Welcome to your Digital Edition of

NASA Tech Briefs and Photonics Tech Briefs

Included in This January Edition:

NASA Tech Briefs Photonics Tech Briefs
January 2012 www.techbriefs.com Vol. 36 No. 1 Photonics Solutions for the Design Engineer
January 2012

Transforming Gaussian Beams Into Uniform, Rectangular Intensity Distributions ..........IIa

Industry Update: Designing Optical Systems With Off-the-Shelf Products ....................................................6a
Design & PLM Software High-Speed Digital Interferometry ......................................................................................10a
Handheld Universal Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller for Stellar Interferometry ......................................10a
Diagnostic Sensor Near-Infrared Photon-Counting Camera for High-Sensitivity Observations ....................11a
Products of the Year..............................................................................................................12a
Product Focus: Product of the Month/New Products ..................................................................................13a
Imaging/Cameras/Displays
On the cover: Many machine vision tasks, such as inspection of printed circuit boards, benefit from illumination with
a uniform, line beam. However, most laser sources produce a round beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution.
Photonics Tech Briefs Coherent employs Powell lenses (cylindrical aspheres) to transform round Gaussian beams into highly uniform,
rectangular intensity distributions with superior optical efficiency. To learn more, read the feature article on page IIa.

(Image courtesy of Coherent, Inc.) m

e.co
azin
mag
.ptb
Supplement to NASA Tech
Tech Briefs
Briefs www

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 Name
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©2010 National Instruments. All rights reserved. LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments.
Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. 2811
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January 2012 www.techbriefs.com Vol. 36 No. 1

Industry Update:
Design & PLM Software
Handheld Universal
Diagnostic Sensor
Product Focus:
Imaging/Cameras/Displays
Photonics Tech Briefs

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Temperature Sensing & Thermal Imagers

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 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-779

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 January 2012 • Vol. 36 No.1

F EATURE S 18
14 Industry Update:
Design and PLM Software
18 Application Briefs
64 NASA Need: Laser Data System

SO LUTIO N S

20 Technology Focus: Sensors 22

20 Energy-Based Tetrahedron Sensor for High-Temperature,
High-Pressure Environments
20 Handheld Universal Diagnostic Sensor
22 Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor System for Monitoring Smart

24
Composite Aerospace Structures
Health-Enabled Smart Sensor Fusion Technology
59
24 Large-Area Vacuum Ultraviolet Sensors
26 Extended-Range Passive RFID and Sensor Tags
28 Hybrid Collaborative Learning for Classification and
Clustering in Sensor Networks

30 Manufacturing & Prototyping

30 Self-Healing, Inflatable, Rigidizable Shelter
32 Improvements in Cold-Plate Fabrication

34 Electronics/Computers
34 Technique for Radiometer and Antenna Array
Calibration – TRAAC DEPARTM ENTS
35 Real-Time Cognitive Computing Architecture for Data Fusion
in a Dynamic Environment
8 UpFront
36 Use of CCSDS Packets Over SpaceWire to Control Hardware
37 Programmable Digital Controller 10 Who’s Who at NASA
38 Software 12 NASA Patents
38 Key Decision Record Creation and Approval Module
38 Enhanced Graphics for Extended Scale Range
33 Technologies of the Month
38 Debris Examination Using Ballistic and Radar 62 NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Office
Integrated Software
39 Data Distribution System (DDS) and Solar 63 Advertisers Index
Dynamic Observatory Ground Station (SDOGS)
Integration Manager
39 Eclipse-Free-Time Assessment Tool for IRIS
40 Automated and Manual Rocket Crater NEW FOR DESI GN ENGI NEER S
Measurement Software
40 MATLAB Stability and Control Toolbox Trim and Static 57 Product Focus: Imaging/Cameras/Displays
Stability Module
40 Patched Conic Trajectory Code 58 New Products/Software
41 Ring Image Analyzer
41 SureTrak Probability of Impact Display
SPEC I AL SU PPLEM ENT
42 Mechanics/Machinery
42 Implementation of a Non-Metallic Barrier in an Electric Motor Photonics Solutions for the Design Engineer
January 2012

42 MicroProbe Small Unmanned Aerial System

43 Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Heat
Exchangers for the Mars Science Laboratory Rover 1a – 18a
44 Uniform Dust Distributor for Testing Radiative Emittance of
Dust-Coated Surfaces Photonics Tech Briefs
Transforming Gaussian Beams Into Uniform, Rectangular Intensity Distributions ..........IIa

Follows page 32 in selected editions only.

Designing Optical Systems With Off-the-Shelf Products ....................................................6a
High-Speed Digital Interferometry ......................................................................................10a

46 Materials & Coatings

Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller for Stellar Interferometry ......................................10a
Near-Infrared Photon-Counting Camera for High-Sensitivity Observations ....................11a
Products of the Year..............................................................................................................12a
Product of the Month/New Products ..................................................................................13a
On the cover: Many machine vision tasks, such as inspection of printed circuit boards, benefit from illumination with
a uniform, line beam. However, most laser sources produce a round beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution.

46 Highly Stable and Active Catalyst for Sabatier Reactions

Coherent employs Powell lenses (cylindrical aspheres) to transform round Gaussian beams into highly uniform,
rectangular intensity distributions with superior optical efficiency. To learn more, read the feature article on page IIa.

(Image courtesy of Coherent, Inc.) m

ine.co
agaz
ptbm
Supplement to NASA Tech
Tech Briefs
Briefs www.

(Solutions continued on page 6)

4 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 ©2010 The MathWorks, Inc.


Find it at
mathworks.com/accelerate
datasheet
video example

MODEL
trial request

PHYSICAL
SYSTEMS
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Simulink
with Simscape™

t Electrical




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Use 4*.4$"1& with 4*.6-*/,

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Contents continued
46 Better Proton-Conducting Polymers for Fuel-Cell Membranes PR ODU C T OF TH E M ONTH
48 Physical Sciences
OriginLab Corp.
48 SOFIA Closed- and Open-Door Aerodynamic Analyses (Northampton, MA) has
49 Ultra-Miniature Lidar Scanner for Launch Range released Origin and OriginPro
Data Collection version 8.6 graphing and data
50 CCD Camera Lens Interface for Real-Time analysis software.
Theodolite Alignment
50
51
Peregrine 100-km Sounding Rocket Project
Sonic Thermometer for High-Altitude Balloons
57
52 Information Sciences
52 Explanation Capabilities for Behavior-Based Robot Control ON TH E C OV ER
54 Shape and Color Features for Object Recognition Search
55 A DNA-Inspired Encryption Methodology for Secure,
Mobile Ad Hoc Networks The zSpace® virtual-holographic 3D platform from
Infinite Z (Mountain View, CA) enables designers
56 Books and Reports and engineers to interact with 3D applications just
as they would with physical objects. Objects in
56 Corner-Cube Retroreflector Instrument for Advanced
zSpace appear “solid” in open space, in full color,
Lunar Laser Ranging and can be manipulated as if they were physical
56 Electrospray Collection of Lunar Dust objects. New capabilities that enhance the design-
56 Fabrication of a Kilopixel Array of Superconducting er’s user experience are a topic discussed by the
Microcalorimeters With Microstripline Wiring CAD and PLM industry executives in our Industry
Update feature beginning on page 14. Find out
61 Spacecraft Attitude Tracking and Maneuver Using Combined more about zSpace on page 8.
Magnetic Actuators
61 Coherent Detector for Near-Angle Scattering and Polarization (Image courtesy of Infinite Z)
Characterization of Telescope Mirror Coatings

This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National Aeronautics and Space Permissions: Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or
Administration. Neither Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd. nor the United States personal use of specific clients, is granted by Associated Business Publications, provided that
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any the flat fee of $3.00 per copy be paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (222 Rose
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this document, or warrants that Wood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923). For those organizations that have been granted a photocopy
such use will be free from privately owned rights. The U.S. Government does not endorse any license by CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. The fee code for users of the
commercial product, process, or activity identified in this publication. Transactional Reporting Service is: ISSN 0145-319X194 $3.00+ .00

6 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-781 NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-782

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 UP
FRONT
The Future of Design
Linda Bell
Editorial Director

> App of the Month

The number of apps for mobile
CAD software vendors will tell you that they contin- devices like smart phones and tablets
ue to focus on improving the user experience – and grows daily. We’ve chosen engineer-
they do tell you that in our annual roundtable of execu- ing apps that might make life easier
tives from leading software companies that begins on when you’re on the go.
page 14.
One of our execs, Paul Sicking, Chief Technology ClaC The Smart Calculator
Officer at Siemens PLM Software, explained that the environment ClaC (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod
to create an effective user experience “must be compatible with touch) lets you enter a formula as
innovative devices, and appealing to the new generation of users.” you would write it on a piece of
That new generation of users may be interested in Infinite Z (www. paper. The result of the formula is
zspace.com), a Mountain View, CA-based firm that enables virtual-holographic 3D imagery always calculated and updated on
to bring designs to life. Their zSpace® platform lets designers and engineers interact with the screen. Features include basic cal-
3D applications just as they would with physical objects. culation, formulas of unlimited
So the future of design is definitely in 3D, and as our executives explain, it’s also in the length, and brackets for complicated
cloud and on various mobile devices. What about you? Are you using mobile or cloud appli- formulas. The free app is available
cations for design or for sharing design data? Let me know at [email protected]. for download at the iTunes Store at
www.apple.com/iTunes.

NASA Rocks With Internet Radio Station

NASA is speaking the language of tech-savvy > Last Chance to Vote!

young adults with the launch of its custom-pro-
Have you cast your vote for the 2011
duced Internet music radio station called Third Rock
NASA Tech Briefs’ Readers’ Choice
– America’s Space Station.
Product of the Year? If not, you only
Launched last month, the station is being devel-
have until January 20 to vote for the
oped and operated at no cost to the government
one product you feel was the most
through a Space Act Agreement. To listen to Third
significant introduction to the engi-
Rock, visit www.rfcmedia.com/thirdrockradio.
neering community in 2011. Find out
more about the 12 nominees and
submit your vote at www.techbriefs.
The Path of Least Emissions com/poy.

According to new research from the

University at Buffalo, it's possible for
drivers to cut their tailpipe emissions > Next Month in NTB
without significantly slowing travel
time. The February issue of NASA Tech
In detailed computer simulations of Briefs will include a special report on
traffic in the Buffalo area, UB re- Robots & Machine Vision, highlight-
searchers found that green routing ing how robotics and imaging tech-
could reduce overall emissions of carbon nologies are combining to help auto-
monoxide by 27 percent for area drivers, mate the manufacturing environ-
while increasing the length of trips by ment.
an average of just 11 percent.
In many cases, simple changes yielded great gains. Funneling cars along surface streets
instead of freeways helped to limit fuel consumption, for instance.
In the near future, GPS navigation systems and online maps could play an important role
in promoting green routing. GPS systems could use transportation research to let drivers
choose an environmentally friendly route instead of the shortest route.
Visit www.buffalo.edu/news/13070 to learn more.

8 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 You should expect more from a
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 Who’s Who at NASA

Sam Ortega, Program Manager, NASA

Centennial Challenges, Marshall Space
Flight Center, Huntsville, AL

S am Ortega, manager
of the NASA Cen-
tennial Challenges Pro-
done aircraft improvements, it was more
for speed and power. The new world
order for general aviation is going to be
gram, leads progressive green aviation, operability, reduction in
aerospace initiatives, en- flight maintenance, and reduction in
couraging the participa- parts on the aircraft.
tion of independent
teams, individual inven- NTB: From a technology perspective,
tors, student groups, and private compa- what is the key to aircraft efficiency?
nies. Most recently, the program’s Green
Flight Challenge awarded the largest Ortega: The two competitors that
prize in aviation history. won, e-Genius and Pipistrel, empha-
sized efficiency of electric motors, state-
NASA Tech Briefs: What is the Green of-the-art batteries, and functional
Flight Challenge? structural mechanics. You design into
the vehicle itself structural strength, so
Sam Ortega: The purpose of the you don’t have a structural member
Green Flight Challenge was to push the that isn’t performing a flight function.
innovation levels for green aviation The wings themselves are integral parts
itself. We wanted teams to manufacture to where the shape and the strength
an aircraft that would have the efficien- come from. You’re really trying to
cy of a [Toyota] Prius; that would get reduce the weight by doing that. A lot
200 passenger miles per gallon of gas of teams were using composite materi-
or gas equivalent; and would be as fast als for weight reduction. Also, the effi-
as a Corvette. It would also have to fly ciency of an electric motor to convert
at 100 mph. the power to turn a propeller is much
greater than it is on a gas motor. That’s
NTB: Can you describe the winning why I believe the two winners were elec-
aircraft? tric aircraft.

