Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “CARRIER MODULATION”

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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Wide-band analog frequency modulation of optic signals using indirect techniques

The wideband frequency modulation (FM) of an optical carrier by a radio frequency (RF) or microwave signal can be accomplished independent of laser type when indirect modulation is employed. Indirect modulators exploit the integral relation of phase to frequency so that phase modulators can be used to impress frequency modulation on an optical carrier. The use of integrated optics phase modulators, which are highly linear, enables the generation of optical wideband FM signals with very low intermodulation distortion. This modulator can be used as part of an optical wideband FM link for RF and microwave signals. Experimental results from the test of an indirect frequency modulator for an optical carrier are discussed.

Fitzmartin, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Simulation of the TDRS multipath environment

Design principles and implementation methods are discussed for simulating the propagation path between a tracking and data relay satellite and a mission spacecraft. The emphasis is on multipath and Doppler simulation but additive disturbances are also considered. The recommended form of the simulator is fed separately with the unmodulated carrier, the unmodulated subcarriers (or spread-spectrum components) and the data signals. The perturbations are also introduced separately; then successive modulation operations are performed. The simulator is segmented into elements that perform the various functions of direct and specular multipath, diffuse fading, Doppler shift and delay spread. Delay spreads are realized by discrete delays operating on baseband signals. Doppler simulation and ionospheric or diffuse multipath fading are applied to individual paths before or after modulation of the carrier by delayed baseband signals. Block diagrams are presented on how the different elements are combined to create a complete channel simulator.

Baghdady, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Low data rate coherent optical link demonstration using frequency stabilized solid state lasers

A low data rate laboratory heterodyne link demonstration operating at 1.06 micron using frequency stabilized Nd:YAG lasers was implemented. The data was modulated onto the optical carrier at 100 kbps using binary pulse position modulation. Phase coherent reception was achieved by closing the receiver phase tracking loop around the piezo-electric and temperature-tuned local oscillator laser. Initial frequency acquisition was accomplished by linearly scanning the LO frequency over the uncertainty range while a combined frequency and phase tracking loop searches for a lock indicator signal. The link performance was experimentally evaluated and compared to the theoretical predictions.

Chen, CHIEN-C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Subband Quantum Scattering Times for Algaas/GaAs Obtained Using Digital Filtering

In this study we investigate both the transport and quantum scattering times as a function of the carrier concentration for a modulation doped Al(0.3)Ga(0.7)As/GaAs structure. Carriers in the well are generated as a result of the persistent photoconductivity effect. When more than one subband becomes populated, digital filtering is used to separate the components for each of the excited subbands. We find that the quantum scattering time for the ground subband increases initially as the carrier concentration is increased. However, once the second subband becomes populated, the ground subband scattering time begins to decrease. The quantum scattering time for the excited subband is also observed to decrease as the concentration is increased. From the ratio of the transport and quantum scattering times, it is seen that the transport in the well becomes more isotropic also as the concentration is increased.

Mena, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Fast Alternative Cryogenic Experiment Testbed

One of the challenges in the area of cryogenics for space exploration in the next millennium is providing the capability for inexpensive, frequent, access to space. Faced with this challenge during the International Space Station (ISS) build era, when other Space Shuttle manifesting opportunities are unavailable, a "proof of concept" cryostat has been developed to demonstrate the ability to accommodate low temperature science investigations within the constraints of the Hitchhiker siderail carrier. The Hitchhiker siderail carrier is available on a "mass available" basis during the ISS build era. In fact, several hitchhiker payloads flew with the deployment of the Unity module. Hitchhiker siderail carrier payloads have historically flown an average of about four times a year. A hybrid Solid Neon - Superfluid Helium cryostat has been developed with Janis Research Company to accommodate instruments of 16.5 cm diameter and 30 cm. length. This hybrid approach was taken in part to provide adequate on-orbit lifetime for instruments with high (conducted) heat loads from the instrumentation wiring. Mass, volume, lifetime and the launch hold scenario were all design drivers. In addition, with Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation, a multichannel VME architecture Germanium Resistance Thermometer (GRT) readout and heater control servo system has been developed. In a flight system, the cryostat and electronics payloads would be umbilically attached in a paired Hitchhiker siderail mount, and permit on-orbit command and telemetry capability. The results of performance tests of both the cryostat, and a helium sample instrument will be presented. The instrument features a self contained, miniaturized, nano-Kelvin resolution High Resolution Thermometer (HRT). This high level of thermal resolution is achieved through the utilization of a dc Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). Although developed for the Low Temperature Microgravity Fundamental Physics investigator community, many design features are applicable in fields such as infrared and x-ray astronomy.

