Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “MULTIPLEXER”

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 757 records · Page 42

CCSDS Time-Critical Onboard Networking Service

The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is developing recommendations for communication services onboard spacecraft. Today many different communication buses are used on spacecraft requiring software with the same basic functionality to be rewritten for each type of bus. This impacts on the application software resulting in custom software for almost every new mission. The Spacecraft Onboard Interface Services (SOIS) working group aims to provide a consistent interface to various onboard buses and sub-networks, enabling a common interface to the application software. The eventual goal is reusable software that can be easily ported to new missions and run on a range of onboard buses without substantial modification. The system engineer will then be able to select a bus based on its performance, power, etc and be confident that a particular choice of bus will not place excessive demands on software development. This paper describes the SOIS Intra-Networking Service which is designed to enable data transfer and multiplexing of a variety of internetworking protocols with a range of quality of service support, over underlying heterogeneous data links. The Intra-network service interface provides users with a common Quality of Service interface when transporting data across a variety of underlying data links. Supported Quality of Service (QoS) elements include: Priority, Resource Reservation and Retry/Redundancy. These three QoS elements combine and map into four TCONS services for onboard data communications: Best Effort, Assured, Reserved, and Guaranteed. Data to be transported is passed to the Intra-network service with a requested QoS. The requested QoS includes the type of service, priority and where appropriate, a channel identifier. The data is de-multiplexed, prioritized, and the required resources for transport are allocated. The data is then passed to the appropriate data link for transfer across the bus. The SOIS supported data links may inherently provide the quality of service support requested by the intra-network layer. In the case where the data link does not have the required level of support, the missing functionality is added by SOIS. As a result of this architecture, re-usable software applications can be designed and used across missions thereby promoting common mission operations. In addition, the protocol multiplexing function enables the blending of multiple onboard networks. This paper starts by giving an overview of the SOIS architecture in section 11, illustrating where the TCONS services fit into the overall architecture. It then describes the quality of service approach adopted, in section III. The prototyping efforts that have been going on are introduced in section JY. Finally, in section V the current status of the CCSDS recommendations is summarized.

Parkes, Steve↗

Bank Terminals

In the photo, employees of the UAB Bank, Knoxville, Tennessee, are using Teller Transaction Terminals manufactured by SCI Systems, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, an electronics firm which has worked on a number of space projects under contract with NASA. The terminals are part of an advanced, computerized financial transaction system that offers high efficiency in bank operations. The key to the system's efficiency is a "multiplexing" technique developed for NASA's Space Shuttle. Multiplexing is simultaneous transmission of large amounts of data over a single transmission link at very high rates of speed. In the banking application, a small multiplex "data bus" interconnects all the terminals and a central computer which stores information on clients' accounts. The data bus replaces the maze-of wiring that would be needed to connect each terminal separately and it affords greater speed in recording transactions. The SCI system offers banks real-time data management through constant updating of the central computer. For example, a check is immediately cancelled at the teller's terminal and the computer is simultaneously advised of the transaction; under other methods, the check would be cancelled and the transaction recorded at the close of business. Teller checkout at the end of the day, conventionally a time-consuming matter of processing paper, can be accomplished in minutes by calling up a summary of the day's transactions. SCI manufactures other types of terminals for use in the system, such as an administrative terminal that provides an immediate printout of a client's account, and another for printing and recording savings account deposits and withdrawals. SCI systems have been installed in several banks in Tennessee, Arizona, and Oregon and additional installations are scheduled this year.