Ortega: Jack Langelaan, a professor at NTB: How much work still needs to be
Penn State University, acquired technol- done from an efficiency standpoint?
ogy from a company named Pipistrel-
USA. They configured an aircraft with Ortega: In the US, I think there’s
two fuselages — two separate areas minimal effort right now for general
where passengers would sit side-by-side. aviation efficiency improvements. We
They were connected by a center wing, have a long way to go. There are other
and then they had a typical left and right countries out there that are further
wing off of either side of the fuselage. advanced in their efficient airplane
When we put forth the challenge of 200 design and development. It would be
passenger miles per gallon, we were great to build momentum and start
scoffed at. Not only did Jack win with the pushing to become the leaders for effi-
Pipistrel aircraft, but he achieved 403 cient aviation.
passenger miles per gallon, doubling the Want to learn more about upcoming NASA
requirement. Centennial Challenges? A full transcript and
downloadable podcast of this interview are
NTB: What have been the challenges available online at www.techbriefs.com/
in creating efficient aircraft? podcast. For more information, contact Janet
Anderson at [email protected].
Ortega: People were thinking of what
we’ve done in the past. When we’ve

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 Over the past three decades, NASA has granted more than 1000 patent licenses in virtually every area
of technology. The agency has a portfolio of thousands of patents and pending applications available
now for license by businesses and individuals, including these recently patented inventions:

Propulsion-Controlled activated carbon filter to remove most of

Aircraft Computer the organic molecules. The resulting
fluid flows through two sides of a semi-
U.S. Patent No. 7,711,455
permeable membrane, where a fortified
Bruce R. Cogan, Dryden Flight drink having a lower water concentra-
Research Center, Edwards, CA tion than the resulting liquid is posi-
Although aircraft flight-control sys- tioned. The osmotic pressure differen-
tems are designed with redundancy, tial causes the water, but not most of the
there have been several instances of fail- remaining inorganic contaminants and
ures. In these situations, pilots can con- salts, to pass through the membrane to
trol an aircraft using thrust and manual- the fortified drink. Optionally, the
ly moving the throttles to maintain or resulting liquid is allowed to precipitate
change flight path and heading angles. additional organic molecules before pas-
The option, however, places a high work- sage through the membrane.
load on the pilots, which may result in a
crash and loss of life. The challenge lies Flexible Thin Metal Film
in creating a means of sufficient degree Thermal Sensing System
of thrust-modulation control to safely fly
U.S. Patent No. 7,649,439
and land a stricken airplane.
A low-cost, easily retrofit Propulsion Donald L. Thomsen, Langley
Controlled Aircraft (PCA) system consists Research Center, Hampton, VA
of a propulsion-controlled aircraft com- Electrically based thermal sensing is
puter that reads in-aircraft data, includ- typically accomplished using a thermo-
ing aircraft state and pilot commands. couple or resistance temperature device
The PCA also calculates aircraft throttle (RTD). A thermocouple, however, is rel-
position for a given maneuver command- atively inflexible, thereby making it a
ed by the pilot. The system displays both poor choice when the sensor must be
current and calculated throttle position wrapped about or otherwise conformed
to show the pilot where to move throttles to the shape of a structure. RTDs, thick-
to achieve a specific order. er and also less flexible than metal film
thermocouples, may not be suitable
Contaminated Water choices for temperature sensing applica-
Treatment tions requiring relatively small tempera-
ture sensors.
U.S. Patent No. 7,655,145
A flexible thin metal film thermal
Sherwin J. Gormly and Michael T. sensing system operates as a passive
Flynn, Ames Research Center, thermocouple or an active RTD. The
Moffett Field, CA system uses a self-metallized polymeric
A system for recycling urine must pro- film, which includes a polymeric film
vide a renewable source of drinking region and a metal surface disposed
water and reduce the mass of water ini- on it. A layer of an electrically conduc-
tially stored aboard a spacecraft. The tive metal is deposited directly onto
recycling process also provides a light- the self-metallized polymeric film’s
weight backup to stored supplies, allow- metal surface. Coupled to at least one
ing astronauts to meet daily drinking of the metal surfaces and the layer of
water requirements. electrically conductive metal is a
A two-step system processes liquid con- device for measuring an electrical
taining water, urine, and/or other con- characteristic associated therewith as
taminants. The liquid passes through an an indication of temperature.

For more information on the inventions described here, contact the appropriate
NASA Field Center’s Innovative Partnerships (IP) Office.
See page 62 for a list of office contacts.

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-786 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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SolidWorks is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes. ©2011 Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved.

LOOKING FOR
DESIGNERS TO
PUSH THIS BABY
PROJECT 3: HOT ROD BABY BUGGY
Help host Jeremy Luchini design the first hardcore baby buggy using
SolidWorks®. You’ll share ideas, comment on designs and vote on key
decisions throughout the project. If you think you’re ready, let’s go design.
Watch. Share. Vote. LetsGoDesign.tv

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INDUSTRY UPDATE:
Design and PLM Software
In our annual roundtable with executives at leading CAD and PLM software
companies, topics for 2012 ranged from mobile applications and CAD in the
cloud, to improving productivity and enhancing the user experience.

“While everyone has access to,

and knows how to use, Microsoft
Word, the same isn’t true – and
shouldn’t have to be true – about
CAD and PLM. It’s our job, as
solution providers, to deliver the
right tools for the right people to
do their jobs, without underserving
or overserving any of them.”
 Mike Campbell, PTC

Sharing 3D Designs: Compatibility is the “Word”

In last year’s roundtable, one of our executives predicted
that one day, sharing 3D designs would be as easy as sharing
Microsoft Word documents today. Ease of use has been a
thorn in the sides of software vendors for years, but changes
to the user experience are on the horizon, according to this
year’s panel.
“The analogy to Word is more about compatibility than
ease of use,” said Paul Sicking, Chief Technology Officer at
Siemens PLM Software. “Word documents can be easily
shared because Word is one program developed by one com-
pany. Even if Word were very difficult to use, it would still be
very easy to share documents. The reality of the CAD world is
that there is no single CAD program that dominates the mar-
ket the way Word dominates its market,” he added.
“Software that is easy to use is critical to the success of the
design and engineering industry,” said Bertrand Sicot, Chief “The concept of simplifying
Executive Officer of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. 3D design and taking it to the
“The question remains: When will this happen?”
According to Grant Rochelle, Senior Director of Industry
masses is now common
Marketing for Autodesk Manufacturing, it will happen in the among CAD and PLM ven-
very near future. “We envision a time when 3D design ideas dors, resulting in software
and all supporting product development information will be
shared across entire companies, not just among engineers, becoming increasingly easier
with a modern generation of easy to use, deploy, and config- to use and more collaborative
ure CAD and PLM software.”
Chris Randles, President and CEO of SpaceClaim, stated
for everyone, including the
that “traditionally, there have been three barriers to pervasive traditional designers and
3D solid modeling: cumbersome user interfaces, the com- engineers.”
plexity of feature-based modeling, and the perceived require-
ment to fully detail models before the engineering is done.”  Paul Sicking, Siemens PLM Software

14 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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“We’ll continue to see
Mike Campbell, Division Vice President for Creo Product
surging demand for mobile Development at PTC, agrees that understanding how to use
applications that enable cumbersome CAD tools is still a major stumbling block. “While
CAD and PLM developers have made great progress, the tools
engineers, designers, and that are used for product development must continue to
others to access product become easier to use. When I visit customers, I hear about so
information from anywhere, many different people who want to access and leverage the 3D
designs that are created in engineering,” he said. “People in
anytime. There is no deny- sales, marketing, procurement, and service planning all want to
ing the mobility movement, know more about and contribute to the products being devel-
oped, but they feel that information is ‘locked up’ in the CAD
and embracing mobility is models, and only a select few – usually only in engineering –
helping us reach a larger have access to that data and the tools to understand it.”
audience than ever So, added Campbell, it is impractical to expect everyone in
the enterprise to use the same tools for working with product
before.” design data. “While everyone has access to, and knows how to
 Grant Rochelle, Autodesk use, Microsoft Word, the same isn’t true – and shouldn’t have
to be true – about CAD and PLM. It’s our job as solution
providers,” he explained, “to deliver the right tools for the
right people to do their job, without underserving or over-
serving any of them.”

Mobile CAD
Another trend that was highlighted by last year’s panel was
the concept of mobile CAD applications and cloud-based
design. For 2012, the trend is towards higher user expecta-
tions about mobility and increasing the adoption of cloud
computing, according to Rochelle.
“We’ll continue to see surging demand for mobile applica-
tions that enable engineers, designers, and others to access prod-
uct information from anywhere, anytime. There is no denying
the mobility movement,” Rochelle explained, “and embracing
mobility is helping us reach a larger audience than ever before.”
Sicking agrees that online and mobile applications are gain-
ing traction with users, especially among those who need to
consume, visualize, and interrogate the 3D product informa-
tion. “We can see the barriers of device, operating system, stor-

“Manufacturers should worry

less about the effects of proposed
legislation, and instead focus on
making products and processes
more inherently sustainable.
Companies have a real opportunity
to re-evaluate their design and
manufacturing processes now.”
 Bertrand Sicot, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 www.techbriefs.com 15

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INDUSTRY UPDATE continued

age space, and software tools being lowered or completely

removed over the coming years,” he added. “And, we believe
any security barriers created will be resolved over time.”
While some users are not specifically requesting cloud
products, they do want the ability to access their data away
from their desktop. Sicot explained that his customers want to
be able to access data away from their offices, leverage mobile
platforms, and reduce their hardware expenditure.
“Customers understand the benefits of moving online, but
are waiting to see what everyone delivers. While security has
always been a concern when it comes to releasing control of “Economic pressure has often
their IP, our customers trust that we’ll deliver a solution with required ‘typical’ CAD users to take
security in mind.”
Campbell agrees that while customers are not demanding on tasks that others may have tradi-
mobile applications for CAD authoring, per se, they want the tionally performed, which typically
capability to participate in various processes such as reviewing
a change request or approving a stage in the new product intro- produces mixed results. Other engi-
duction process. “Customers have expressed more interest in neers, such as simulation experts
the virtualization of CAD software, allowing it to be installed and manufacturing specialists, are
and run on centralized machines, and simply accessed from
lightweight desktop clients. They do indicate that data security removing the CAD bottleneck from
is a driver behind this strategy for virtualization.” their process.”
The User Experience  Chris Randles, SpaceClaim
Improving productivity seems to be the mantra for design
engineers who may be faced with taking on more varied that in order to improve efficiency in a global environment,
duties in a down economy. That means they often have to more and more people need to use and access data.
learn new, additional skills, somewhat skewing the traditional “There are more people than ever working with 3D data.
definition of the “typical” CAD user. This means that our traditional definition of a ‘typical’ CAD
“It’s true that economic pressure has often required ‘typi- user – a designer or engineer who spends the majority of their
cal’ CAD users to take on tasks that others may have per- time working with CAD – is no longer valid,” Campbell stated.
formed traditionally, which typically produces mixed results,” “That said, there are many things that everyone who interacts
according to Randles. “What we see, however, are other engi- with CAD data expect from the software. It must be approach-
neers such as simulation experts and manufacturing special- able, easy to use and learn, and must provide the capabilities
ists removing the CAD bottleneck from their process. There’s they need to get their job done.”
a much greater opportunity for improvement when you can These factors all affect the user experience – everything that
reduce an iteration cycle from a week to a few hours, than affects how a person feels about using a product, including the
improving a CAD user’s productivity by 10%.” perception of ease of use, scalability, and performance of that
The profile of the CAD user’s profession also continues to product, explained Sicking. “The concept of simplifying 3D
change, according to Sicot. “The percentage of ‘typical’ CAD design and taking it to the masses is now common among CAD
users is decreasing. The role of the CAD user is following a sim- and PLM vendors, resulting in software becoming increasingly
ilar path as draftsmen whose jobs continued to expand until easier to use and more collaborative for everyone, including the
they became CAD users,” he said. “The trends in engineering traditional designers and engineers. The environment to create
are changing to involve more disciplines and processes. an effective user experience must be compatible with innovative
Simulation, for example, was only understood by dedicated devices and appealing to the new generation of users.”
analysts ten years ago, and is now a mainstream skill for most That new generation of users is looking not only at how
engineers.” their design tools can help them enjoy the best user experi-
Rochelle agrees that the definition of what it means to be ence, but also how they can be used to make better decisions
an engineer or designer is unquestionably changing and in terms of issues such as sustainability. According to Sicot, sus-
becoming broader. “It’s not just about developing innovative tainability is becoming a way of life around the world, especial-
new product designs. It’s about being able to predict the per- ly in developing nations where population density is causing
formance of that product up front in the design process using people to work at lowering energy consumption. He sees sus-
simulation techniques. It’s about better integration of tainability as a trend for 2012, and believes that “manufactur-
mechanical and systems engineering – what some people call ers should worry less about the effects of proposed legislation,
mechatronics.” and instead focus on making products and processes more
And, said Rochelle, it’s also about creating compelling visu- inherently sustainable. Companies have a real opportunity to
alizations to win business from the competition, gain funding, re-evaluate their design and manufacturing processes now.”
or create compelling point-of-sale materials – all of which Find out more of what our executives had to say at
involve users from all areas of the enterprise. Campbell added www.techbriefs.com/CADupdate.

