Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Dynamic range”

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 793 records · Page 44
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

A new multifunction acousto-optic signal processor

An acousto-optic architecture for simultaneously obtaining time integration correlation and high-speed power spectrum analysis was constructed using commercially available TeO2 modulators and photodiode detector-arrays. The correlator section of the processor uses coherent interferometry to attain maximum bandwidth and dynamic range while achieving a time-bandwidth product of 1 million. Two correllator outputs are achieved in this system configuration. One is optically filtered and magnified 2 : 1 to decrease the spatial frequency to a level where a 25-MHz bandwidth may be sampled by a 62-mm array with elements on 25-micro centers. The other output is magnified by a factor of 10 such that the center 4 microseconds of information is available for estimation of time-difference-of-arrival to within 10 ns. The Bragg cell spectrum-analyzer section, which also has two outputs, resolves a 25-MHz instantaneous bandwidth to 25 kHz and can determine discrete-frequency reception time to within 15 microseconds. A microprocessor combines spectrum analysis information with that obtained from the correlator.

Berg, N. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Integrated optical signal processing with magnetostatic waves

Magneto-optical devices based on Bragg diffraction of light by magnetostatic waves (MSW's) offer the potential of large time-bandwidth optical signal processing at microwave frequencies of 1 to 20 GHz and higher. A thin-film integrated-optical configuration, with the interacting MSW and guided-optical wave both propagating in a common ferrite layer, is necessary to avoid shape-factor demagnetization effects. The underlying theory of the MSW-optical interaction is outlined, including the development of expressions for optical diffraction efficiency as a function of MSW power and other relevant parameters. Bradd diffraction of guided-optical waves by transversely-propagating magnetostatic waves and collinear TE/TM mode conversion included by MSW's have been demonstrated in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin films. Diffraction levels as large as 4% (7 mm interaction length) and a modulation dynamic range of approx 30 dB have been observed. Advantages of these MSW-based devices over the analogous acousto-optical devices include: much greater operating frequencies, tunability of the MSW dispersion relation by varying either the RF frequency or the applied bias magnetic field, simple broad-band MSW transducer structures (e.g., a single stripline), and the potential for very high diffraction efficiencies.

Fisher, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Atmospheric model development

Spectral albedo measurements from the LANDSAT-4/5 thematic mappers require that spacecraft upwelling radiances be corrected for atmospheric absorption and scattering and for local surface illumination. A two-stream model is developed, with a lower boundary condition that varies with incidence angle. The TM data must be registered to digital terrain data. Reflectance from points in shadows can be used to estimate optical depth. The primary application is determination of the spectral albedo of snow. The TM is better-suited for this purpose than the MSS because of its larger dynamic range.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

Complementary code and digital filtering for detection of weak VHF radar signals from the mesoscale

The SOUSY-VHF-Radar operates at a frequency of 53.5 MHz in a valley in the Harz mountains, Germany, 90 km from Hanover. The radar controller, which is programmed by a 16-bit computer holds 1024 program steps in core and controls, via 8 channels, the whole radar system: in particular the master oscillator, the transmitter, the transmit-receive-switch, the receiver, the analog to digital converter, and the hardware adder. The high-sensitivity receiver has a dynamic range of 70 dB and a video bandwidth of 1 MHz. Phase coding schemes are applied, in particular for investigations at mesospheric heights, in order to carry out measurements with the maximum duty cycle and the maximum height resolution. The computer takes the data from the adder to store it in magnetic tape or disc. The radar controller is programmed by the computer using simple FORTRAN IV statements. After the program has been loaded and the computer has started the radar controller, it runs automatically, stopping at the program end. In case of errors or failures occurring during the radar operation, the radar controller is shut off caused either by a safety circuit or by a power failure circuit or by a parity check system.

Schmidt, G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Microdensitometer errors: Their effect on photometric data reduction

The performance of densitometers used for photometric data reduction of high dynamic range electrographic plate material is analyzed. Densitometer repeatability is tested by comparing two scans of one plate. Internal densitometer errors are examined by constructing histograms of digitized densities and finding inoperative bits and differential nonlinearity in the analog to digital converter. Such problems appear common to the four densitometers used in this investigation and introduce systematic algorithm dependent errors in the results. Strategies to improve densitometer performance are suggested.