Nash, Alfred↗
NASA NTRS1985

Internationalization of the Space Station

Attention is given to the NASA Space Station system elements whose production is under consideration by potential foreign partners. The ESA's Columbus Program declaration encompasses studies of pressurized modules, unmanned payload carriers, and ground support facilities. Canada has expressed interest in construction and servicing facilities, solar arrays, and remote sensing facilities. Japanese studies concern a multipurpose experimental module concept. Each of these foreign investments would expand Space Station capabilities and lay the groundwork for long term partnerships.

Lottmann, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The behavior of a Costas loop in the presence of space telemetry signals

When the Costas loop is operated in the presence of a residual carrier space telemetry signal, the loop reconstructs its carrier reference from an input signal whose carrier component is not completely suppressed. The telemetry signal investigated in this work is generated by phase shift-keying the data onto a subcarrier and then phase modulating onto the sinusoidal carrier. The telemetry modulation index, telemetry bit rate, subcarrier waveform, and subcarrier frequency are shown to be the key system parameters that contribute to the performance degradation of a Costas loop. Furthermore, the effect of Doppler shift on the loop is also investigated in this work.

Nguyen, Tien M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Differential temperature sensor system and method

A differential temperature sensor system and method of determining a temperature shift of an optical resonator and its surroundings are provided. The differential temperature sensor system includes a light generating device capable of generating a beam having a carrier frequency, a modulator capable of modulating the beam with a sideband frequency, and an optical resonator capable of supporting an ordinary mode and an extraordinary mode. The system includes an ordinary mode-lock setup capable of locking the carrier frequency of the beam to the ordinary mode of the optical resonator and an extraordinary mode-lock setup capable of locking the sideband frequency of the beam to the extraordinary mode of the optical resonator by providing a specific radio frequency to the modulator substantially corresponding to a frequency shift between the ordinary mode and the extraordinary mode of the optical resonator resulting from a temperature change of the optical resonator. A processor precisely calculates the differential temperature based upon the frequency shift between the ordinary mode and extraordinary mode of the optical resonator.

Savchenkov, Anatoliy A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Efficient detection and signal parameter estimation with application to high dynamic GPS receiver

In a system for deriving position, velocity, and acceleration information from a received signal emitted from an object to be tracked wherein the signal comprises a carrier signal phase modulated by unknown binary data and experiencing very high Doppler and Doppler rate, this invention provides combined estimation/detection apparatus for simultaneously detecting data bits and obtaining estimates of signal parameters such as carrier phase and frequency related to receiver dynamics in a sequential manner. There is a first stage for obtaining estimates of the signal parameters related to phase and frequency in the vicinity of possible data transitions on the basis of measurements obtained within a current data bit. A second stage uses the estimates from the first stage to decide whether or not a data transition has actually occurred. There is a third stage for removing data modulation from the received signal when a data transition has occurred and a fourth stage for using the received signal with data modulation removed therefrom to update global parameters which are dependent only upon receiver dynamics and independent of data modulation. Finally, there is a fifth stage for using the global parameters to determine the position, velocity, and acceleration of the object.

Kumar, Rajendra↗
NASA NTRS1972

Linear modulator

A study of frequency division multiplexing (FDM) systems was made for the purpose of determining the system performance that can be obtained with available state of the art components. System performance was evaluated on the basis of past experience, system analysis, and component evaluation. The system study was specifically directed to the area of FDM systems using subcarrier channel frequencies from 4 kHz to 200 kHz and channel information bandwidths of dc to 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 kHz. The evaluation also assumes that the demodulation will be from a tape recorder which produces frequency modulation of + or - 1% on the signal due to the tape recorder wow and flutter. For the modulation system it is assumed that the pilot and carrier channel frequencies are stable to within + or - .005% and that the FM on the channel carriers is negligible. The modulator system was evaluated for the temperature range of -20 degree to +85 degree while the demodulator system was evaluated for operation at room temperature.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2022