16 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Answers for industry.

© 2011 Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. All rights reserved. Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens
AG. NX is a trademark or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in
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 Application Briefs

A ir Conditioning Cools Lunar Test

Vehicles
Air conditioning system
Dometic Corporation
Richmond, VA
804-559-6434
www.dometic.com

NASA tests robotics for lunar electric rovers (LERs) and

space exploration in remote locations, such as the Arizona
desert, that closely simulate the terrain of the Moon or plan-
ets. The LER tests are conducted by a team of NASA engi-
neers also known as the Desert RATS (Desert Research and
Technology Studies). During the 2008 Desert RATS tests in Arizona, engineers, geologists, and
To assist the engineers, Dometic Corp. has completed instal- astronauts tested the surface version of the space exploration vehicle.
lation of an air conditioning system in a new second-genera- (Regan Geeseman)
tion lunar electric rover (LER II) being built by NASA. The
LER II functions as a testbed for future Moon exploration, The 10,000 BTU/hour air conditioning system includes a
either manned or unmanned. compressor/condenser module in the rover’s undercarriage,
Dometic designed, developed, manufactured, and installed and an evaporator unit in the overhead of the driver’s “bubble”
the air conditioning for the rover under a contract awarded by up front, with cool air ducted to the compartment behind. It
the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. also includes Dometic’s Q-Logic CAN bus controls and a cus-
“The lunar rovers are being tested in Arizona, so the system tom-designed condensate removal system with self-priming
has to keep the NASA scientists and their test equipment cool pumps. The system runs on the rover’s 300V DC electric power
and dry under extreme temperatures and high-dust condi- supply, converted to 115V AC to drive the air conditioner.
tions,” said Lou Siegel, spokesman for Dometic’s trucking busi- The LER II vehicle, about the size of a large pickup truck, has
ness unit. “In addition, the rover vehicle driver’s station and 12 wheels, which can pivot 360 degrees, permitting the rover to
payload compartment are fully sealed, so all hoses, ducts, and travel in any direction, including inclines up to 40 degrees.
wiring must pass through pressurized bulkheads.” For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-116

C ollision-Prediction Capabilities to
Improve NAS Integration
Collision avoidance radar
Numerica Corporation
Loveland, CO
970-561-2000
www.numerica.us
Unmanned aircraft systems, such as NASA's Global Hawks, are a major
The National Airspace System (NAS) is a complex and focus in the NAS integration effort.
shared network of people, procedures, equipment, and infra-
structure that ensures safe and timely air transportation in Numerica was awarded a two-year, $600,000 Small Business
the United States and over large portions of the world’s Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from NASA to
oceans. NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration are develop collision-prediction capabilities for unmanned air-
working together on next-generation improvements to the craft systems operating in the National Airspace System.
NAS, and both organizations will work to safely integrate Numerica is creating a sense-and-avoid capability to safely
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the nation’s complex integrate UAS into the national airspace. The Numerica
aviation system. research team has developed methods for producing robust
Incorporating unmanned vehicles into national airspace is trajectory predictions over long time horizons, and the scien-
highly beneficial to important missions in the areas of scientif- tists are working with Colorado Engineering (Colorado
ic research, national security, emergency response, and disas- Springs, CO) to model the company’s lightweight, low-power
ter relief. Such vehicles, however, are grossly underutilized in USTAR (Unmanned Sense, Track, and Avoid Radar) collision
these areas because they lack reliable collision-avoidance tech- avoidance tool for feasibility testing.
nology to ensure safe operation in the NAS. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-117

18 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 0
10
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D ata Recorders Chosen 01
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for Extreme Altitude 10

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and Extended Pressure

Applications
SLICE MICRO and SLICE NANO
data acquisition systems
Diversified Technical Systems (DTS)
Seal Beach, CA
562-493-0158
www.dtsweb.com

Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion

Laboratory and scientists at Raytheon
performed a variety of extreme tests on
DTS SLICE ultra-small data acquisition
systems in an effort to quantify pressure
and temperature performance ranges. 00010011011
00 101010100010
The NASA testing involved both low-
pressure and temperature extremes.
Balloons were used to float parachutes

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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-789 19

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 Technology Focus: Sensors

Energy-Based Tetrahedron Sensor for High-Temperature, High-

Pressure Environments
This sensor is applicable in the mining industry or in acoustic applications where energy-based
measurements are required.
Stennis Space Center, Mississippi
An acoustic energy-based probe has associated with determining the acoustic acquisition system acquires the micro-
been developed that incorporates multi- pressure and velocity using finite sum phone signals from each of the four
ple acoustic sensing elements in order to and difference techniques. The diame- probes and estimates the acoustic pres-
obtain the acoustic pressure and three- ter of the probe dictates the lower and sure at the center of the probe as the
dimensional acoustic particle velocity. upper operating frequencies for the average of the four measured pressures.
With these quantities, the user can obtain probe, where accurate measurements The acoustic particle velocity is obtained
various energy-based quantities, includ- can be acquired. The current probe using finite difference techniques to
ing acoustic energy density, acoustic design implements a sphere diameter of acquire a velocity estimate between each
intensity, and acoustic impedance. In this 1 in. (2.5 cm), which limits the upper pair of microphones in the tetrahedron
specific development, the probe has been operating frequency to about 4.5 kHz. design. These six particle velocity esti-
designed to operate in an environment The sensors are operational up to much mates are along different directions and
characterized by high temperatures and higher frequencies, and could be used estimate the particle velocity at the cen-
high pressures as is found in the close to acquire pressure data at higher fre- ter point of that side of the tetrahedron.
vicinity of rocket plumes. Given these quencies, but the energy-based measure- Thus, the user is required to determine
capabilities, the probe is designed to be ments are limited to that upper frequen- the three orthogonal velocity compo-
used to investigate the acoustic condi- cy. Larger or smaller spherical probes nents from these six estimates made.
tions within the plume of a rocket engine could be designed to go to lower or The advantage of using an energy-based
or jet engine to facilitate greater under- higher frequency ranges. probe is that it allows the user to extract
standing of the noise generation mecha- The probe was manufactured using additional information regarding the
nisms in those plumes. four G.R.A.S 40 BH 1/4" microphones radiation characteristics of the source
The probe features sensors mounted embedded in the 1-in. (2.5-cm) sphere. being investigated.
inside a solid sphere. The associated The pre-amplifiers for the microphones This work was done by Kent L. Gee, Scott
electronics for the probe are contained are also embedded in the sphere. These D. Sommerfeldt, and Jonathan D. Blotter of
within the sphere and the associated microphones are capable of operation Brigham Young University for Stennis Space
handle for the probe. More importantly, in sound fields up to 190 dB, which Center. For more information, contact the SSC
the design of the probe has desirable make them suitable for the rocket Chief Technologist Office at (228) 688-1929.
properties that reduce the bias errors plume environment. The LabVIEW data Refer to SSC-00355.

Handheld Universal Diagnostic Sensor

A single drop of blood enables chemistry, hematology, and biomarker diagnostics in minutes.
John H. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
The rHEALTH technology is designed The rHEALTH sensor uses proprietary geometry. In contrast, for typical bench-
to shrink an entire hospital testing labo- reagents called nanostrips, which are top blood counters and clinical analyzers,
ratory onto a handheld device. A physi- nanoscale test strips that enable the clin- these steps require automation and large
cian or healthcare provider performs ical assays. The readout is performed by amounts of reagents. Performing these
the test by collecting a fingerstick of laser-induced fluorescence. Overall, the steps on-chip allows these tests to be appli-
blood from a patient. The tiny volume of time from blood collection through cable for point-of-care settings. Further-
blood is inserted into the rHEALTH analysis is less than a minute. more, for reliable results, the on-chip pro-
device (see figure). Inside the device is a The spiral-shaped microfluidic chan- cessing steps are all compatible with the
microfluidic chip that contains small nels perform all the necessary sample pre- chips’ flow-through geometry, which pre-
channels about the width of a human processing required for sample analysis. vents blood stasis and clotting.
hair. These channels help move the They accomplish this by mixing and dilut- The rHEALTH prototype sensor is
blood and analyze the blood sample. ing the blood sample in a miniaturized small, rugged, and fits in the palm of a

20 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-790

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 Sensors

rHEALTH Universal Blood Sensor is designed to perform a breadth of analyses on blood or bodily fluids.

hand. It uses state-of-the-art solid-state microfluidic system allows a wide range of molecules on a blood sample smaller
lasers and detectors that allow for robust, reagents, including antibodies, fluorescent than 10 μL.
time-of-flight analysis of the samples. The dyes, and proprietary nanoscale test strips This work was done by Eugene Chan of
performance remains uncompromised, to be mixed with the blood sample. Typical DNA Medicine Institute, Inc. for Glenn
allowing high-sensitivity fluorescence analy- existing commercial sensors can only per- Research Center. For more information, down-
sis. Traditional flow cytometric profiles are form one test at a time. load the Technical Support Package (free
obtained using this device. These include The rHEALTH device employs white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
intensity versus intensity scatterplots and sophisticated flow-based detection tech- under the Bio-Medical category.
cell histograms. Flow-based, laser-induced nologies that allow a wide range of sam- Inquiries concerning rights for the commer-
fluorescence is thus a powerful technique ples to be counted, analyzed, and meas- cial use of this invention should be addressed to
that allows the user to have a universal ured with a high degree of multiplex- NASA Glenn Research Center, Innovative
detection platform for all of the assays, ing. The sensor is able to perform a Partnerships Office, Attn: Steven Fedor, Mail
whether they be antibody, nanostrip, range of analyses for cells, electrolytes, Stop 4–8, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland,
hematology, or biomarker assays. The biomarkers, nucleic acids, and small Ohio 44135. Refer to LEW-18727-1.

Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor System for Monitoring Smart

Composite Aerospace Structures
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
Lightweight, electromagnetic interfer- pling rates combined with highly dis- subsystem, digital post-detection elec-
ence (EMI) immune, fiber-optic, sensor- tributed sensing (up to 96 sensors per tronics subsystem, and finally via a data
based structural health monitoring system). The interrogation system com- interface to a computer.
(SHM) will play an increasing role in prises several subsystems. A broadband A range of composite structures has
aerospace structures ranging from air- optical source subsystem (BOSS) and been fabricated with FBGs embedded.
craft wings to jet engine vanes. Fiber routing and interface module (RIM) Stress tensile, bending, and dynamic
Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors for SHM send light from the interrogation sys- strain tests were performed. The
include advanced signal processing, sys- tem to a composite embedded FBG sen- experimental work proved that the
tem and damage identification, and sor matrix, which returns measurand- FBG sensors have a good level of accu-
location and quantification algorithms. dependent wavelengths back to the racy in measuring the static response
Potentially, the solution could be devel- interrogation system for measurement of the tested composite coupons
oped into an autonomous onboard sys- with subpicometer resolution. In partic- (down to sub-microstrain levels), the
tem to inspect and perform non-destruc- ular, the returned wavelengths are capability to detect and monitor
tive evaluation and SHM. channeled by the RIM to a photonic dynamic loads, and the ability to
A novel method has been developed signal processing subsystem based on detect defects in composites by a vari-
to massively multiplex FBG sensors, powerful optical chips, then passed ety of methods including monitoring
supported by a parallel processing through an optoelectronic interface to the decay time under different dynam-
interrogator, which enables high sam- an analog post-detection electronics ic loading conditions.