Source record↗

Method and apparatus for holographic processing

A method and apparatus for holographically processing optical signals in a fiber-optic sensor system. In the present invention, holographic processors are utilized in various combinations with light sources, fiber-optic transmission means, sensors and detectors to provide low cost, compact, sensitive and accurate sensor systems. By means of the holographic processors of the present invention, the aforementioned sensor systems are used to monitor such physical parameters as temperature, pressure, flow-rate, and the like, and to provide output signal indications thereof that are compatible with digital receiving stations and immune to electro-magnetic interference, hazardous atmosphere, and the inimical effects of inadvertent intensity variation due to equipment vibration and the like. In one typical embodiment, a pair of holographic processors are employed in a color multiplex-demultiplex sensor system in which a first holographic processor is employed to color multiplex a sensor signal and a second holographic processor is employed to decode the color-multiplexed signal into a binary pattern that is then transmitted onto a set of photodetectors. In each of the embodiments of the invention disclosed, a unique geometrical orientation of a hologram is utilized to minimize spurious signal interference that would otherwise hamper or totally preclude the holographic processing.

Quick, William H.↗

Development and Operation of Arrays of TES x-ray Microcalorimeters Suitable for Constellation-X

Having already developed a transition-edge-sensor (TES) microcalorimeter design that enables uniform and reproducible high spectral resolution (routinely better than 3 eV resolution at 6 keV) and is compatible with high fill-factor arrays, we are now working towards demonstrating this performance at high count rates and with the multiplexed read-out needed for instrumenting the Constellation-X X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) focal plane array. Design changes that increase the speed of the individual XMS pixels, such as lowering the heat capacity or increasing the thermal conductance of the link to the 50-mK heatsink, result in larger, faster signals, thus the coupling to the multiplexer and the overall bandwidth of the electronics must accommodate this increase in slew rate. In order to operate the array with high incident x-ray flux without unacceptable degradation of the spectral resolution, the magnitude of thermal and electrical crosstalk must be controlled. We will discuss recent progress in the thermal and electrical designs of our close-packed TES arrays, and we will present spectra acquired through the read-out chain from the multiplexer electronics, through the demultiplexer software, to real-time signal processing.

Kilbourne, C. A.↗

Circuit for Driving Piezoelectric Transducers

The figure schematically depicts an oscillator circuit for driving a piezoelectric transducer to excite vibrations in a mechanical structure. The circuit was designed and built to satisfy application-specific requirements to drive a selected one of 16 such transducers at a regulated amplitude and frequency chosen to optimize the amount of work performed by the transducer and to compensate for both (1) temporal variations of the resonance frequency and damping time of each transducer and (2) initially unknown differences among the resonance frequencies and damping times of different transducers. In other words, the circuit is designed to adjust itself to optimize the performance of whichever transducer is selected at any given time. The basic design concept may be adaptable to other applications that involve the use of piezoelectric transducers in ultrasonic cleaners and other apparatuses in which high-frequency mechanical drives are utilized. This circuit includes three resistor-capacitor networks that, together with the selected piezoelectric transducer, constitute a band-pass filter having a peak response at a frequency of about 2 kHz, which is approximately the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transducers. Gain for generating oscillations is provided by a power hybrid operational amplifier (U1). A junction field-effect transistor (Q1) in combination with a resistor (R4) is used as a voltage-variable resistor to control the magnitude of the oscillation. The voltage-variable resistor is part of a feedback control loop: Part of the output of the oscillator is rectified and filtered for use as a slow negative feedback to the gate of Q1 to keep the output amplitude constant. The response of this control loop is much slower than 2 kHz and, therefore, does not introduce significant distortion of the oscillator output, which is a fairly clean sine wave. The positive AC feedback needed to sustain oscillations is derived from sampling the current through the piezoelectric transducer. This positive AC feedback, in combination with the slow feedback to the voltage-variable resistors, causes the overall loop gain to be just large enough to keep the oscillator running. The positive feedback loop includes two 16-channel multiplexers, which are not shown in the figure. One multiplexer is used to select the desired piezoelectric transducer. The other multiplexer, which is provided for use in the event that there are significant differences among the damping times of the 16 piezoelectric transducers, facilitates changing the value of one of the resistors in the positive-feedback loop to accommodate the damping time of the selected transducer.

