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At least 163 records · Page 9

The effects of bandpass limiters on n-phase tracking systems

The combination of a bandpass limiter and an n-th power tracking loop is considered. Performance of the combination does not depend on the form of the nonlinear function used to create the n-th harmonic signal as long as some energy in that zone is produced. The order in which the limiter and n-th power nonlinearity occur is unimportant so that the results apply equally well to the n-phase Costas type of implementations of the n-th power loops. Closed form expressions for the signal suppression factors are obtained. Coherent and noncoherent SNR's out of the n-th power-limiter combination can be expressed in terms of two of these suppression factors. The loop SNR of an n-th power-limited phase locked loop is estimated by simply calculating the suppression factors for n-th and 2n-th power loops. Finally, n-th power phase locked loops without limiters are compared with similar loops with limiters; the limiter can actually enhance output SNR at moderate to large input SNR.

Butman, S. A.↗

Study to investigate and evaluate means of optimizing the Ku-band combined radar/communication functions for the space shuttle

The Ku band radar system on the shuttle orbiter operates in both a search and a tracking mode, and its transmitter and antennas share time with the communication mode in the integrated system. The power allocation properties and the Costa subloop subcarrier tracking performance associated with the baseline digital phase shift implementation of the three channel orbiter Ku band modulator are discussed.

Weber, C. L.↗

Integrated source and channel encoded digital communication system design study

The particular Ku-band carrier, PN despreading, and symbol synchronization strategies, which were selected for implementation in the Ku-band transponder aboard the orbiter, were assessed and evaluated from a systems performance viewpoint, verifying that system specifications were met. A study was performed of the design and implementation of tracking techniques which are suitable for incorporation into the Orbiter Ku-band communication system. Emphasis was placed on maximizing tracking accuracy and communication system flexibility while minimizing cost, weight, and system complexity of Orbiter and ground systems hardware. The payload communication study assessed the design and performance of the forward link and return link bent-pipe relay modes for attached and detached payloads. As part of this study, a design for a forward link bent-pipe was proposed which employs a residual carrier but which is tracked by the existing Costas loop.

Alem, W. K.↗

Double dither loop for pseudonoise code tracking

A new type of phase detector for pseudonoise code tracking is introduced and analyzed in comparison with the delay lock loop (DLL) and tau-dither loop (TDL) configurations. It is shown that the double dither loop (DDL) combines the best features of the DLL and the TDL in that the DDL is insensitive to gain and offset imbalances and does not suffer the 3-dB degradation in noise performance typically associated with the TDL. The double dither concept is applicable to other dual channel detectors such as in a Costas-type carrier tracking loop.

Hopkins, P. M.↗

The effects of bandpass limiters on n-phase tracking systems

The combination of a bandpass limiter and an n(th) power tracking loop is considered. It is shown that the performance of the combination does not depend on the form of the nonlinear function used to create the n(th) harmonic signal so long as some energy in that zone is produced. Furthermore, the order in which the limiter and n(th) power nonlinearity occur is unimportant so that the results apply equally well to the n-phase Costas type of implementation of the n(th) power loops. Closed form expressions for the signal suppression factors are obtained and it is shown that the coherent and noncoherent SNR's out of the n(th) power-limiter combination can be expressed in terms of two of these suppression factors. This later point enables one to estimate the loop SNR of an n(th) power-limiter phase locked loop by simply calculating the suppression factors for n(th) and 2n(th) power loops. Finally, n(th) power phase locked loops without limiters are compared with similar loops with limiters where it is shown that the presence of the limiter can actually enhance the output SNR at moderate to large values of input SNR.

Butman, S. A.↗

Optimum receiver structures for phase-multiplexed modulations

A MAP (maximum a posteriori) estimation loop is derived for a QPSK signal and, by suitable approximation to the nonlinearity which arises as a consequence of the MAP theory, is reconfigured with practical realizations that are valid for high and low SNRs. In particular, it is shown that by approximating the hyperbolic tangent nonlinearity in the MAP estimation loop by the first two terms in its power series, an interesting practical realization of this loop results which applies at low SNRs. The error signal in this loop is formed by multiplying the error signal and lock detector output signal of a conventional biphase Costas loop. A generalized linear in-phase channel configuration is proposed which allows carrier reconstruction from an unbalanced QPSK signal at all ratios of data rates and powers in the two channels, even in the limit as these ratios simultaneously approach unity, i.e., balanced quadriphase.