22 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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ProSense™ Digital
Pressure Switches/Pressure
Transmitters
Designed for air, non-corrosive gas and
non-flammable gas applications, these small
(1.2" by 1.2" by 1.7" deep) digital pressure
switches/pressure transmitters have a 3-color
LCD display and provide digital pressure control
via two digital outputs and one analog output.
These compact pressure switches are easy to install
and are ideal for use as pneumatic pressure switches or vacuum
pressure switches.

Features:
• 1.2" x 1.2" x 1.7" deep
• 1/8" NPT process connection for: air, non-corrosive gases,
non-flammable gases. (NOT for use in liquid applications)
• Repeatability +/- 3% of full scale
• Two digital outputs (NPN or PNP) which may be set individually, and a 4-20 mA analog output
• Two vacuum to pressure ranges (-14.5 to 14.5 psi and -14.5 to 145 psi)
• Three operation modes: Easy, Window and Hysteresis
• 3-color digital LCD display
• 6 pressure unit conversions www.automationdirect.com/digital-pressure-switches
• Lockable keypad
• Unit parameters are easily copied to other pressure switch units
• Selectable response times to eliminate output chattering
• Fast zero reset www.automationdirect.com
• Optional panel mount and bracket kits Go online or call to get complete information,
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 Sensors

In addition to quasi-static and dynam- waves-based techniques as a basis for University for Dryden Flight Research Center.
ic load monitoring, the system can cap- damage detection. For more information, download the
ture acoustic emission events that can be This work was done by Behzad Moslehi Technical Support Package (free white
a prelude to structural failure, as well as and Richard J. Black of Intelligent Fiber Optic paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
piezoactuator-induced ultrasonic Lamb- Systems Corp. and Yasser Gowayed of Auburn Physical Sciences category. DRC-011-004

Health-Enabled Smart Sensor Fusion Technology

Stennis Space Center, Mississippi
A process was designed to fuse data and sensor data reading. The technolo- fusion algorithms. Performance is
from multiple sensors in order to make gy also provides analytic and diagnostic improved in ad verse environmental
a more accurate estimation of the envi- intelligence at the intelligent transceiv- conditions. Costs for setup and tear-
ronment and overall health in an intelli- er, enhancing the IEEE 1451.x-based down are reduced. Recalibration when
gent rocket test facility (IRTF), to pro- standard for sensor data management replacing sensors is not required as the
vide reliable, high-confidence measure- and distributions, as well as providing data acquisition system can au ton -
ments for a variety of propulsion test appropriate communications protocols omously recalibrate itself. The costs for
articles. to enable complex interactions to sup- installation, maintenance, and up -
The object of the technology is to pro- port timely and high-quality flow of grades for measurement and control
vide sensor fusion based on a distributed information among the system ele- systems are also reduced.
architecture. Specifically, the fusion ments. This work was done by Ray Wang of
technology is intended to succeed in Troubleshooting is simplified Mobitrum Corporation for Stennis Space
providing health condition monitoring through sensor fusion that allows users Center. For more information, contact Ray
capability at the intelligent transceiver, to interface and verify all sensors via Wang, Mobitrum Corporation, (301) 585-
such as RF signal strength, battery read- Web-based interfaces. Confidence is 4040. Refer to SSC-00361.
ing, computing resource monitoring, improved in decisions due to the use of

Large-Area Vacuum Ultraviolet Sensors

These devices exhibit very low dark currents.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Pt/(n-doped GaN) Schottky-barrier μm-thick GaN epilayer n-doped at a maximum of 1 cm square. Mesas (one for
diodes having active areas as large as 1 density of ≈1016 cm–3. each device) were first defined by use of
cm square have been designed and fab- Four masks were used to define fea- conventional photolithography and chlo-
ricated as prototypes of photodetectors tures of devices having Schottky contact rine-bromine reactive-ion etching for
for the vacuum ultraviolet portion areas ranging up to the aforementioned complete removal of the n epilayer. Metal
(wavelengths ≈200 nm) of the solar spec-
trum. In addition to having adequate 10–1
sensitivity to photons in this wavelength
range, these photodetectors are 10–2
required to be insensitive to visible and 10–3
infrared components of sunlight and to
have relatively low levels of dark current. 10–4
Current Density, A/cm2

In preparation for fabricating a batch 10–5

of assorted prototype detectors, a c-
plane (0001-plane) sapphire wafer was 10–6
subjected to a rigorous cleaning by use 10–7
of an acid and an organic solvent.
Fabrication began with low-pressure 10–8
metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy of 10–9
four GaN layers on the sapphire wafer:
The first was a 25-nm-thick GaN nucle- 10–10
ation layer. The second was a thicker 10–11
GaN buffer layer to serve as a template
for epitaxial growth. The third was a 3- 10–12
–0.5 –0.4 –0.3 –0.2 –0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
μm-thick GaN epilayer containing elec- Bias Potential, Volts
tron-donor (n) doping at a density of
Current Density vs. Voltage was determined from measurements on device of the type described in the text.
4.8 × 1018 cm–3. The fourth was a 0.75-

24 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Sensors

patterns, each consisting of a 10-nm-thick of a lift-off procedure. Contact rings, each ized by low levels of dark current at low
layer of Ti followed by a 10-nm-thick layer consisting of a 30-nm-thick layer of Pt fol- reverse bias voltage: For example, one
of Ni followed by a 150-nm-thick layer of lowed by a 150-nm-thick layer of Au, were device having an active area of 0.25 cm2
Al, were defined at the bottoms of the formed on the peripheries of the semi- exhibited a leakage current density of
mesas by means of a lift-off procedure transparent Pt Schottky areas by electron- only 14 pA/cm2 at a reverse bias of 0.5 V
and electron-beam evaporation. These beam evaporation and lift-off. (see figure).
metal patterns were annealed at a tem- In preliminary tests of the electrical This work was done by Shahid Aslam and
perature of 500 °C for 10 minutes in flow- characteristics of these devices, forward David Franz of Raytheon Co. for Goddard Space
ing nitrogen to form ohmic contacts. and reverse current-vs.-voltage charac- Flight Center. For more information, download
Next, semitransparent Pt Schottky con- teristics were measured in a dark enclo- the Technical Support Package (free white
tacts having a thickness of 10 nm were sure. The measurements confirmed that paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
defined on the tops of the mesas by means as desired, these devices are character- Physical Sciences category. GSC-14777-1

Extended-Range Passive RFID and Sensor Tags

SAW devices and retroreflective antenna arrays are combined.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Extended-range passive radio-fre-
quency identification (RFID) tags and
related sensor tags are undergoing Reradiated
development. A tag of this type incorpo- Signal
rates a retroreflective antenna array, so Incident
Signal
that it reflects significantly more signal
power back toward an interrogating
radio transceiver than does a compara-
ble passive RFID tag of prior design,
which does not incorporate a retrore- Antenna Elements
flective antenna array. Therefore, for a
given amount of power radiated by the
transmitter in the interrogating trans- Transmission Line
ceiver, a tag of this type can be interro-
gated at a distance greater than that of
Figure 1. A Van Atta Array in its simplest form, comprising two antenna elements connected via a
the comparable passive RFID or sensor transmission line, exhibits partial retroreflection of an incident radio signal. If more pairs of antennas
tag of prior design. connected by equal-length transmission lines are added, the array becomes more nearly completely
The retroreflective antenna array is, retroreflective.
more specifically, a Van Atta array,
named after its inventor and first pub- Like some RFID tags here-
lished in a patent issued in 1959. In its tofore commercially avail-
simplest form, a Van Atta array compris- able, an RFID or sensor tag
Reradiated
es two antenna elements connected by a of the present developmen- Signal
Incident
transmission line so that the signal tal type includes one-port Signal
received by each antenna element is surface-acoustic-wave (SAW)
reradiated by the other antenna element devices. In simplified terms,
(see Figure 1). The phase relationships the mode of operation of a
among the received and reradiated sig- basic one-port SAW device as
nals are such as to produce constructive used heretofore in an RFID
interference of the reradiated signals; device is the following: An Port 2 Port
P 1

that is, to concentrate the reradiated sig- interrogating radio signal is

Hybrid Coupler
nal power in a direction back toward the converted, at an input end,
source. Hence, an RFID tag equipped from an electrical signal to
Port
ort 4 Port
Port 3
with a Van Atta antenna array automati- an acoustic wave that propa-
cally tracks the interrogating transceiver. gates along a surface and SAW2 SAW1
The effective gain of a Van Atta array is encounters multiple reflec-
the same as that of a traditional phased tors suitably positioned
antenna array having the same number along the surface. Upon
Figure 2. An Extended-Range Passive RFID or Sensor Tag in its
of antenna elements. Additional pairs of returning to the input end, simplest form includes two antenna elements and two SAW
antenna elements connected by equal- the reflected acoustic wave is devices incorporated into a Van Atta array by use of a hybrid
length transmission lines can be incor- re-converted to an electrical 90° coupler. A more highly directional (and, hence, longer-
range) tag would incorporate additional subunits, each incor-
porated into a Van Atta array to increase signal, which, in turn, is rera- porating a similar pair of SAW devices and a similar pair of
its directionality. diated from an antenna. The antenna elements connected via a hybrid 90° coupler.

26 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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distances between the reflectors in the
SAW device and the corresponding
times between reflections encode the
identifying or sensory information onto
the reradiated signal.
The fundamental problem in the
present development is how to com-
bine a Van Atta antenna array (which is
inherently a multiple-port device) and
one or more one-port SAW device(s) Data Analysis and Graphing Software
into a single, compact, passive unit that
can function as a retroreflective RFID
Powerful. Flexible. Easy to Use.
tag. The solution is to use one or more
hybrid, half-power 90° couplers. A basic
unit of this type, shown in Figure 2,
includes a half-power 90° hybrid cou-
‘‘leadingOverallstatusOriginPro preserves its
as the most functional
pler; two identical SAW devices (SAW1 and comprehensive data analysis and
and SAW2) connected to ports 3 and 4 graphing software on the market.
of the coupler, respectively; and anten-
Although other software programs
na elements connected to ports 1 and 2
of the coupler. Necessarily omitting are available, few are as easy to use,
details for the sake of brevity, it must accessible, and high-end when it comes
suffice to report that the phase relation- to performing rigorous data analysis or
ships among the coupler inputs and
outputs are such as to couple the inci-
dent signal from the antenna elements
producing publication-quality graphs.
Keith J. Stevenson ’’
to the SAW devices and couple the Journal of American Chemical Society, March 2011
reflected signals from the SAW devices
back to the antenna elements in the
phase relationships required for a Van
Atta array. Hence, the reradiated signal
‘‘OriginPro,
In a nutshell, Origin, the base version, and
with extended functionality, provide
is automatically directed back toward point-and-click control over every
the interrogating transceiver and con- element of a plot. Additionally,
tains identifying and/or sensory infor- users can create multiple types
mation encoded in time intervals
between reflections. of richly formatted plots, perform
An initial test of a prototype extend- data analysis and then embed
ed-range passive RFID tag of this type both graphs and results into
containing two antennas yielded data dynamically updated report
indicative of a 37-percent increase in
range over a comparable single-antenna
templates for efficient re-use
tag. Assuming that the signal power
needed to effect interrogation of a pas-
of effort.
’’
Vince Adams
sive RFID device is proportional to the Desktop Engineering, July 2011
mathematical fourth power of distance,
the corresponding increase in signal
®
power needed to interrogate the single- Compatible with Windows 7.
antenna tag at the increased distance Native 64-bit version available.
would be about 250 percent.
This work was done by Patrick W. Fink, Learn more at www.OriginLab.com
Timothy F. Kennedy, and Gregory Y. Lin of
Johnson Space Center; and Richard Barton of
ERC. For more information, download the
Technical Support Package (free white
paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
Physical Sciences category.
This invention is owned by NASA, and a
patent application has been filed. Inquiries OriginLab Corporation
concerning nonexclusive or exclusive license One Roundhouse Plaza
for its commercial development should be Northampton, MA 01060 USA
addressed to the Patent Counsel, Johnson
Space Center, (281) 483-1003. Refer to MSC- USA: (800) 969-7720
24346-1. FAX: (413) 585-0126
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.originlab.com
NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-793