Randall, David P.↗

Three-dimensional range imaging apparatus and method

A three-dimensional range imager includes a light source for providing a modulated light signal, a multiplexer, an optical fiber connecting the light source to the multiplexer, a plurality of optical fibers connected at first ends to the multiplexer and at second ends to a first fiber array, and a transmitter optic disposed adjacent the first fiber array for projecting a pixel pattern of the array onto a target.

Scott, Vibart Stan↗

Development of a Robust, Efficient Process to Produce Scalable, Superconducting Kilopixel Far-IR Detector Arrays

The far-IR band is uniquely suited to study the physical conditions in the interstellar medium from nearby sources out to the highest redshifts. FIR imaging and spectroscopy instrumentation using incoherent superconducting bolometers represents a high sensitivity technology for many future suborbital and space missions, including the Origins Space Telescope. Robust, high sensitivity detector arrays with several 104 pixels, large focal plane filling factors, and low cosmic ray cross sections that operate over the entire far-IR regime are required for such missions. These arrays could consist of smaller sub-arrays, in case they are tileable. The TES based Backshort Under Grid array architecture which our group has fielded in a number of FIR cameras, is a good candidate to meet these requirements: BUGs are tileable, and with the integration of the SQUID multiplexer scaleable beyond wafer sizes; they provide high filling factors, low cosmic cross section and have been demonstrated successfully in far-infrared astronomical instrumentation. However, the production of BUGs with integrated readout multiplexers has many time and resource consuming process steps. In order to meet the requirement of robustness and efficiency on the production of future arrays, we have developed a new method to provide the superconducting connection of BUG detectors to the readout multiplexers or general readout boards behind the detectors. This approach should allow us to reach the goal to produce reliable, very large detector arrays for future FIR missions.

Staguhn, Johannes↗

Assembly Development for the Simons Observatory Focal Plane Readout Module

The Simons Observatory (SO) is a suite of instruments sensitive to temperature and polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) to be located at Cerro Toco in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Five telescopes, one large aperture telescope and four small aperture telescopes, will host roughly 70,000 highly multiplexed transition edge sensor (TES) detectors operated at 100 mK. Each SO focal plane module (UFM) couples 1,764 TESes to microwave resonators in a microwave multiplexing (μMux) readout circuit. Before detector integration, the100 mKμMux components are packaged into multiplexing modules (UMMs), which are independently validated to ensure they meet SO performance specifications. Here we present the assembly developments of these UMM readout packages for mid frequency (90/150 GHz) and ultra high frequency (220/280 GHz) UFMs.

Aamir M. Ali↗

CO2 Supermarket Refrigeration Systems for Southeast Asia and the USA

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the annual energy consumption of these refrigeration systems in eighty eight cities from all climate zones in Southeast Asia. Also, the performance of the CO2 refrigeration systems is compared to the baseline R404A multiplex direct expansion (DX) system. Finally, the overall performance of the CO2 refrigeration systems in various climatic conditions in Southeast Asia is compared to that in the United States. For the refrigeration systems investigated, it was found that the Transcritical Booster System with Bypass Compressor (TBS-BC) performs better or equivalent to the R404A multiplex DX system in the northern regions of Southeast Asia (China and Japan). In the southern regions of Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh, Burma), the R404A multiplex DX system and the Combined Secondary Cascade (CSC) system performs better than the TBS-BC.

