Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Spread Spectrum”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3

Spread-spectrum code acquisition in the presence of Doppler shift and data modulation

A spread-spectrum code acquisition technique for a direct-sequence (DS) system in the presence of Doppler effect and data modulation is investigated. Both the carrier-frequency offset and code-frequency offset due to severe Doppler effect are considered. The code-chip slipping during the correlation process caused by code-frequency offset can degrade the acquisition performance significantly. However, this issue can be alleviated by compensating code-frequency offset in an appropriate manner. Results are presented for the cases with and without data modulation. Coherent detection is considered when there is no data modulation. If data modulation is present, the authors partition the correlation time into subintervals and the integration results in these subintervals are square-law noncoherently combined for detection. The implementation of this code acquisition technique using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is described. The use of theoretical results to estimate the hardware complexity of an actual system is illustrated step by step, showing that implementation is feasible with existing technology. The tradeoff between hardware complexity and acquisition performance is discussed.

Cheng, Unjeng↗

Security Analysis of a Class of Spread Spectrum Systems Presentation

A method of adding physical layer security to a class of spread spectrum systems has been recently proposed. In this paper, we look into the rate at which an eavesdropper may gain information about the system to decipher the data symbols. The Shannon mutual information is used to measure the rate of information that may be gained by an eavesdropper. The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) method is used to obtain estimates of relevant entropy values, which will then be used to quantify the rate of information recovery as more data is transmitted. It turns out that such information recovery requires the adoption of special methods that avoid any destructive bias in the estimates. Details of these methods are also presented.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Security Analysis of a Class of Secured Spread Spectrum Systems

Abstract—A method of adding physical layer security to a class of spread spectrum systems has been recently proposed. In this paper, we look into the rate at which an eavesdropper may gain information about the system to decipher the data symbols. The Shannon mutual information is used to measure the rate of information that may be gained by an eavesdropper. The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) method is used to obtain the estimates of relevant entropy values which will be then used to quantify the rate of information recovery as more data are being transmitted. It turns out that such information recovery requires adoption of special methods that avoid any destructive bias in the estimates. Details of these methods are also presented.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) Digital Twin Simulation of Photovoltaic Systems for Fault Detection and Location

Utilizing spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) to detect, locate, and characterize faults in photovoltaic (PV) systems is examined in this paper. We present a method to obtain the model parameters that are needed to produce digital twin SSTDR responses for PV systems. The digital twin SSTDR responses could be used to predict faults within the PV systems. Here, the model parameters are the reflection and transmission coefficients at each impedance discontinuity in the PV system along with the propagation coefficients across each PV cable segment. We obtain model parameter by applying inverse modeling techniques to experimental SSTDR data associated with PV systems. Our model parameters can be used in any digital twin simulation method for modeling reflectometry in frequency-dependent and complex loads. For validation, we used the model parameters in a graph network simulation engine and adapted it to be used for SSTDR digital twin simulations in PV systems. We produced simulations for 0 to 10 PV modules connected in series. We also simulated SSTDR responses for open circuit disconnections in a PV setup containing 10 PV modules in series. Results show that all but one simulated disconnect locations match experimental disconnection locations of the same setup with an error of less than 5%.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Detection and Localization of Damaged Photovoltaic Cells and Modules Using Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry

The operating efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) plants can be improved if damaged or degraded modules can be detected and identified. Currently, string-level power electronics can detect problems with modules or cabling but not locate them, which would facilitate addressing these issues. Here, we investigate the ability of spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) to both detect and locate/identify damaged cells and modules within a series-connected PV string. We tested the ability of SSTDR to detect and locate single-cell mini-modules and full-sized PV modules, which were intentionally damaged by impacts with a hammer (breaking the glass and damaging the silicon below) or by cutting through some or all busbars. Damage to the glass and silicon of cells was detected and located within a small string of minimodules. Busbar damage was detectable only if an open was created by cutting through all intercell busbars. Furthermore, physical impact damage to the glass and silicon of a full-sized PV module could be detected, but further development of signal processing is needed to achieve localization of such damaged modules within a string.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Acquisition Technique For Spread-Spectrum Codes

Ability to lock onto signal increased with minimal equipment. Technique proposed to improve acquisition of spread-spectrum (pseudonoise) coded signal modulated by digital data signal. Divides correlation time into subintervals, integrates over subintervals, passes integrator outputs through square-law detectors, and adds detector outputs over all subintervals to reach decision regarding detection of code. Reduces effect of data-bit transitions at price of non-coherent-combining loss.

Cheng, Unjeng↗

Spread spectrum scheduling requests for wireless communication resource

Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed for wireless communication. A base station may communicate with a plurality of user equipments (UEs) without allocating spectral resources to the UEs for communicating scheduling requests. The base station may detect a scheduling request from a requesting UE of the plurality of UEs. The scheduling request may include a spread spectrum signal based on a spreading sequence. The scheduling request may indicate an identity for a requesting UE without indicating information other than the identity. The base station may grant spectral resources to the requesting UE in response to detecting a scheduling request.