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 Sensors

Hybrid Collaborative Learning for Classification and Clustering

in Sensor Networks
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Traditionally, nodes in a sensor net- well as faster responses, such as sending classification algorithms deployed at
work simply collect data and then pass it out alerts or increasing the data collec- sensor nodes can communicate informa-
on to a centralized node that archives, tion rate. There is an additional oppor- tion about event labels to each other,
distributes, and possibly analyzes the tunity for increased performance if building on prior work with co-training,
data. However, analysis at the individual learners at individual nodes can commu- self-training, and active learning. The
nodes could enable faster detection of nicate with their neighbors. In previous idea of “collaborative” learning was
anomalies or other interesting events as work, methods were developed by which extended to function for clustering algo-
rithms as well, similar to ideas from
penta-training and consensus clustering.
However, collaboration between these
Looking For High-Resolution learner types had not been explored.
A new protocol was developed by
Infrared? We’ve got you covered. which classifiers and clusterers can
share key information about their
observations and conclusions as they
learn. This is an active collaboration in
which learners of either type can query
their neighbors for information that
they then use to re-train or re-learn the
concept they are studying. The protocol
also supports broadcasts from the classi-
fiers and clusterers to the rest of the net-
work to announce new discoveries.
Classifiers observe an event and assign
it a label (type). Clusterers instead
group observations into clusters without
assigning them a label, and they collabo-
rate in terms of pairwise constraints
between two events [same-cluster (must-
New link) or different-cluster (cannot-link)].
SC645 High-Resolution Fundamentally, these two learner types
Infrared Camera speak different languages. To bridge this
• High-resolution 640 × 480, gap, the new communication protocol
17-micron pixel, uncooled VOx provides four types of exchanges: hybrid
detector queries for information, hybrid “broad-
• The world’s first high-res uncooled casts” of learned information, each spec-
infrared camera with 16-bit data at ified for classifiers-to-clusterers, and
up to 200 Hz windowed frame rate clusterers-to-classifiers.
The new capability has the potential to
New greatly expand the in situ analysis abilities
SC8300 HD Infrared Camera of sensor networks. Classifiers seeking to
• High-definition 1344 × 784,
categorize incoming data into different
14-micron cooled InSb detector types of events can operate in tandem
with clusterers that are sensitive to the
• Over one million points of accurate
occurrence of new kinds of events not
temperature measurement per
frame gives you true Megapixel known to the classifiers. In contrast to
infrared imagery current approaches that treat these oper-
ations as independent components, a
• Variable frame rates from full-
hybrid collaborative learning system can
frame 1344 × 784 14-bit data at
120 fps, to 64 × 64 at 2,530 fps enable them to learn from each other.
This work was done by Kiri L. Wagstaff of
Caltech, Scott Sosnowski of Case Western
Reserve University, and Terran Lane of the
University of New Mexico for NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more information,
Visit www.flir.com or call 800.464.6372 to schedule your free demo and find contact [email protected]. NPO-47821
out why FLIR has been the most trusted name in thermal imaging for 45 years.

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 WE DIDN’T INVENT
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 Manufacturing & Prototyping

Self-Healing, Inflatable, Rigidizable Shelter

Military applications include self-sealing fuel tanks on vehicles or aircraft. Commercial
applications include leak protection systems for railroad tank cars or tanker trucks carrying
hazardous materials.
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama
Any manned missions to extraterrestri- The technology builds functionality function. The two layers are assembled
al locations will require shelter structures into a conventional inflatable habitat next to each other and, in the event of a
for a variety of purposes ranging from structure by incorporating a light, puncture, both layers rupture, initiating
habitat to biomass production. Such shel- rigidizable composite material that can contact of the two components. The sub-
ters need to be constructed in such a way be used to make up the outer shell of sequent foaming is rapid and serves to
as to minimize stowed volume and pay- the habitat structure. This composite rapidly seal the system. A subscale proto-
load weight. The structures must also be material is used to form the two outer type demonstrator has been designed
very durable and have the ability to sur- layers of a “sandwich” structure in that will allow for demonstration of all
vive punctures without collapsing. Ways which the inner layer is comprised of a aspects of this technology including
of increasing available crew-load volume foam-generating system with two com- deployment, UV rigidization of compos-
without greatly increasing launch weight ponents designed and placed such that ite structures using LED illumination,
or volume are also sought. Inflatable they will mix upon impact and quickly and scaling of punctures using an encap-
structures are ideal candidates for habitat seal any breaches to the habitat struc- sulated polyurethane foam system.
structures for several reasons: (1) they ture, thereby preserving the internal The encapsulated polyurethane foam
feature the low stowage volume and pay- atmosphere of the habitat. The light, system forms the functional heart of this
load weight; (2) deployed volume can be rigidizable composite is comprised of a innovation and will greatly enhance the
easily increased without large increases in woven glass fabric impregnated with a lifetime of inflatable habitat structures
launch weight or volume; and (3) they resin specially formulated to cure upon on the lunar surface or elsewhere in the
offer unique opportunities for incorpo- exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. solar system. Encapsulating the compo-
rating intelligent and/or multifunctional These composites cure extremely nents ensures a proper ratio of materials
systems such as self-healing capability, quickly upon exposure to UV light, to achieve the foam reaction needed for
power generation and storage, sensor sys- either from sunlight or from other UV sealing, and the components are chosen
tems, and radiation protection. sources including lamps and LEDs such that they will react quickly and with
An inflatable, rigidizable shelter system (light emitting diodes). These compos- the generation of a large volume of
was developed based on Rigidization on ites can be extremely strong and tough, foam in order to seal a puncture.
Command (ROC) technology incorporat- depending upon which components This work was done by Andrea Haight and
ing not only the required low-stowage vol- are employed in the resin formulation. Jan-Michael Gosau of Adherent Technologies,
ume and lightweight character achieved The inner foam self-healing system is Inc., and Anshu Dixit and Dan Gleeson of
from an inflatable/rigidizable system, but comprised of separately encapsulated lay- ILC Dover for Marshall Space Flight Center.
also a self-healing foam system incorporat- ers of the two major components of ure- For more information, contact Sammy
ed between the rigidizable layers of the thane foams — polyol and isocyanate — Nabors, MSFC Commercialization Assistance
final structure to minimize the damage containing all the necessary catalysts, sur- Lead, at [email protected]. Refer to
caused by any punctures to the structure. factants, and blowing agents required for MFS-32845-1.

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• Correcting Thermal Deformations in an Active Composite Reflector
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30 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Manufacturing & Prototyping

Improvements in Cold-Plate Fabrication

Improvements in fabrication, cooling fluid, structural parts, and components reduce weight,
fabrication steps, and costs.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Five improvements are reported in The third improvement eliminates the on after the braze process, is replaced
cold-plate fabrication. This cold plate is need of hose, tube, or manifold to supply with a more structurally sound configu-
part of a thermal control system designed the cooling fluid externally. The external ration that can be brazed at the same
to serve on space missions. arrangement can be easily damaged and time as the rest of the cold plate.
The first improvement is the merging is vulnerable to leakage. The new This work was done by Mark A. Zaffetti,
of the end sheets of the cold plate with the arrangement incorporates an internal Edmund P. Taddey, Michael B. Laurin, and
face sheets of the structural honeycomb fluid transfer tube. This allows the fluid Natalia Chabebe of Hamilton Sundstrand for
panel. The cold plate, which can be a to pass from one cold plate to the other Johnson Space Center. For further informa-
brazed assembly, uses the honeycomb face without any exposed external features. tion, contact the JSC Innovation Partnerships
sheet as its end sheet. Thus, when the The fourth improvement eliminates Office at (281) 483-3809.
honeycomb panel is fabricated, the face separate fabrication of cold plate(s) Title to this invention has been waived
sheet that is used is already part of the and structural members followed by a under the provisions of the National
cold plate. In addition to reducing weight, process of attaching them to each Aeronautics and Space Act {42 U.S.C.
costs, and steps, the main benefit of this other. Here, the structural member is 2457(f)} to Hamilton Sundstrand. Inquiries
invention is that it creates a more struc- made of material that can be brazed concerning licenses for its commercial develop-
turally sound assembly. just as that of the cold plate. Now the ment should be addressed to:
The second improvement involves structural member and the cold plate Hamilton Sundstrand
incorporation of the header into the clo- can be brazed at the same time, creat- Space Systems International, Inc.
sure bar to pass the fluid to a lower layer. ing a monolithic unit, and thus a more One Hamilton Road
Conventional designs have used a sepa- structurally sound assembly. Windsor Locks, CN 06096-1010
rate header, which increases the geometry Finally, the fifth improvement is the Phone No.: (860) 654-6000
of the system. The improvement reduces elimination of an additional welding Refer to MSC-24651-1/2-1/3-1/4-1/5-1,
the geometry, thus allowing the cold plate step that can damage the braze joints. volume and number of this NASA Tech
to fit into smaller area. A tube section, which is usually welded Briefs issue, and the page number.

Complex shapes

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WROHUDQFHVWRPLOOLRQWKVRIDQLQFK
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WRKLJKYROXPHSURGXFWLRQ
‡(QJLQHHULQJGHVLJQGLVFXVVLRQVZHOFRPHG www.insaco.com
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 ADVERTISEMENT

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Mirror Switches Between Reflective and Hovering Aerial Vehicles Use Wireless
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Manufacturing Methods to Deposit Inorganic At-Home Medical Diagnostic and

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A company seeks alternative ways of preparing crucibles New home-use and point-of-care diagnostic medical tech-
for the vapor deposition process. Currently, up to a kilogram nologies are needed. The diagnostics kits should monitor dis-
of an alkalihalide salt is melted electrically in a tantalum cru- eases not easily measured. Testing may be done within the
cible within a vacuum chamber, and the vapor is deposited device, or the device may be a tethered testing head that
on a metal substrate. The resistance, conductivity, and heat- reports to a central diagnostics facility. The product can be
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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 www.techbriefs.com 33