Sharma, Vishaldeep↗

Methods of resolving artifacts in Hadamard-transformed data

A method of validating data produced from a multiplexing process on an analytical instrument is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes using a pseudorandom sequence to encode a multiplexed segment of data; applying Hadamard transform to generate a demultiplexed segment of the data; aligning the pseudorandom sequence to the multiplexed data; and calculating a score for at least one positive value in the demultiplexed segment to find a valid demultiplexed value.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Compact, low power, high resolution ADC per pixel for large area pixel detectors

A compact ADC circuit can include one or more comparators, and a serial DAC (Digital-to-Analog) circuit that provides a signal to the comparator (or comparators). In addition, the ADC circuit can include a serial DAC redistribution sequencer that can provide a plurality of signals as input to the serial DAC circuit and is subject to a redistribution cycle and which receives as input a signal from a data multiplexer whose input connects electronically to an output of the comparator. The circuit can further include an ADC code register that provides an ADC output that connects electronically to the output of the comparator and the input to the data multiplexer. Shared logic circuitry for sharing common logic between pixels can be included, wherein the shared logic circuitry connects electronically to the data multiplexer and the ADC code register, wherein the shared logic circuitry promotes area and power savings for the pixel detector circuit.

Zimmerman, Tom↗

Gated ring oscillator with constant dynamic power consumption

A pure digital ring oscillator with constant power consumption as oscillation frequency is adjusted. Circuit topology includes a multiplexer implemented in NAND gates and a delay element positioned after a path selection NAND gate of that multiplexer such that delay element transistors may not toggle if the non-delaying signal path is selected. Assuming a delay element oscillation frequency f and a total capacitance C, and also assuming a plurality N of delay gates each characterized by a propagation delay t1 and a capacitance C1 such that C=C1*N, the ring oscillator of the present invention is characterized by a C value that is proportional to N and an f value that is inversely proportional to N. Furthermore, each of the N delay gates as well as the input and output gates of the multiplexer are characterized by a common capacitance-to-propagation delay ratio=C1/t1.

Wu, Jinyuan↗

Gated ring oscillator with constant dynamic power consumption

A pure digital ring oscillator with constant power consumption as oscillation frequency is adjusted. Circuit topology includes a multiplexer implemented in NAND gates and a delay element positioned after a path selection NAND gate of that multiplexer such that delay element transistors may not toggle if the non-delaying signal path is selected. Assuming a delay element oscillation frequency f and a total capacitance C, and also assuming a plurality N of delay gates each characterized by a propagation delay t1 and a capacitance C1 such that C=C1*N, the ring oscillator of the present invention is characterized by a C value that is proportional to N and an f value that is inversely proportional to N. Furthermore, each of the N delay gates as well as the input and output gates of the multiplexer are characterized by a common capacitance-to-propagation delay ratio=C1/t1.

Wu, Jinyuan↗

Compact, low power, high resolution ADC per pixel for large area pixel detectors

A compact ADC circuit can include one or more comparators, and a serial DAC (Digital-to-Analog) circuit that provides a signal to the comparator (or comparators). In addition, the ADC circuit can include a serial DAC redistribution sequencer that can provide a plurality of signals as input to the serial DAC circuit and is subject to a redistribution cycle and which receives as input a signal from a data multiplexer whose input connects electronically to an output of the comparator. The circuit can further include an ADC code register that provides an ADC output that connects electronically to the output of the comparator and the input to the data multiplexer. Shared logic circuitry for sharing common logic between pixels can be included, wherein the shared logic circuitry connects electronically to the data multiplexer and the ADC code register, wherein the shared logic circuitry promotes area and power savings for the pixel detector circuit.