Moradi, Hussein↗

Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) of Cable Anomalies using Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) and Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR)

This report presents a comparative assessment of the performance of frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) and spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) in detecting a wide range of electrical cable anomalies. All tests and results reported herein were performed at the PNNL Accelerated and Real-Time Environmental Nodal Assessment (ARENA) cable and motor test bed. The primary objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of SSTDR, a fledgling cable monitoring technique that shows promise for application in online monitoring of energized cable systems, against FDR, an offline technique widely employed in the nuclear power plant (NPP) industry. FDR tests are becoming more widely used in nuclear power plant cable aging management and test programs – particularly for low voltage cables. FDR capabilities for these kinds of tests have been reported by PNNL and others. The FDR test is performed on de-energized cables by connecting the FDR instrument to two of the cable conductors, or one conductor and the shield. A broad band low voltage (< 5 V) chirp is introduced in the cable, and any reflected response is captured in the frequency domain. The captured reflection is then processed by performing an inverse Fourier transform to a time domain response which can then be converted to a distance response based on the cable velocity of propagation (VoP). SSTDR measurements are functionally similar to FDR measurements in that a broad-band voltage signal composed of a square or sine wave modulated pseudo-random sequence of chips (< 5 volts), is injected onto one of the cable conductors. The injected signal will experience partial energy reflection and transmission at each impedance discontinuity along the transmission line. Any reflected response is detected by computing a cross-correlation between the reflected signals and a delayed copy of the incident SSTDR signal. the time delay for the reflected signal to experience the best matched correlation with the incident signal, indicates the travel time for the signal to reach a change in impedance. By knowing this time delay and velocity of propagation (VoP) of the signal, one can compute the physical distance. A big advantage that SSTDR measurements have over other methods is the ability to be connected to energized or live wires (currently up to 1kV) thereby enabling online monitoring of cables. SSTDR has been used successfully in several applications, e.g., aircraft, rail, and photovoltaic systems. In this work FDR and SSTDR cable assessment techniques were used to characterize a variety of cable anomalies and faults including: (1) Presence or absence of a motor; (2) Ground faults and short circuit faults; (3) Moist environments and water ingress faults; (4) Accelerated thermal aging. Both shielded and non-shielded cables were evaluated in this report. Offline measurements were made using FDR and online measurements were made by SSTDR for a range of test scenarios. Based on the results across all cable anomalies evaluated in this study, FDR displayed high sensitivity towards cable condition assessment, while SSTDR showed promise for future application in monitoring NPP cable systems. However, further developments are suggested to improve the resolution and sensitivity of SSTDR towards faults and anomalies in low voltage cables.rt presents a comparative

42 ENGINEERING↗

A surface wave spread spectrum communication link.

This development has resulted in a fast lock-up, 8-MHz bandwidth, 8-KHz data rate, spread spectrum communication link breadboard that is implemented using surface wave devices as the primary signal generators and signal processing elements. It uses surface wave tapped delay lines (SWTDL's) in the transmitter to generate the signals and in the receiver to match filter detect them. The system also incorporates a re-entry delay line (circulating integrator) which increases the effective code length per data bit by eight-fold.

Fugit, B. R.↗

Spread-Spectrum Carrier Estimation With Unknown Doppler Shift

We present a method for the frequency estimation of a BPSK modulated, spread-spectrum carrier with unknown Doppler shift. The approach relies on a classic periodogram in conjunction with a spectral matched filter. Simulation results indicate accurate carrier estimation with processing gains near 40. A DSP-based prototype has been implemented for real-time carrier estimation for use in New Mexico State University's proposal for NASA's Demand Assignment Multiple Access service.

DeLeon, Phillip L.↗

Online Monitoring of Medium Voltage Cable Systems with Spread Spectrum Time Domain and Frequency Domain Reflectometry