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 GH Series Electronics/Computers
Space Qualified
DC-DC Converters
Technique for Radiometer and Antenna
Array Calibration — TRAAC
Class K Hybrid This technique provides a unique and accurate method
to calibrate an antenna and radiometer system.
87% Efficiency Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama
Highly sensitive receivers are used to ual elements. This phenomenon is
detect minute amounts of emitted elec- called mutual coupling. The new cali-
tromagnetic energy. Calibration of bration method uses a known noise
these receivers is vital to the accuracy source as a calibration load to deter-
of the measurements. Traditional cali- mine the instantaneous characteristics
bration techniques depend on calibra- of the antenna. The noise source is
tion reference internal to the receivers emitted from one element of the
as reference for the calibration of the antenna array and received by all the
observed electromagnetic energy. Such other elements due to mutual cou-
methods can only calibrate errors in pling. This received noise is used as a
measurement introduced by the receiv- calibration standard to monitor the sta-
er only. The disadvantage of these bility of the antenna electronics.
existing methods is that they cannot The proposed calibration technique
account for errors introduced by makes use of five measurements. These
devices, such as antennas, used for cap- are observations of an internal warm
FEATURES
turing electromagnetic radiation. This load, cold load (both internal to the
severely limits the types of antennas radiometer/receiver), the scene of
• 28V nominal input, other input that can be used to make measure- interest, the scene of interest with the
buses available ments with a high degree of accuracy. noise source emitted from the center
• Low voltage outputs, 1 to 5V DC, Complex antenna systems, such as elec- element of the antenna array, and a
up to 50W/20A output current
tronically steerable antennas (also known noise source injected directly
known as phased arrays), while offer- into each element of the antenna array.
• Synchronous Rectification ing potentially significant advantages, The noise source, coupled from the
• Ideal for FPGA and other digital suffer from a lack of a reliable and central element in the array to all
loads and a power source for accurate calibration technique. other elements in a square array will be
POL modules
The present innovation provides a symmetric. With the noise source
method to perform an end-to-end cali- being emitted from the central ele-
• Integrated EMI filter to minimize bration of a radio frequency (RF) ment, the mutually coupled signal will
CE input noise receiver system comprised of an anten- be received on the other antenna ele-
• Designed for GEO applications na and a receiver. Traditional calibra- ments, combined, and used as a cali-
with >15 years mission life tion techniques cannot eliminate bration signal to monitor any change
errors in measurement introduced by in the RF components (low-noise
• DLA SMD qualified devices available variations in antenna characteristics. amplifiers, phase shifters, attenuators,
• Compact form factor, <110 grams The proposed invention provides a and power combiners) in front of the
method to quantify the instantaneous, radiometer. Based on these observa-
as well as long-term, variations in tions, a calibrated estimate of the scene
For more information call 1.800.981.8699 antenna characteristics. This tech- can be obtained.
or visit www.irf.com nique will enable improved accuracy in This work was done by Paul Meyer,
measurements made using passive William Sims, Kosta Varnavas, and Jeff
receiver systems and phased array sys- McCracken of Marshall Space Flight
tems in particular, by monitoring the Center; Karthik Srinivasan, Ashutosh
performance of the antenna array by Limaye, and Charles Laymon of
measuring the gain of the antenna Universities Space Research Association;
electronics in real time. and James Richeson of ICRC. For further
The proximity of antenna elements information, contact Sammy Nabors, MSFC
in an array results in interaction Commercialization Assistance Lead, at
THE POWER MANAGEMENT LEADER between the electromagnetic fields [email protected]. Refer to MFS-
radiated (or received) by the individ- 32783-1.

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-798 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Real-Time Cognitive Computing Architecture for Data Fusion
in a Dynamic Environment
This architecture can enable smart instrumentation for automotive, security, and intelligent
robotics applications.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
A novel cognitive computing archi- ing, and adapting as required when each particular application as needed,
tecture is conceptualized for process- the target is changing in the dynamic dynamically, and still remain compati-
ing multiple channels of multi-modal environment. Therefore, the process- ble with a digital environment. The
sensory data streams simultaneously, ing block can select an architecture for conceptualized architecture, capable
and fusing the information in real time
to generate intelligent reaction
sequences. This unique architecture is
capable of assimilating parallel data
streams that could be analog, digital,
synchronous/asynchronous, and
could be programmed to act as a
knowledge synthesizer and/or an
“intelligent perception” processor. In
this architecture, the bio-inspired mod-
els of visual pathway and olfactory
receptor processing are combined as
processing components, to achieve the
composite function of “searching for a
source of food while avoiding the pred-
ator.” The architecture is particularly
suited for scene analysis from visual
data and odorant signature identifica-
tion in a heterogeneous environment.
In this architecture, there are four
basic blocks: input, output, processing,
and storage. The input block consists
of sensing devices including IR,
lidar, radar, visual, chemical, and
biosensors, at their various sampling
data rates. Based on application sce-
nario, selected sensory streams are sent
by the input block to the subsequent
“processing” block in a fully parallel
fashion. Feature data is extracted
from the analog/digital sensory
streams and is accumulated in the
storage block for enriching the “knowl-
edge base” as a situation unfolds. The
incoming raw data is not stored as is
the usual approach in current comput-
er architecture, and is reconstructed if
required during the process in real
time. The output block sends the
output signal to various interfaces
(actuating interfaces), such as other
machines, humans, or RF devices.
The processing block consists of
several mathematical constructs includ-
ing Principal Component Analysis
(PCA), Independent Component
Analysis (ICA), Neural Network (NN),
Genetic Algorithm (GA), etc., and is
controlled by a hierarchy of logical
rules to enact reasoning, reconfigur-

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-799 35

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of extracting knowledge from informa- This work was done by Tuan A. Duong Innovative Technology Assets Management
tion and using the knowledge for and Vu A. Duong of Caltech for NASA’s Jet JPL
reasoning, adapting, and reacting Propulsion Laboratory. For more informa- Mail Stop 202-233
therefore qualifies as a cognitive archi- tion, download the Technical Support 4800 Oak Grove Drive
tecture for real-time data fusion in Package (free white paper) at www. Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
a dynamic environment. Further - techbriefs.com/tsp under the Electronics/ E-mail: [email protected]
more, its dynamic autonomous recon- Computers category. Refer to NPO-46633, volume and num-
figurability makes it versatile as a “gen- In accordance with Public Law 96-517, ber of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and
eral-p u r p o s e ” i n t e l l i g e n t s y s t e m the contractor has elected to retain title the page number.
to accomplish the “searching for a to this invention. Inquiries concerning
source of food while avoiding the rights for its commercial use should be
predator” function. addressed to:

Use of CCSDS
ME ASUREMENT COMPUTING Packets Over
SpaceWire to
Control Hardware
Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Maryland
For the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter,
the Command and Data Handling subsys-
tem consisted of several electronic hard-
ware assemblies that were connected with
SpaceWire serial links. Electronic hard-
ware would be commanded/controlled
and telemetry data was obtained using the

LOW-COST DAQ SpaceWire links. Prior art focused on par-

allel data buses and other types of serial
buses, which were not compatible with
the SpaceWire and the core flight execu-
Engineered with Innovation. tive (CFE) software bus.
This innovation applies to anything that
For over 20 years Measurement Computing has offered quality DAQ
utilizes both SpaceWire networks and the
solutions that are not only priced right, but are engineered to exceed
CFE software. The CCSDS (Consultative
the needs and expectations of our customers.
Committee for Space Data Systems) pack-
et contains predetermined values in its
✓ 150 DAQ Products under $500 payload fields that electronic hardware
attached at the terminus of the SpaceWire
✓ Support for Windows , Linux , Mac ® ® ® node would decode, interpret, and exe-
cute. The hardware’s interpretation of the
✓ Unmatched Warranties packet data would enable the hardware to
change its state/configuration (com-
✓ Free Tech Support mand) or generate status (telemetry). The
primary purpose is to provide an interface
✓ OEM Options that is compatible with the hardware and
the CFE software bus. By specifying the
✓ Out-of-the-Box Software and Drivers format of the CCSDS packet, it is possible
to specify how the resulting hardware is to
be built (in terms of digital logic) that
MCC Product Selection Guide: mccdaq.com/selguide results in a hardware design that can be
controlled by the CFE software bus in the
final application.
Contact us The component parts are the CFE, the
electronic hardware attached at the termi-
The Value Leader in Data Acquisition
1.800.234.4232 nus of the SpaceWire link, and the
SpaceWire link itself. The CCSDS packet
©2012 Measurement Computing Corporation, 10 Commerce Way, Norton, MA 02766 • [email protected] is what is produced by the CFE for control
of the hardware as well as obtaining status.

36 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-800 NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 The main benefits of this innovation vides a mechanism to control hardware Flight Center. For more information, download
are the ability to re-use existing CFE flight features using software constructs. the Technical Support Package (free white
software code, the hardware responds to This work was done by Omar Haddad, paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
“native” CCSDS packets instead of going Michael Blau, Noosha Haghani, William Electronics/Computers category.
through a translation layer, and it pro- Yuknis, and Dennis Albaijes of Goddard Space GSC-15981-1

Programmable Digital Controller

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
An existing three-channel analog servo gle error term generated by the capac- The design is based around a new gen-
loop controller has been redesigned itive gap sensor. This was less than opti- eration of direct capacitance to digital
for piezoelectric-transducer-based (PZT- mal when trying to return to the same converters from Analog Devices, the
based) etalon control applications to a dig- gap position due to the hysteresis of AD7745. This integrated circuit (IC)
ital servo loop controller. This change the PZT motors and thermal drift in allows the measurement of the capaci-
offers several improvements over the pre- the electronics. tance of the gap capacitor at up to 90 Hz
vious analog controller, including software To overcome the limitations of the with resolutions down to 4 aF. This meas-
control over proportional–integral–deriva- analog servo loop, it was decided that a urement is an absolute value whereas the
tive (PID) parameters, inclusion of other control loop could be built around a previous analog design measured capaci-
data of interest such as temperature and microcontroller/central processing unit tance relative to a reference capacitor
pressure in the control laws, improved (CPU), i.e., a digital servo loop. The CPU whose value had some uncertainty. The
ability to compensate for PZT hysteresis would query various sensors such as a new design allows one to measure the gap
and mechanical mount fluctuations, abili- capacitive gap sensor or temperature sen- directly, after calibration, thereby greatly
ty to provide pre-programmed scanning sor, among others, then based on re-pro- improving overall control.
and stepping routines, improved user grammable control laws, provide a driving This work was done by Gregory J. Wassick of
interface, expanded data acquisition, and signal to a high-voltage driver that actu- Michigan Aerospace Corporation for Goddard
reduced size, weight, and power. ates the PZT motor on the etalon. The sys- Space Flight Center. For further information,
The original analog servo controller tem is based on mostly COTS (commer- contact the Goddard Innovative Partnerships
only had the ability to correct for a sin- cial off-the-shelf) hardware and software. Office at (301) 286-5810. GSC-15524-1

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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-801 37

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would be a scene showing a person in a The debris radars were established to

Key Decision Record park at night with the moon, stars, and provide insight into debris events for all
Creation and Approval galaxies in the background sky. Prior future space shuttle flights. Often, the
Module graphical computer programs exhibit debris particles are either too small or
Retaining good key decision records arithmetic and other anomalies when ren- moving too quickly to be accurately char-
is critical to ensuring the success of a dering scenes containing objects that dif- acterized in any other way. Data must be
project or operation. Having adequately fer enormously in scale and distance from rapidly and accurately analyzed in order
documented decisions with supporting the viewer. to assess the threat environment from
documents and rationale can greatly The present program dynamically ascent debris. The DEBRIS tools offer that
reduce the amount of rework or rein- repartitions distance scales of objects in capability, and were specifically tailored to
vention over a project’s, vehicle’s, or a scene during rendering to eliminate the needs of the debris analysis mission.
facility’s lifecycle. Stennis Space Center almost all such anomalies in a way com- The ARDENT application is intended
developed and uses a software tool that patible with implementation in other to autonomously identify, characterize,
automates the Key Decision Record software and in hardware accelerators. annotate, and perform statistics on
(KDR) process for its engineering and By assigning depth ranges correspond- debris tracks from 150 seconds after
test projects. It provides the ability for a ing to rendering precision require- launch to loss of signal at the far hori-
user to log key decisions that are made ments, either automatically or under zon. The DEBRIS application is intend-
during the course of a project. By cus- program control, this program spaces ed primarily for analysis of the data with-
tomizing Parametric Technology out object scales to match the precision in the first 150 seconds of flight. It allows
Corporation’s (PTC) Windchill prod- requirements of the rendering arith- the user to explore the available data
uct, the team was able to log all informa- metic. This action includes an intelli- and annotate observed debris events
tion about a decision, and electronically gent partition of the depth buffer ranges and tracks. It also allows ballistic analysis
route that information for approval. to avoid known anomalies from this of an annotated event, and allows the
Customizing the Windchill product source. The program is written in C++, user to display all annotated events for
allowed the team to directly connect using OpenGL, GLUT, and GLUI stan- the mission and the associated meta
these decisions to the engineering data dard libraries, and nVidia GEForce information for those events.
that it might affect and notify data own- Vertex Shader extensions. The program The ARDENT debris detection algo-
ers of the decision. The user interface has been shown to work on several com- rithm uses a Multi-scale Localized
was created in JSP and Javascript, within puters running UNIX and Windows Radon Transform (MSLRT) optimized
the OOTB (Out of the Box) Windchill operating systems. for this application. The MSLRT com-
product, allowing users to create KDRs. This program was written by Andrew J. putes a localized Radon transform of
Not only does this interface allow users Hanson and Philip Chi-Wing Fu of Indiana blocks of the data for multiple block
to create and track KDRs, but it also University for Goddard Space Flight Center. sizes (or scales) to form an aggregated
plugs directly into the OOTB ability to For further information, contact the Goddard (across scales) debris track detection
associate these decision records with Innovative Partnerships Office at (301) 286- map based on identifying piece-wise lin-
other relevant engineering data such as 5810. GSC-14819-1 ear features in the data. The DEBRIS
drawings, designs, models, require- tool consolidates and extends the capa-
ments, or specifications. bility of several discrete applications
This work was done by Bartt Hebert and developed early in the NDR technology
Elizabeth A. Messer of Stennis Space Center; Debris Examination Using maturation process; specifically, data
Colby Albasini of Computer Sciences Corp.; and Ballistic and Radar viewing, annotation of candidate debris
Thang Le, William ORourke, Sr., Tim Stiglets, Integrated Software events, and various elements of trajecto-
and Ted Strain of Sai Tech Inc. Inquiries con- The Debris Examination Using ry analysis. This consolidation dramati-
cerning rights for the commercial use of this Ballistic and Radar Integrated Software cally streamlines the analysis process and
invention should be addressed to the Intellectual (DEBRIS) program was developed to the amount of overhead in both time
Property Manager at Stennis Space Center provide rapid and accurate analysis of and effort needed to fully process the
(228) 688-1929. SSC-00338 debris observed by the NASA Debris debris risk portion of the shuttle ascent.
Radar (NDR). This software provides a The ballistic and radar signature prod-
greatly improved analysis capacity over ucts of these tools allow assessment of
earlier manual processes, allowing for debris material type, shape, size, and
Enhanced Graphics for up to four times as much data to be ana- release location — information that is
Extended Scale Range lyzed by one-quarter of the personnel used to determine threat to the current
Enhanced Graphics for Extended Scale required by earlier methods. There are mission as well as flight safety for future
Range is a computer program for render- two applications that comprise the missions. The analysis efficiencies afford-
ing fly-through views of scene models that DEBRIS system: the Automated Radar ed by these tools allow detailed threat
include visible objects differing in size by Debris Examination Tool (ARDENT) assessment of tens of gigabytes of data
large orders of magnitude. An example and the primary DEBRIS tool. within three days of launch.