Simon, M. K.↗

Double quadriphase modulation/demodulation technique for three-channel communication link

A modulation technique for a three-channel communication link is introduced. The structure of the modulator is such as to form an unbalanced quadriphase signal wherein the high rate data stream is bi-phase modulated on the in-phase carrier component, while the sum of the two lower rate signals is bi-phase modulated on the quadrature component of the same carrier. The sum of the two lower signals is, in turn, formed by modulating with the respective data streams the in-phase and the quadrature components of a square wave subcarrier. At the demodulator, the tracking of the carrier and the subcarrier is performed by two independent Costas loops. The demodulation of the high data rate signal is carried out after establishing the carrier reference signal, while the lower rate signals are demodulated after the subcarrier loop recovers the subcarrier. In this paper, the performance of the two loops is analyzed and the expressions for the tracking errors are derived. Finally, a numerical example pertaining to the Space Shuttle-to-TDRS Ku-band link is presented for illustration.

Alem, W. K.↗

Subcarrier phase recovery performance in bent-pipe mode of Shuttle data transmission

The subcarrier phase recovery is analyzed for the bent-pipe mode of Space Shuttle detached-payload data transmission on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ku-band return link. The high-power component of the subcarrier modulation is unrestored payload data, either at baseband or modulating another subcarrier. At the receiver a Costas loop recovers the subcarrier phase. To analyze its performance in the baseband case, we obtain the loop S-curve, the power spectral density of the equivalent noise process, and the loop phase error variance.

Mckenzie, T. M.↗

Effect of noisy phase reference on coherent detection of unbalanced QPSK signals

A phase error in the reference signal used in coherent detection of PSK signals causes a degradation in performance; this effect on bit error probability has been much discussed in the literature for BPSK and balanced QPSK systems. For unbalanced QPSK (UQPSK) systems, where the power and data rates in the two channels are unequal, and where the channel data symbols might also be different, the problem of computing the error probability is more complex, and only approximate solutions have been previously given. In this paper, exact expressions are derived for the conditional probability of error for the I and Q channels as a function of the channel power and data rate ratio. This is done for all combinations of Manchester and NRZ signalling schemes, and it is shown that in some cases the low data rate channel can be more seriously affected by a phase offset. Numerical results are also given for the average probability of error, assuming a biphase Costas loop is used for carrier synchronization.

Osborne, H. C.↗

The performance of suppressed carrier receivers in a pulsed RFI environment

This paper investigates the tracking performance of a Costas loop in the presence of single and multiple in-band pulsed RFI signals and receiver additive noise. It is shown that the loop's tracking performance is very sensitive to the pulse durations of the RFI signals, as well as their repetition rates and peak powers relative to those of the desired signal. The presence of in-band RFI can affect the loop's tracking performance in basically three ways. 1) The loop tracks the composite phase of the RFI instead of the phase of the desired signal when the effective RFI power is greater than that of the signal. 2) When the effective RFI power is not sufficiently large to capture the loop, there still will exist static phase error biases which cause the loop to lock at a phase between that of the desired signal and the composite RFI. 3) There is an increase in the rms phase jitter over the nominal design. These latter two effects degrade the bit error probability performance of the receiver. More significantly, if the nominal loop bandwidth is not designed properly to account for the increase in jitter phenomenon, frequency cycle slipping may result.