The SWOT Mission Environmental Verification Program

The objective of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission is to make global measurements of sea surface and terrestrial water heights. The SWOT Observatory consists of the Spacecraft Bus, supplied by CNES, and the Payload Module, provided by JPL. The Spacecraft Bus is a carrier of the Payload Module, which includes all the science instruments. The Spacecraft Bus components have been environmentally verified by CNES and the Payload Module components verified by JPL. The Payload Module was delivered to CNES in June 2021 for integration with the Spacecraft Bus to form the Observatory, which is in the process of undergoing a full set of environmental tests before launch. This paper focuses on the environmental test and analysis program at the assembly (unit), subsystem, and module level for the Payload Module hardware that JPL is responsible for verifying. Even though an Earth-orbiting mission like SWOT is not considered to be at extreme environments, SWOT’s environmental verification program does illustrate the standard System Integration and Test (SIT) process for hardware integration and environmental testing to ensure all hardware have been properly qualified to meet all mission environments. Typical space environmental test and analysis campaign includes acoustics vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, venting/pressure, radiation, electrostatic discharge, EMC/EMI/magnetics, and meteoroids. Environmental test and analysis metrics are presented in this paper. This paper also shows the complex integration process that involves multi-organizations and the latest status on the Observatory environmental test campaign.

Man, Kin F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Method and apparatus for pulse width modulation control of an AC induction motor

An inverter is connected between a source of DC power and a three-phase AC induction motor, and a micro-processor-based circuit controls the inverter using pulse width modulation techniques. In the disclosed method of pulse width modulation, both edges of each pulse of a carrier pulse train are equally modulated by a time proportional to sin .THETA., where .THETA. is the angular displacement of the pulse center at the motor stator frequency from a fixed reference point on the carrier waveform. The carrier waveform frequency is a multiple of the motor stator frequency. The modulated pulse train is then applied to each of the motor phase inputs with respective phase shifts of 120.degree. at the stator frequency. Switching control commands of electronic switches in the inverter are stored in a random access memory (RAM) and the locations of the RAM are successively read out in a cyclic manner, each bit of a given RAM location controlling a respective phase input of the motor. The DC power source preferably comprises rechargeable batteries and all but one of the electronic switches in the inverter can be disabled, the remaining electronic switch being part of a flyback DC-DC converter circuit for recharging the battery.

Geppert, Steven↗
NASA NTRS1985

Pulse width modulation inverter with battery charger

An inverter is connected between a source of DC power and a three-phase AC induction motor, and a microprocessor-based circuit controls the inverter using pulse width modulation techniques. In the disclosed method of pulse width modulation, both edges of each pulse of a carrier pulse train are equally modulated by a time proportional to sin .theta., where .theta. is the angular displacement of the pulse center at the motor stator frequency from a fixed reference point on the carrier waveform. The carrier waveform frequency is a multiple of the motor stator frequency. The modulated pulse train is then applied to each of the motor phase inputs with respective phase shifts of 120.degree. at the stator frequency. Switching control commands for electronic switches in the inverter are stored in a random access memory (RAM) and the locations of the RAM are successively read out in a cyclic manner, each bit of a given RAM location controlling a respective phase input of the motor. The DC power source preferably comprises rechargeable batteries and all but one of the electronic switches in the inverter can be disabled, the remaining electronic switch being part of a flyback DC-DC converter circuit for recharging the battery.