38 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 This work was done by Anthony Griffith, table definition for equipment. It pro- tion of orbital motion to numerically inte-
Matthew Schottel, David Lee, Robert Scully, vides translation of status and monitoring grate Cowell’s form of the system of differ-
and Joseph Hamilton of Johnson Space Center; information from the native systems into ential equations. Shadow conditions are
Brian Kent, Christopher Thomas, Jonathan ASIST-readable format to display on pages predicted by embedding this integrator
Benson, and Eric Branch of the U.S. Air Force; in the MOC. within Brent’s method for finding the
and Paul Hardman and Martin Stuble of The manager is lightweight, user root of a nonlinear equation. The
NAVAIR (Patuxent) Department of the Navy. friendly, and efficient. It allows data trend- IRIS_EFT software models the effects of
For more information, download the ing, correlation, and storing. It allows the following types of orbit perturbations
Technical Support Package (free white paper) using ASIST as common interface for on the long-term evolution and shadow
at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software remote monitor and control of heteroge- characteristics of IRIS mission orbits:
category. MSC-24827-1 neous equipments. It also provides fail- • Non-spherical Earth gravity,
over capability to back up machines. • Atmospheric drag,
This work was done by Kim Pham and • Point-mass gravity of the Sun, and
Thomas Bialas of Goddard Space Flight Center. • Point-mass gravity of the Moon.
Data Distribution System For more information, download the The objective of this effort was to create
(DDS) and Solar Dynamic Technical Support Package (free white paper) an in-house computer program that
Observatory Ground Station at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software would perform eclipse-free-time analysis
(SDOGS) Integration Manager category. GSC-16020-1 of candidate IRIS spacecraft mission
The DDS SDOGS Integration Manager orbits in an accurate and timely fashion.
(DSIM) provides translation between The software is a suite of Fortran subrou-
native control and status formats for sys- tines and data files organized as a “compu-
tems within DDS and SDOGS, and the Eclipse-Free-Time tational” engine that is used to accurately
ASIST (Advanced Spacecraft Integration Assessment Tool for IRIS predict the long-term orbit evolution of
and System Test) control environment IRIS_EFT is a scientific simulation that IRIS mission orbits while searching for
in the SDO MOC (Solar Dynamics can be used to perform an Eclipse-Free- Earth shadow conditions.
Observatory Mission Operations Center). Time (EFT) assessment of IRIS (Infrared The core algorithms of this software
This system was created in response for Imaging Surveyor) mission orbits. EFT is product have been used to solve a variety
a need to centralize remote monitor and defined to be those time intervals longer of unique orbital mechanics and targeting
control of SDO Ground Station equip- than one day during which the IRIS space- problems. Past applications include lunar
ments using ASIST control environment craft is not in the Earth’s shadow. Program shadow requirements for Chandra,
in SDO MOC, and to have configurable IRIS_EFT implements a special perturba- perigee decay of geosynchronous transfer

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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-802 39

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orbits due to third-body point-mass per- tia tensor, aerodynamic loading data, and
turbations, and prediction of orbital life- propulsion (i.e. thrust) loading data.
time and decay of Earth satellites. Using fundamental non-linear equations
This work was done by David Eagle of a.i. of motion, MASCOT then calculates vehi-
solutions Inc. for Kennedy Space Center. For cle trim and static stability data for the
additional information, contact David Eagle at desired flight condition(s). Available
(321) 867-8913. KSC-13519 flight conditions include six horizontal
and six landing rotation conditions with
varying options for engine out, crosswind,
and sideslip, plus three take-off rotation
Automated and Manual conditions. Results are displayed through
Rocket Crater Measurement a unique graphical interface developed to
Software provide the non-stability and control
An update has been performed to soft- expert conceptual design engineer a qual-
ware designed to do very rapid automated itative scale indicating whether the vehicle
measurements of craters created in sandy has acceptable, marginal, or unacceptable
substrates by rocket exhaust on liftoff. static stability characteristics. If desired,
The previous software was optimized for the user can also examine the detailed,
pristine lab geometry and lighting condi- quantitative results.
tions. This software has been enhanced to This work was done by Sean P. Kenny of
include a section for manual measure- Langley Research Center and Luis Crespo of the
ments of crater parameters; namely, National Institute of Aerospace. For more infor-
crater depth, crater full width at half max, mation, download the Technical Support
and estimated crater volume. The tools Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.
provide a very rapid method to measure com/tsp under the Software category. LAR-
these manual parameters to ease the bur- 17483-1
den of analyzing large data sets.
This software allows for rapid quantiza-
tion of the rocket crater parameters where
automated methods may not work. The Patched Conic
progress of spreadsheet data is continuously Trajectory Code
saved so that data is never lost, and data can PatCon code was developed to help mis-
be copied to clipboards and pasted to other sion designers run trade studies on launch
software for analysis. The volume estimation and arrival times for any given planet.
of a crater is based on the central max depth Initially developed in Fortran, the required
axis line, and the polygonal shape of the inputs included launch date, arrival date,
crater is integrated around that axis. and other orbital parameters of the launch
This work was done by Philip Metzger of planet and arrival planets at the given
Kennedy Space Center and Christopher Immer dates. These parameters include the posi-
of ASRC Aerospace Corp. For more informa- tion of the planets, the eccentricity, semi-
tion, download the Technical Support major axes, argument of periapsis, ascend-
Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs. ing node, and inclination of the planets.
com/tsp under the Software category. KSC- With these inputs, a patched conic approx-
13386 imation is used to determine the trajectory.
The patched conic approximation
divides the planetary mission into three
parts: (1) the departure phase, in which
MATLAB Stability and the two relevant bodies are Earth and the
Control Toolbox Trim and spacecraft, and where the trajectory is a
Static Stability Module departure hyperbola with Earth at the
MATLAB Stability and Control focus; (2) the cruise phase, in which the
Toolbox (MASCOT) utilizes geometric, two bodies are the Sun and the spacecraft,
aerodynamic, and inertial inputs to cal- and where the trajectory is a transfer
culate air vehicle stability in a variety of ellipse with the Sun at the focus; and (3)
critical flight conditions. The code is the arrival phase, in which the two bodies
based on fundamental, non-linear equa- are the target planet and the spacecraft,
tions of motion and is able to translate where the trajectory is an arrival hyperbo-
results into a qualitative, graphical scale la with the planet as the focus.
useful to the non-expert. This work was done by Brooke Anderson
MASCOT was created to provide the Park and Henry Wright of Langley Research
conceptual aircraft designer accurate pre- Center. For more information, download the
dictions of air vehicle stability and control Technical Support Package (free white paper)
characteristics. The code takes as input at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software
mass property data in the form of an iner- category. LAR-17446-1

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-803 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 developed for the needs of an R&TD-fund- launch must be made in a timely manner
Ring Image Analyzer ed project and has become an important to ensure a successful mission while not
Ring Image Analyzer software analyzes asset for the future research proposal to exceeding those risk criteria. Range safety
images to recognize elliptical patterns. It NASA as well as other agencies. officers need a tool that can give them the
determines the ellipse parameters (axes This work was done by Dmitry V. Strekalov of needed probability of impact information
ratio, centroid coordinate, tilt angle). The Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. quickly, and in a format that is clearly
program attempts to recognize elliptical For more information, download the Technical understandable. This application is meant
fringes (e.g., Newton Rings) on a photo- Support Package (free white paper) at www. to fill that need.
graph and determine their centroid posi- techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category. The software is a reuse of part of soft-
tion, the short-to-long-axis ratio, and the This software is available for commercial ware developed for an earlier project: Ship
angle of rotation of the long axis relative licensing. Please contact Daniel Broderick of the Surveillance Software System (S4). The S4
to the horizontal direction on the photo- California Institute of Technology at project was written in C++ using Microsoft
graph. These capabilities are important in [email protected]. Refer to NPO-47579. Visual Studio 6. The data structures and
interferometric imaging and control of dialog templates from it were copied into
surfaces. In particular, this program has a new application that calls the implemen-
been developed and applied for deter- tation of the algorithms from S4 and dis-
mining the rim shape of precision- SureTrak Probability of plays the results as needed. In the S4 soft-
machined optical whispering gallery Impact Display ware, the list of ships in the area was
mode resonators. The SureTrak Probability of Impact received from one local radar interface
The program relies on a unique image Display software was developed for use and from operators who entered the ship
recognition algorithm aimed at recogniz- during rocket launch operations. The soft- information manually. The SureTrak
ing elliptical shapes, but can be easily ware displays probability of impact infor- Probability of Impact Display application
adapted to other geometric shapes. It is mation for each ship near the hazardous receives ship data from two local radars as
robust against non-elliptical details of the area during the time immediately preced- well as the SureTrak system, eliminating
image and against noise. ing the launch of an unguided vehicle. the need for manual data entry.
Interferometric analysis of precision- Wallops range safety officers need to be This work was done by John Elliott of
machined surfaces remains an important sure that the risk to humans is below a cer- Goddard Space Flight Center. For more infor-
technological instrument in hardware tain threshold during each use of the mation, download the Technical Support
development and quality analysis. This soft- Wallops Flight Facility Launch Range. Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.
ware automates and increases the accuracy Under the variable conditions that can com/tsp under the Software category. GSC-
of this technique. The software has been exist at launch time, the decision to 16064-1

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-804 41

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 Mechanics/Machinery

Implementation of a Non-Metallic Barrier in an Electric Motor

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Electric motors that run in pure A fragile, non-metallic barrier can be Center. For further information, contact the
oxygen must be sealed, or “canned,” utilized in a motor assembly if held in JSC Innovation Partnerships Office at (281)
for safety reasons to prevent the place by a set of standard rubber O- 483-3809.
oxygen from entering into the ring seals. The O-rings provide the nec- Title to this invention has been waived
electrical portion of the motor. The essary sealing to keep oxygen away under the provisions of the National
current canning process involves from the electrical portion of the Aeronautics and Space Act {42 U.S.C.
designing a metallic barrier around motor and also isolate the fragile barri- 2457(f)} to Hamilton Sundstrand. Inquiries
the rotor to provide the separation. er from the harsh motor vibration envi- concerning licenses for its commercial develop-
This metallic barrier reduces the ronment. The compliance of the rub- ment should be addressed to:
motor efficiency as speed is increased. ber O-rings gently constrains the frag- Hamilton Sundstrand
In higher-speed electric motors, effi- ile barrier and isolates it from the Space Systems International, Inc.
ciency is greatly improved if a very thin, harsh external motor environment. One Hamilton Road
non-metallic barrier can be utilized. The use of a non-metallic barrier great- Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010
The barrier thickness needs to be ly improves motor performance, espe- Phone No.: (860) 654-6000
approximately 0.025-in. (≈0.6-mm) cially at higher speeds, while isolating Refer to MSC-24876-1, volume and num-
thick and can be made of a brittle the electronics from the working fluid ber of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the
material such as glass. The motors, with an inert liner. page number.
however, designed for space applica- This work was done by George M’Sadoques,
tions are typically subject to high-vibra- Michael Carra, and Woody Beringer of
tion environments. Hamilton Sundstrand for Johnson Space