Bozyan, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Performance of the ESO PDS

The astrometric and photometric performance of the PDS 1010A microdensitometer are discussed, including the tests used for checking it. The instrument was shown to satisfy operational requirements for photometric measurements of astronomical plates with respect to dynamic range and stability.

Grosboel, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Why use a microdensitometer other than a PDS?

The motivations for constructing a special purpose built microdensitometer are explored. The salient points of some of the microdensitometers are described and the advantages and disadvantages of the system in comparison to a PDS machine are outlined. The principal gain is in speed though at the expense of loss in dynamic range. The effects on the astronomical results are demonstrated. The astronomical results already obtained with these machines and from ongoing projects are described. It is shown that there is a large class of important astronomical problems which can be tackled by these machines but which are not feasibile on the PDS because of the speed of the machine.

Stobie, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Sacramento Peak fast microphotometer

The Sacramento Peak Observatory Fast Microphotometer translates an optical system that includes a laser and photodiode detector across the film to scan the Y direction. A stepping motor moves the film gate in the X direction. This arrangement affords high positional accuracy, low noise (0.002 RMS density units), modest speed (5000 points/second), large dynamic range (4.5 density units), high stability (0.005 density units), and low scattered light. The Fast Microphotometer is interfaced to the host computer by a 6502 microprocessor.

Arrambide, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A preliminary analysis of a diode array for densitometry

A diode-array based image digitizer manufactured by the Eikonix Corp. was tested to see if it can be adapted to the exacting requirements of astronomical densitometry. As the device is presently configured, a dynamic range of 400:1 can be achieved routinely, with a positional accuracy of 2 microns or better. An area of 2048 X 2048 pixels can be scanned in about 5 minutes. Preliminary tests indicate that several relatively simple enhancements can improve both the photometric and the positional accuracy of the device.

Janes, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Plans for a fast image recording system at ESO

A 256 diode-array will be installed as detector on the ESO OPTRONICS S-3000 measuring machine in order to increase the acquisition rate. A high intensity LED will be used as light source in a pulse mode. The data will be stored on a random access mass storage device as density values for later education. The scanning time for a 30 cm x 30 cm plate with a step size of 10 micron will be less than 10 hours while the dynamic range of the data is expected to be 2.5 density units with an offset of at least 1 unit.

Grosboel, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Preliminary Geologic/spectral Analysis of LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper Data, Wind River/bighorn Basin Area, Wyoming

A LIDQA evaluation for geologic applications of a LANDSAT TM scene covering the Wind River/Bighorn Basin area, Wyoming, is examined. This involves a quantitative assessment of data quality including spatial and spectral characteristics. Analysis is concentrated on the 6 visible, near infrared, and short wavelength infrared bands. Preliminary analysis demonstrates that: (1) principal component images derived from the correlation matrix provide the most useful geologic information. To extract surface spectral reflectance, the TM radiance data must be calibrated. Scatterplots demonstrate that TM data can be calibrated and sensor response is essentially linear. Low instrumental offset and gain settings result in spectral data that do not utilize the full dynamic range of the TM system.

Lang, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Snow Reflectance from LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper

In California 75% of the agricultural water supply comes from the melting Sierra Nevada snowpack. Basin-wide albedo measurements from the LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper could be used to better forecast the timing of the spring runoff, because these data can be combined with solar radiation calculations to estimate the net radiation budget. The TM is better-suited for this purpose than the MSS because of its large dynamic range. Saturation still occurs in bands 1-4, but is severe only in band 1. Differentiation of snow optical grain size is possible with TM band 4 through a moderately clear atmosphere. The TM band 5 can discriminate clouds from snow, and the combination of bands 2 and 5 appears best for snow mapping.