Fahim, Farah↗

Design and Assembly of SPT-3G Cold Readout Hardware

The third-generation upgrade to the receiver on the South Pole Telescope, SPT-3G, was installed at the South Pole during the 2016–2017 austral summer to measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Increasing the number of detectors by a factor of 10 to ~16,000 required the multiplexing factor to increase to 68 and the bandwidth of the frequency-division readout electronics to span 1.6–5.2 MHz. This increase necessitates low-thermal conductance, low-inductance cryogenic wiring. Our cold readout system consists of planar thin-film aluminum inductive–capacitive resonators, wired in series with the detectors, summed together, and connected to 4K SQUIDs by 10-μm -thick niobium–titanium (NbTi) broadside-coupled striplines. Here, we present an overview of the cold readout electronics for SPT-3G, including assembly details and characterization of electrical and thermal properties of the system. We report, for the NbTi striplines, values of R≤10 -4 Ω , L=21±1 nH , and C=1.47±.02 nF . Additionally, the striplines’ thermal conductivity is described by kA=6.0±0.3 T 0.92±0.04 μW mm K -1 . Finally, we provide projections for cross talk induced by parasitic impedances from the stripline and find that the median value of percentage cross talk from leakage current is 0.22 and 0.09% from wiring impedance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Physical and Chemical Sensing With Electronic Skin

This paper reviews current progress on flexible and stretchable transistors and sensors for the next-generation multiplex electronics (commonly referred to as 'electronics skin' or 'e-skin') that is capable of simultaneous detection of multiple information from a variety of surfaces including human skin. Flexible chemical sensors for sweat analysis as well as physical sensors for detecting tactile force, bending, and temperature will be discussed, with emphasis on materials, detection mechanisms, and device demonstration to realize multiplex human-interactive devices. System integration enabling the real-time monitoring of health conditions is also demonstrated as a proof of concept. Finally, perspectives on e-skin for moving toward realizing practical wearable electronics in the market are discussed. This paper targets the translation of the nano- and flexible technologies from academic innovations to industrial practical applications with high-impact breakthroughs.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Enhanced Laser-Induced Graphene Microfluidic Integrated Sensors (LIGMIS) for On-Site Biomedical and Environmental Monitoring

The convergence of microfluidic and electrochemical biosensor technologies offers significant potential for rapid, in-field diagnostics in biomedical and environmental applications. Traditional systems face challenges in cost, scalability, and operational complexity, especially in remote settings. Addressing these issues, laser-induced graphene microfluidic integrated sensors (LIGMIS) are presented as an innovative platform that integrates microfluidics and electrochemical sensors both comprised of laser-induced graphene. This study advances the LIGMIS concept by resolving issues of uneven fluid transport, increased hydrophobicity during storage, and sensor biofunctionalization challenges. Key innovations include Y-shaped reservoirs for consistent fluid flow, hydrophilic polyethyleneimine coatings to maintain wettability, and separable microfluidic and electrochemical components enabling isolated electrode nanoparticle metallization and biofunctionalization. Multiplexed electrochemical detection of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and nitrate ions in environmental water samples yields detection limits of 707 nm and 10 -5.4 m with wide sensing ranges of 5–100 µm and 10 -5 –10 -1 m, respectively. Similarly, uric acid and calcium ions are detected in saliva, demonstrating detection limits of 217 nm and 10 -5.3 m with sensing ranges of 10–50 µm, and 10 -5 –10 -2.5 m, respectively. Overall, this biosensing demonstrates the capability of the LIGMIS platform for multiplexed detection in biologically complex solutions, with applications in environmental water quality monitoring and oral cancer screening.

environmental monitoring↗

Development of readout electronics for POLARBEAR-2 cosmic microwave background experiment

The readout of transition-edge sensor (TES) bolometers with a large multiplexing factor is key for the next generation cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiment, Polarbear-2, having 7588 TES bolometers. To enable the large arrays, we have been developing a readout system with a multiplexing factor of 40 in the frequency domain. Extending that architecture to 40 bolometers requires an increase in the bandwidth of the SQUID electronics, above 4 MHz. This paper focuses on cryogenic readout and shows how it affects cross talk and the responsivity of the TES bolometers. A series resistance, such as equivalent series resistance of capacitors for LC filters, leads to non-linear response of the bolometers. A wiring inductance modulates a voltage across the bolometers and causes cross talk. They should be controlled well to reduce systematic errors in CMB observations. As a result, we have been developing a cryogenic readout with a low series impedance and have tuned bolometers in the middle of their transition at a high frequency (>3 MHz).

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