In-service failures of wave energy convertor (WEC) cable systems can have a significant cost and power availability impact. Close parallel research 2019 data showed > 1B£ and 9 Terra-Watt-Hours associated with global off-shore wind (OSW) cable failures (Strang-Moran 2020). OSW is a closely related technology but currently is significantly cheaper than WEC technology. For wave energy to compete, the problem of reliable cable transmission must be mitigated. This project develops isolation technology to allow online high frequency reflectometry testing of medium voltage cables (1 to 10 kV and higher) without arcing or damage to the test instrument. Online spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) testing has been established for low voltage cable systems in the aircraft and rail industry and the ability to detect and locate cable flaws of interest is well understood. Extending reflectometry testing to medium voltage systems could enable detection of cable damage before failures occur thereby allowing repair and replacement of damaged cable segments to be scheduled and managed. The seedling project succeeded to pass and receive high frequency SSTDR signals onto a cable up to 1 kV using a parallel trace isolation circuit board that can be connected onto the test cable. The approach used a novel circuit design for which an invention disclosure has been filed. A proposed sapling project would extend the technology toward the higher operating voltages used by WEC systems, thereby enabling online SSTDR cable monitoring. The goal of the seedling project was to extend the capability of the ARENA cable/motor test bed to address medium voltages and to develop a high pass filter isolation architecture to protect the reflectometry instrument from the low frequency (DC – 60 Hz) line voltage while allowing the high frequency diagnostic signal to pass to and from the test instrument to the live line. Initial efforts focused on passive LCR filter circuits to reduce 60 Hz levels below 10 volts from a 10 kV line while allowing the MHz high frequency chirps to pass onto the cables and for mV signals to be detected. We discovered that the parasitic loss behavior of real high voltage components precluded this approach from working. An alternate approach was adapted for the electric field to couple between two parallel traces on a printed circuit board much like a radio-frequency coupler. The challenge here was and is to have the parallel traces close enough to each other to effectively pass the high frequency chirp onto the live line and receive any reflected signal from any encountered impedance change along the cable. This reflected signal will be in the mV range. The traces however must be far enough apart to not allow arcing on the board. A design with 3 mm spacing was determined to allow the high frequency signal to pass onto the live line and receive the mV signal back into the instrument while reducing the 60 Hz voltage amplitude by >80 dB (more than a factor of 10,000) without allowing arcing from across the parallel traces. This was confirmed by simulation and test.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Performance of a class of parallel spread-spectrum code acquisition schemes in the presence of data modulation

An acquisition procedure for data-modulated direct-sequence spread-spectrum systems is investigated. The correlation time is partitioned into subintervals, and the integration results in these subintervals are noncoherently combined for detection. The tradeoff between noncoherent combining loss and data modulation degradation guides the optimum choice of the number of subintervals. Two forms of data modulation are considered, namely, the alternate-data and random-data cases. The parallel acquisition schemes discussed allow multiple code-phase offsets to be examined at each test. The circular state diagram approach is used to analyze the performances of these schemes. The theory presented is valid for a class of such parallel schemes.

Cheng, Unjeng↗

Evaluation of Costas Loops for demodulation of a spread spectrum signal for Space Shuttle up-link communications

The Space Shuttle Communication System utilizes a Costas Loop for carrier reconstruction to demodulate the Spread Spectrum signals. This design includes the increasingly popular hard limited in-phase channel which allows use of a switching type multiplier preceding the loop filter. This paper presents the development and performance of this type demodulator and includes supporting measured data.

Killen, H. B.↗

Spread Spectrum Time-Domain Reflectometry and Frequency Domain Reflectometry to Detect Shielded and Unshielded Cable Moisture Exposure

This work evaluates the feasibility to extend spread spectrum time-domain reflectometry (SSTDR) and frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) electrical cable testing to characterize whether an electrical cable is submerged in water or not and where it may be submerged. Using PNNL’s ARENA cable and motor test bed, shielded and non-shielded electrical cables were evaluated using SSTDR and FDR methods to detect and locate electrical cable exposure to water. Both SSTDR and FDR showed the presence of water with a non-shielded cable. Moisture was only detectable with the shielded cable if the insulation was damaged.

reflectometry cable test, cable moisture detection↗

Design and performance evaluation of a wideband FM spread-spectrum multiple-access system

The system described performs the tracking and communications functions of a tracking and data relay satellite system (TDRS). The spread-spectrum signal format is achieved through wide deviation FM by a sinusoidal subcarrier unique to each multiple-access user. A compound phase-locked loop tracks carrier and subcarrier and demodulates data and ranging signals. Design parameters of user and ground terminals for TDRS are given. Acquisition procedures are described. Performance analyses are presented including the effects of noise, RFI, multipath and other users.

Wachsman, R. H.↗

Interuser Interference Analysis for Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum Systems Part I: Partial-Period Cross-Correlation

This presentation discusses an analysis approach to evaluate the interuser interference for Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) Systems for Space Network (SN) Users. Part I of this analysis shows that the correlation property of pseudo noise (PN) sequences is the critical factor which determines the interuser interference performance of the DSSS system. For non-standard DSSS systems in which PN sequence s period is much larger than one data symbol duration, it is the partial-period cross-correlation that determines the system performance. This study reveals through an example that a well-designed PN sequence set (e.g. Gold Sequence, in which the cross-correlation for a whole-period is well controlled) may have non-controlled partial-period cross-correlation which could cause severe interuser interference for a DSSS system. Since the analytical derivation of performance metric (bit error rate or signal-to-noise ratio) based on partial-period cross-correlation is prohibitive, the performance degradation due to partial-period cross-correlation will be evaluated using simulation in Part II of this analysis in the future.

Ni, Jianjun (David)↗