sheep with scrapie. The subsequent six inoculum dilutions ranged from the highest ELISA optical density reading of 4.000 to a dilution where scrapie prions were not detectable by ELISA. Multiple comparison analysis demonstrated variation in the incubation periods between some inoculum groups. Incubation periods were similar between inoculum groups unless their optical density differed by more than ≈2 units of absorbance. These data will inform the interpretation of future studies that compare incubation periods in experimentally inoculated animals for TSE research.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Apparatus and method for high dynamic range counting by pixelated detectors

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and methods for generating a hybrid image by high-dynamic-range counting. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a processing circuitry configured to acquire an image from a pixelated detector, obtain a sparsity map of the acquired image, the sparsity map indicating low-flux regions of the acquired image and high-flux regions of the acquired image, generate a low-flux image and a high-flux image based on the sparsity map, perform event analysis of the acquired image based on the low-flux image and the high-flux image, the event analysis including detecting, within the low-flux image, incident events by an event counting mode, multiply, by a normalization constant, resulting intensities of the high-flux image and the detected incident events of the low-flux image, and generate the hybrid image by merging the low-flux image and the high-flux image.

Bammes, Benjamin↗

High Precision Sunphotometer using Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) Camera Tracking

The NASA Ames Sun-photometer-Satellite Group, DOE, PNNL Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, and NASA Goddards AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) team recently collaborated on the development of a new airborne sunphotometry instrument that provides information on gases and aerosols extending far beyond what can be derived from discrete-channel direct-beam measurements, while preserving or enhancing many of the desirable AATS features (e.g., compactness, versatility, automation, reliability). The enhanced instrument combines the sun-tracking ability of the current 14-Channel NASA Ames AATS-14 with the sky-scanning ability of the ground-based AERONET Sunsky photometers, while extending both AATS-14 and AERONET capabilities by providing full spectral information from the UV (350 nm) to the SWIR (1,700 nm). Strengths of this measurement approach include many more wavelengths (isolated from gas absorption features) that may be used to characterize aerosols and detailed (oversampled) measurements of the absorption features of specific gas constituents. The Sky Scanning Sun Tracking Airborne Radiometer (3STAR) replicates the radiometer functionality of the AATS14 instrument but incorporates modern COTS technologies for all instruments subsystems. A 19-channel radiometer bundle design is borrowed from a commercial water column radiance instrument manufactured by Biospherical Instruments of San Diego California (ref, Morrow and Hooker)) and developed using NASA funds under the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. The 3STAR design also incorporates the latest in robotic motor technology embodied in Rotary actuators from Oriental motor Corp. having better than 15 arc seconds of positioning accuracy. Control system was designed, tested and simulated using a Hybrid-Dynamical modeling methodology. The design also replaces the classic quadrant detector tracking sensor with a wide dynamic range camera that provides a high precision solar position tracking signal as well as an image of the sky in the 45 field of view around the solar axis, which can be of great assistance in flagging data for cloud effects or other factors that might impact data quality.

aerosols↗

Characterization of a Small-Scale Prototype Detector With Wide Dynamic Range for Time-Resolved High-Energy X-Ray Applications

We present characterization measurements of a fast-framing, wide-dynamic-range x-ray area detector intended for high-energy applications (≥20 keV photons). The MM-PAD-2.1 combines an integrating pixel front-end with a charge-removal mechanism to extend the maximum measurable signal to > 107 20-keV ph/pixel/frame. The charge-removal mechanism is dead-time-less (i.e., incoming signal continues to be integrated by the front-end while charge removal is taking place) up to an incoming photon rate of > 109 20-keV ph/pix/s. A 16×16 pixel prototype was fabricated and characterized using both laboratory and synchrotron x-ray sources, allowing for measurements from single-photon to high-flux conditions. High-flux measurements show linear performance up to ~1010 ph/s in a spot spanning approximately 2×1.5 pixels (FWHM). The onset of temporary radiation damage in the detector was observed during these measurements, manifesting as failure of the digital readout from the detector. These effects were seen to reverse after annealing at 30° C for several hours.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Characterization of 128 × 128 MM-PAD-2.1 ASIC: a fast framing hard x-ray detector with high dynamic range

Here, we characterize a new x-ray Mixed-Mode Pixel Array Detector (MM-PAD-2.1) Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Using an integrating pixel front-end with dynamic charge removal architecture, the MM-PAD-2.1 ASIC extends the maximum measurable x-ray signal (in 20 keV photon units) to > 10 7 x-rays/pixel/frame while maintaining a low read noise across the full dynamic range, all while imaging continuously at a frame rate of up to 10 kHz. The in-pixel dynamic charge removal mechanism prevents saturation of the input amplifier and proceeds in parallel with signal integration to achieve deadtime-less measurements with incident x-ray rates of > 10 10 x-rays/pixel/s. The ASIC format consists of 128 × 128 square pixels each 150 μm on a side and is designed to be 3-side buttable so large arrays can be effectively tiled. Here we use both laboratory x-ray sources and the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) to characterize two single ASIC prototype detectors for both low (single x-ray) and high incident flux detection. In the first detector the ASIC was solder bump-bonded to a 500 μm thick Si sensor for efficient detection of x-rays below 20 keV, whereas the second detector used a 750 μm thick CdTe sensor for x-rays above ~20 keV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low Power, Wide Dynamic Range Carbon Nanotube Vacuum Gauges

This slide presentation presents carbon nanotube vacuum pressure sensor gauges that operate at low power and exhibit a wide-dynamic range based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The fabrication facility, and the formation process are shown. Pressure sensitivity was found to increase rapidly as the bias power was increased. In addition, by etching part of the thermal SiO2 beneath the tubes and minimizing heat conduction through the substrate, pressure sensitivity was extended toward lower pressures. Results are compared to a conventional thin film meander resistor, which was fabricated and whose pressure response was also measured for comparative purposes.