Simon, M. K.↗

Carrier phase recovery performance for PN-spread TDRSS link with radio-frequency interference

The carrier-phase recovery performance of a Costas loop for a nonlinear satellite channel with uplink and downlink noise is analyzed, and the extension of these results to the case where uplink radio-frequency interference (RFI) is present is considered. The signal format here is binary phase-shift-keyed (BPSK) or unbalanced quaternary phase-shift-keyed (UQPSK), the signals being either the non-return-to-zero (NRZ) or biphase (Manchester) type. With UQPSK, at least one data stream must be PN-spread. The channel comprises additive white Gaussian noise (WGN), a wideband filter, a bandpass nonlinearity and more additive WGN. The RFI being considered is pulsed continuous-wave, pulsed WGN, or a combination of the two. It is noted that the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) will be subjected to RFI from certain locations, especially in the S-band of frequencies. The characteristics of this link are generalized to form the assumptions underlying this analysis. The analytical results given include the S-curve of the equivalent loop and the phase-error variance of the linearized loop.

Mckenzie, T. M.↗

Receiver design and performance characteristics

The basic design, principles of operation, and characteristics of deep space communications receivers are examined. In particular, the basic fundamentals of phase-locked loop and Costas loop receivers used for synchronization, tracking, and demodulation of phase-coherent signals in residual carrier and suppressed carrier systems are addressed.

Simon, M. K.↗

Orbiter global positioning system design and Ku-band problem investigations, exhibit B, revision 1

The shuttle Ku-band Costas loop lock detector output signal appears to vary about the lock detection threshold (the lock detect flag is on and off) shortly after the carrier acquisition starts. Real time computer simulation was performed to obtain the signal output from the low pass filter of the lock detector. Based on this simulation, it appears that the oscillation of in-lock and out-lock is related to tracking process and is not caused by the sweep acquisition algorithm.

Lindsey, W. C.↗

Application of LANDSAT data to the study of urban development in Brasilia

The urban growth of Brasilia within the last ten years is analyzed with special emphasis on the utilization of remote sensing orbital data and automatic image processing. The urban spatial structure and the monitoring of its temporal changes were examined in a whole and dynamic way by the utilization of MSS-LANDSAT images for June (1973, 1978 and 1983). In order to aid data interpretation, a registration algorithm implemented in the Interactive Multispectral Image Analysis System (IMAGE-100) was utilized aiming at the overlap of multitemporal images. The utilization of suitable digital filters, combined with the images overlap, allowed a rapid identification of areas of possible urban growth and oriented the field work. The results obtained in this work permitted an evaluation of the urban growth of Brasilia, taking as reference the proposal stated for the construction of the city in the Pilot Plan elaborated by Lucio Costa.

Parada, N. D. J.↗

Communication satellite ground station receiver performance at low data rates

Performance of satellite ground station receivers at low data rates is analyzed for power-limited satellites, when various amounts of frequency dynamics are present. Specifically, the lowest data rates for which the receiver can successfully demodulate suppressed-carrier BPSK data under a wide variety of conditions are determined. Minimum data rates on the order of 100 to 1400 bits per second are achievable with a bit error probability less than 0.00001 and with a mean time to cycle slip on the order of 1/2 hour or more, when Costas loops are employed for carrier extraction.

Riddle, L. P.↗

Signal Processor for Multirate PSK Signals

Any of six different data formats at any of five different data rates from phase-shift-key (PSK) modulated input signal extracted by digital radio receiver. Subcarrier Demodulator is Costas loop with hard limiter in inphase arm. There are six low-pass filters, each selectable for rate and format of data to be processed.

Helgesen, R. J.↗

Relationship between forest clearing and biophysical factors in tropical environments: Implications for the design of a forest change monitoring approach

The relationship between forest clearing, biophysical factors (e.g, ecological zones, slope gradient, soils), and transportation network in Costa Rica was analyzed. The location of forested areas at four reference datas (1940, 1950, 1961, and 1977) as derived from aerial photography and LANDSAT MSS data was digitilized and entered into a geographically-referenced data base. Ecological zones as protrayed by the Holdridge Life Zone Ecology System, and the location of roads and railways were also digitized from maps of the entire country as input to the data base. Information on slope gradient and soils was digitized from maps of a 21,000 square kilometer area. The total area of forest cleared over four decades are related to biophysical factors was analyzed within the data base and deforestation rates and trends were tabulated. The relatiohship between forest clearing and ecological zone and the influence of topography, sils, and transportation network are presented and discussed.

Sader, S. A.↗