Dozier, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Prelaunch absolute radiometric calibration of the reflective bands on the LANDSAT-4 protoflight Thematic Mapper

The results of the absolute radiometric calibration of the LANDSAT 4 thematic mapper, as determined during pre-launch tests with a 122 cm integrating sphere, are presented. Detailed results for the best calibration of the protoflight TM are given, as well as summaries of other tests performed on the sensor. The dynamic range of the TM is within a few per cent of that required in all bands, except bands 1 and 3. Three detectors failed to pass the minimum SNR specified for their respective bands: band 5, channel 3 (dead), band 2, and channels 2 and 4 (noisy or slow response). Estimates of the absolute calibration accuracy for the TM show that the detectors are typically calibrated to 5% absolute error for the reflective bands; 10% full-scale accuracy was specified. Ten tests performed to transfer the detector absolute calibration to the internal calibrator show a 5% range at full scale in the transfer calibration; however, in two cases band 5 showed a 10% and a 7% difference.

Barker, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A parallel architecture for digital filtering using Fermat number transforms

In this correspondence, a parallel architecture is developed to compute the linear convolution of two sequences of arbitrary lengths using the Fermat number transform (FNT). In particular, a pipeline structure is designed to compute a 128-point FNT. In this FNT, only additions and bit rotations are required. The overlap-save method is generalized for the FNT to realize a digital filter of arbitrary length. The generalized overlap-save method alleviates the usual dynamic range limitation of FNT's of long transform lengths. A parallel architecture is developed to realize this type of overlap-save method using one FNT and several inverse FNT's of 128 points. Its architecture is regular, simple, and flexible, and therefore naturally suitable for VLSI implementation.

Truong, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The information content of synthetic aperture radar images of terrain

A statistical model is developed that portrays an imaging radar as a noisy communication channel with multiplicative noise, and the model is used to evaluate the average amount of information that can be extracted about a target from its radar image. The average information content is also used to define a measure of radiometric resolution for radar images. It is shown that the information content and the resolution capabilities of an imaging radar reach a limit beyond which an increase in scene dynamic range does not improve the information content or the resolution. This limitation results from the multiplicative nature of the noise introduced in the imaging process.

Frost, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Snow reflectance from Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper

In California 75 percent of the agricultural water supply comes from the melting Sierra Nevada snowpack. Basin-wide spectral albedo measurements from the Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) could be used to better forecast the timing of the spring runoff, because these data can be combined with solar radiation calculations to estimate the net radiation balance. The TM is better-suited for this purpose than the Multispectral Scanner because of its larger dynamic range. Saturation still occurs in bands 1-4, but is severe only in TM1 (0.45-0.52 micron). Snow reflectance in TM2 (0.43-0.61 micron) is typical of the visible wavelength region, where reflectance is almost insensitive to crystal size but sensitive to contamination. TM4 (0.78-0.90 micron) allows estimation of effective optical grain size and thereby spectral extension throughout the near-infrared. TM5 (1.57-1.78 microns) can discriminate clouds from snow.

Dozier, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

CARS system for turbulent flame measurements

Simultaneous nitrogen number density and rotational-vibrational temperatures were measured in a turbulent diffusion flame with a Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) instrument. The fuel jet was diluted with nitrogen (20 percent by volume) to allow temperature measurements across the entire jet mixing region. These measurements were compared with fluid dynamics computations. The CARS system incorporated a neodymium YAG laser, an intensified silicon photodiode array detector, and unique dynamic range enhancement methods. Theoretical calculations were based on a parabolic Navier-Stokes computer code. The comparison of these techniques will aid their development in the study of complex flowfields.

Antcliff, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Intensified silicon photodiode array detector linearity Application to coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

The linearity of an intensified silicon photodiode array multichannel detector is studied with coherent anti-Stokes Raman and other similar signals. Studies with diffuse and focused (spherically and cylindrically) signals resolved apparent saturation problems which limit the dynamic range of the detector. In addition, it has been shown that there is no short-range wavelength (473-532-nm) dependence on this saturation. Theoretical explanations for these phenomena are also included.

Antcliff, R. R.↗