JEOL E-beam aligner↗

Dynamic Range and Sensitivity Requirements of Satellite Ocean Color Sensors: Learning from the Past

Sensor design and mission planning for satellite ocean color measurements requires careful consideration of the signal dynamic range and sensitivity (specifically here signal-to-noise ratio or SNR) so that small changes of ocean properties (e.g., surface chlorophyll-a concentrations or Chl) can be quantified while most measurements are not saturated. Past and current sensors used different signal levels, formats, and conventions to specify these critical parameters, making it difficult to make cross-sensor comparisons or to establish standards for future sensor design. The goal of this study is to quantify these parameters under uniform conditions for widely used past and current sensors in order to provide a reference for the design of future ocean color radiometers. Using measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard the Aqua satellite (MODISA) under various solar zenith angles (SZAs), typical (L(sub typical)) and maximum (L(sub max)) at-sensor radiances from the visible to the shortwave IR were determined. The Ltypical values at an SZA of 45 deg were used as constraints to calculate SNRs of 10 multiband sensors at the same L(sub typical) radiance input and 2 hyperspectral sensors at a similar radiance input. The calculations were based on clear-water scenes with an objective method of selecting pixels with minimal cross-pixel variations to assure target homogeneity. Among the widely used ocean color sensors that have routine global coverage, MODISA ocean bands (1 km) showed 2-4 times higher SNRs than the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (Sea-WiFS) (1 km) and comparable SNRs to the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS)-RR (reduced resolution, 1.2 km), leading to different levels of precision in the retrieved Chl data product. MERIS-FR (full resolution, 300 m) showed SNRs lower than MODISA and MERIS-RR with the gain in spatial resolution. SNRs of all MODISA ocean bands and SeaWiFS bands (except the SeaWiFS near-IR bands) exceeded those from prelaunch sensor specifications after adjusting the input radiance to L(sub typical). The tabulated L(sub typical), L(sub max), and SNRs of the various multiband and hyperspectral sensors under the same or similar radiance input provide references to compare sensor performance in product precision and to help design future missions such as the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission and the Pre-Aerosol-Clouds-Ecosystems (PACE) mission currently being planned by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

chlorophyll fluorescence↗

Large dynamic range digital delay with sub-picosecond precision

Abstract We report on the development and performance of a digitally controlled phase delay with a step of 280 femtoseconds and a dynamic range of 230 picoseconds. Details of the device design and the simulations as well as comparisons with laboratory measurements will be discussed. We describe how we have used this ASIC to stabilize a digital clock to a precision of less than one picosecond.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

High-Dynamic Range Fiberoptic Links for Antenna Remoting Applications

In recent years, the performance and cost effectiveness of analog fiberoptic communication systems have improved so that many applications including antenna remoting which requires high dynamic range can now benefit from the many advantages of fiber optics.

high speed microwave fiberoptic systems DFB Fabry-↗

Pulse stretcher has improved dynamic range and linearity

Current-switching pulse stretcher overcomes the diode nonlinearity and capacitive feedthrough of voltage switching diode-capacitor stretchers and lengthens nanosecond pulses so that their amplitude may be determined and extends the dynamic range of the pulse stretcher. The rise time of the output pulse in response to a step function is approximately 5 nanoseconds.

Larsen, R. N.↗

High framerate and high dynamic range electron microscopy

Methods and systems for acquiring transmission electron microscope video data on a rolling-shutter detector at an enhanced frame rate and without temporal distortions are described. Also described are methods to enhance the dynamic range of image and diffraction data acquired using a transmission electron microscope. The disclosed methods and systems may also be applicable to photon detection and imaging systems.

Bloom, Ruth↗

Carbon nanotube vacuum gauges with wide-dynamic range and processes thereof

A miniature thermal conductivity gauge employs a carbon single-walled-nanotube. The gauge operates on the principle of thermal exchange between the voltage-biased nanotube and the surrounding gas at low levels of power and low temperatures to measure vacuum across a wide dynamic range. The gauge includes two terminals, a source of constant voltage to the terminals, a single-walled carbon nanotube between the terminals, a calibration of measured conductance of the nanotube to magnitudes of surrounding vacuum and a current meter in electrical communication with the source of constant voltage. Employment of the nanotube for measuring vacuum includes calibrating the electrical conductance of the nanotube to magnitudes of vacuum, exposing the nanotube to a vacuum, applying a constant voltage across the nanotube, measuring the electrical conductance of the nanotube in the vacuum with the constant voltage applied and converting the measured electrical conductance to the corresponding calibrated magnitude of vacuum using the calibration. The nanotube may be suspended to minimize heat dissipation through the substrate, increasing sensitivity at even tower pressures.

Manohara, Harish↗