Slicker, James M.↗
NASA NTRS2018

High-Rate Ka-Band Modulator for the NISAR Mission

In order to meet ever-increasing data return requirements, more satellites are using the near-Earth Ka-band (25.5 – 27.0 GHz) to achieve higher downlink rates. The paper discusses the Universal Space Transponder - Ka-band Modulator (UST-KaM) developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission, which is capable of transmitting up to 1.74 Gbps with 7/8 LDPC encoding. The UST-KaM utilizes OQPSK with both baseband and RF filtering to contain the 1 Gsps transmission spectrum within the 1.5 GHz Ka-band, even with the use of an external, saturated amplifier. Due to the high data rates involved, several technical hurdles were overcome in both the digital and RF designs. The UST-KaM is a software defined radio with two digital circuit board assemblies: a low speed housekeeper board for commanding and telemetry, and a high-rate signal processing board known as the Signal Processing Module (SPM). The SPM receives data from the spacecraft via a SERDES interface at up to 2 Gbps, processes and encodes the data using a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA, and produces 1 Gsps OQPSK I and Q waveforms via synchronized, multiplexed DACs. The RF Electronics in the UST-KaM employ a heterodyne architecture in which the I/Q digital waveforms are filtered and then up-converted using a sub-harmonic IQ mixer. The LO of the converter, which is included in the exciter assembly, is at 13.125GHz, and the RF output is a 26.25GHz carrier which is modulated with the OQPSK waveforms. The output of the mixer is then filtered using low loss quartz thinfilm edge coupled Chebyshev filters and amplified through a series of low gain Ka-Band amplifiers. The exciter assembly also has a 2GHz, low-phase-noise, PLL synthesizer to supply the clock to the DACs for the high rate digital waveforms.

Spurgers, Carl↗
NASA NTRS1991

Macromolecular crystal growing system

A macromolecular crystal growing system especially designed for growing crystals in the low gravity of space as well as the gravity of earth includes at least one tray assembly, a carrier assembly which receives the tray, and a refrigeration-incubation module in which the carrier assembly is received. The tray assembly includes a plurality of sealed chambers with a plastic syringe and a plug means for the double tip of the syringe provided therein. Ganging mechanisms operate the syringes and plugs simultaneously in a precise and smooth operation. Preferably, the tray assemblies are mounted on ball bearing slides for smooth operation in inserting and removing the tray assemblies into the carrier assembly. The plugging mechanism also includes a loading control mechanism. A mechanism for leaving a syringe unplugged is also provided.

Snyder, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Flexible, reconfigurable, power efficient transmitter and method

A flexible, reconfigurable, power efficient transmitter device and method is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving outbound data and determining a mode of operation. When operating in a first mode the method may include modulation mapping the outbound data according a modulation scheme to provide first modulation mapped digital data, converting the first modulation mapped digital data to an analog signal that comprises an intermediate frequency (IF) analog signal, upconverting the IF analog signal to produce a first modulated radio frequency (RF) signal based on a local oscillator signal, amplifying the first RF modulated signal to produce a first RF output signal, and outputting the first RF output signal via an isolator. In a second mode of operation method may include modulation mapping the outbound data according a modulation scheme to provide second modulation mapped digital data, converting the second modulation mapped digital data to a first digital baseband signal, conditioning the first digital baseband signal to provide a first analog baseband signal, modulating one or more carriers with the first analog baseband signal to produce a second modulated RF signal based on a local oscillator signal, amplifying the second RF modulated signal to produce a second RF output signal, and outputting the second RF output signal via the isolator. The digital baseband signal may comprise an in-phase (I) digital baseband signal and a quadrature (Q) baseband signal.

Bishop, James W.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Ka-Band Transponder for Deep-Space Radio Science

A one-page document describes a Ka-band transponder being developed for use in deep-space radio science. The transponder receives in the Deep Space Network (DSN) uplink frequency band of 34.2 to 34.7 GHz, transmits in the 31.8- to 32.3 GHz DSN downlink band, and performs regenerative ranging on a DSN standard 4-MHz ranging tone subcarrier phase-modulated onto the uplink carrier signal. A primary consideration in this development is reduction in size, relative to other such transponders. The transponder design is all-analog, chosen to minimize not only the size but also the number of parts and the design time and, thus, the cost. The receiver features two stages of frequency down-conversion. The receiver locks onto the uplink carrier signal. The exciter signal for the transmitter is derived from the same source as that used to generate the first-stage local-oscillator signal. The ranging-tone subcarrier is down-converted along with the carrier to the second intermediate frequency, where the 4-MHz tone is demodulated from the composite signal and fed into a ranging-tone-tracking loop, which regenerates the tone. The regenerated tone is linearly phase-modulated onto the downlink carrier.

Dennis, Matthew S.↗
NASA NTRS1998

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.↗