For An Angle Sensor That Works

MicroProbe Small
Around Your Application… Unmanned Aerial
Rotary angle measurement just got
System
better. With Novotechnik’s RFA4000 Goddard Space Flight Center,
Series touchless position sensor you can Greenbelt, Maryland
measure through air or

Go Touchless.
The MicroProbe unmanned aerial sys-
through non-magnetic tem (UAS) concept incorporates twin
materials. Just attach electric motors mounted on the vehicle
a magnetic pick-up to wing, thus enabling an aerodynamically
your rotating application and environmentally clean nose area for
and mount the sensor nearby. atmospheric sensors. A payload bay is also
incorporated in the fuselage to accom-
RFA4000 Series sensors are modate remote sensing instruments.
extremely thin and compact with A key feature of this concept is light-
dimensions of 30x30x7 mm. The weight construction combined with low
sensors are fully encapsulated for flying speeds to minimize kinetic energy
operation in tough environments. and associated hazards, as well as maxi-
mizing spatial resolution. This type of
Other specifications include: • Repeatability of 0.1° aerial platform is needed for Earth sci-
• Electrical measurement range to 360° • 12-bit resolution ence research and environmental moni-
• Unlimited mechanical life • Independent linearity to ±0.5% toring. There were no vehicles of this
• Update rate of 5,000 measurements/s • Single and redundant versions type known to exist previously.
This work was done by Geoffrey Bland and
For complete RFA4000 information, visit www.novotechnik.com/rfa Ted Miles of Goddard Space Flight Center. For
Novotechnik U.S., Inc. more information, download the Technical
155 Northboro Road • Southborough, MA 01772 Support Package (free white paper) at www.
Telephone: 508-485-2244 Fax: 508-485-2430 techbriefs.com/tsp under the Mechanics/
Machinery category. GSC-16206-1

42 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-805 NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
Heat Exchangers for the Mars Science Laboratory Rover
These heat exchangers can be used in any application in which heat loads must be
simultaneously collected and rejected from opposite sides of the same structure.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
The addition of the Multi-Mission or surface of each HX. Since these two another. The HXs were therefore
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator surfaces need to be at very different designed for high in-plane thermal con-
( M M RT G ) t o t h e M a r s S c i e n c e temperatures in order for the fluid ductivity and extremely low through-
Laboratory (MSL) Rover requires an loops to perform efficiently, they need thickness thermal conductivity by using
advanced thermal control system that is to be thermally isolated from one aluminum facesheets and aerogel as
able to both recover and reject the waste
heat from the MMRTG as needed in
order to maintain the onboard electron-
ics at benign temperatures despite the
extreme and widely varying environmen-
tal conditions experienced both on the
way to Mars and on the Martian surface
(See figure).
Based on the previously successful
Mars landed mission thermal control
schemes, a mechanically pumped fluid
loop (MPFL) architecture was selected
as the most robust and efficient means
for meeting the MSL thermal require-
ments. The MSL heat recovery and
rejection system (HRS) is comprised of
two Freon (CFC-11) MPFLs that inter-
act closely with one another to provide
comprehensive thermal management
throughout all mission phases. The first
loop, called the Rover HRS (RHRS),
consists of a set of pumps, thermal con-
trol valves, and heat exchangers (HXs)
that enables the transport of heat from
the MMRTG to the rover electronics
during cold conditions or from the
electronics straight to the environment
for immediate heat rejection during
warm conditions. The second loop,
called the Cruise HRS (CHRS), is ther-
mally coupled to the RHRS during the
cruise to Mars, and provides a means
for dissipating the waste heat more
directly from the MMRTG as well as
from both the cruise stage and rover
avionics by promoting circulation to
the cruise stage radiators.
A multifunctional structure was devel-
oped that is capable of both collecting
waste heat from the MMRTG and reject-
ing the waste heat to the surrounding
environment. It consists of a pair of
honeycomb core sandwich panels with www.heli-cal.com
HRS tubes bonded to both sides. Two 32%R[‡:0F&R\/DQH
similar HX assemblies were designed to 6DQWD0DULD&$
surround the MMRTG on the aft end of ‡)D[
Made in USA
the rover. Heat acquisition is accom- Est. 1958
plished on the interior (MMRTG fac-
ing) surface of each HX while heat
rejection is accomplished on the exteri-

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-806 43

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 Mechanics/Machinery

HX Assemblies

HRS Tubing
MMRTG

Aft Panel

MSL Rover in Stowed Cruise Configuration showing HXs positioned on both sides of finned MMRTG.

insulation inside a composite honey- This work was done by A. J. Mastropietro,

comb core. Complex assemblies of John S. Beatty, Frank P. Kelly, Pradeep
hand-welded and uniquely bent alu- Bhandari, David P. Bame, Yuanming Liu,
minum tubes are bonded onto each Gajanana C. Birur, Jennifer R. Miller, Michael
side of the HX panels, and are specifi- T. Pauken, and Peter M. Illsley of Caltech for
cally designed to be easily mated and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more
demated to the rest of the RHRS in information, contact [email protected].
order to ease the integration effort. NPO-47619

Uniform Dust Distributor for

Testing Radiative Emittance
of Dust-Coated Surfaces
This device could be used in applying uniform amounts
of dust on surfaces to which coatings may be applied.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
This apparatus distributes dust (typi- faces. The uniformity of dust deposition
cal of the Martian surface) in a uniform across all the samples was to be main-
fashion on the surface of multiple sam- tained as additional layers of dust were
ples simultaneously. The primary inno- added. The unique nature of this prob-
vation is that the amount of dust deposit- lem is that the dust deposition was
ed on the multiple surfaces can be con- required to be spatially uniform on each
trolled by the time that the apparatus sample, and deposited equally on all
operates, and each sample will be sub- samples subjected to the dusting process.
ject to the same amount of dust deposi- The dusting device also had to be mov-
tion. The exact weight of dust that is able so that after a dust layer is applied,
added per unit of sample area is deter- the device could be removed and the
mined by the use of slides that can be samples could remain stationary in the
removed sequentially after each dusting. experimental apparatus. In this way, the
The objective was to produce the same dust layer was not disturbed throughout
weight of dust per unit sample area on the course of the experiments.
each of eight samples that were part of The dusting device comprises three
an apparatus that measured the effective parts: an aluminum sample table on
radiative emittance of dust-coated sur- which the samples are placed, a Plexiglas

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 aerator tube that contains a fan and the
dust aerator, and a chamber top for con-
tainment. The table supports the cham-
ber top and the aerator tube as dusting
is performed. The tube and the cham-
ber top are removed after each dust
layer is applied.
Test samples are arrayed uniformly
around the table and the hole in the cen-
ter admits the aerator tube and assures
repeatable vertical alignment. A groove
around the periphery of the table allows
repeatable alignment of the chamber top
with the table. Microscope slides are
placed between samples on the table so
that once dusting has been performed,
they can be removed and weighed to
determine the weight of dust per unit
area added to the samples. As additional
dusting is done, additional slides are
removed and weighed so that the amount
of dust that accumulates with multiple
dustings can be determined.
This work was done by Kathryn Miller
Hurlbert of Johnson Space Center, and Larry
C. Witte and D. Keith Hollingsworth of the
University of Houston. For more information,
download the Technical Support Package
(free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
Schematic depiction of the Dusting Apparatus. Dust is placed in central reservoir (orange container).
The impeller on the bottom (blue) creates an air/dust suspension, which rises slowly (red arrows) in the under the Mechanics/Machinery category.
tube surrounding the reservoir. The suspension settles on the coupons (yellow) below. MSC-23944-1

Six-Axis
Force/Torque Sensors

Standard Features
Six Axes of Force/Torque Sensing (Fx Fy Fz Tx Ty Tz) s High Overload Protection
Interfaces for Ethernet, PCI, USB, EtherNet/IP, CAN, and more
Sizes from 17 mm – 250 mm diameter s Custom sensors available
Applications
Product Testing s Biomedical Research s Finger Force Research www.ati-ia.com/ns
Rehabilitation Research s Robotics 919.772.0115

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-808 45

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METALS & Materials & Coatings
MATERIALS
small
quantities Highly Stable and Active Catalyst
for Sabatier Reactions
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Highly active Ru/TiO2 catalysts for lyst made from commercial Degussa cata-
Sabatier reaction have been developed. lyst. Also, bimetallic Ru-Rh/TiO2 catalysts
The catalysts have shown to be stable show high activity at high throughput.
under repeated shutting down/startup This work was done by Jianli Hu and
conditions. When the Ru/TiO2 catalyst is Kriston P. Brooks of Battelle Memorial
coated on the engineered substrate Institute for Johnson Space Center. For further
FeCrAlY felt, activity enhancement is information, contact the JSC Innovation
more than doubled when compared with Partnerships Office at (281) 483-3809.
an identically prepared engineered cata- MSC-24299-1

Better Proton-Conducting Polymers

for Fuel-Cell Membranes
Metals, ceramics, These materials could function while hotter and drier.
polymers and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
composites Polyoxyphenylene triazole sulfonic electrolyte membranes in hydrogen/air
acid has been proposed as a basis for fuel cells. Heretofore, the proton-con-
development of improved proton-con- ducting membrane materials of choice
– from the ordinary ducting polymeric materials for solid- have been exemplified by a family of
to the extraordinary –

in an extremely
wide range of forms N
N

O
For standard items HO3S
SO3H

www.goodfellowusa.com
X N
N
N
n
For special requests
[email protected] 1: X = O
2: X = C(CH3)2

O
To speak to a real, O S

live person, call O n

1-800-821-2870 O
N SO3H
m N
N
3

These Three Generic Molecular Structures are representative of the proposed polyoxyphenylene tria-
Serving science zole sulfonic acid-based compounds. The subscripts m and n denote integers. These compounds as
denoted by their full names are (1) poly[(1H-1,2,3-triazole-1,4-diyl)-co-(oxyphenylenesulfonic acid)],
and industry since 1967 (2) poly[(1H-1,2,3-triazole-1,4-diyl)-co-bisphenylenesulfonic acid)-co-(oxyphenylenesulfonic acid)],
and (3) poly[(oxyphenylenesulfone)-graft-1-(1H-1,2,3-triazole-1,4-diyl)-1-poly(ethylene oxide)-4-
© 2008 Goodfellow Corporation benzenesulfonic acid)].

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-809 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers groups on the polymer backbones. Laboratory. For more information, contact
(Nafion7 or equivalent). These materi- Hence, the proposed polymers are [email protected].
als are suitable for operation in the tem- expected to conduct protons under In accordance with Public Law 96-517,
perature of 75 to 85 °C, but in order to anhydrous as well as hydrous conditions. the contractor has elected to retain title to this
reduce the sizes and/or increase the The figure depicts generic molecular invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its
energy-conversion efficiencies of fuel- structures of three types of compounds commercial use should be addressed to:
cell systems, it would be desirable to according to the proposal. These com- Innovative Technology Assets Management
increase temperatures to as high as 120 pounds could be synthesized from com- JPL
°C for transportation applications, and mercially available starting compounds Mail Stop 202-233
to as high as 180 °C for stationary appli- and/or from intermediate compounds 4800 Oak Grove Drive
cations. However, at 120 °C and at rela- that can be synthesized from commercial- Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
tive humidity values below 50 percent, ly available starting compounds. E-mail: [email protected]
the loss of water from perfluorosulfonic This work was done by Sri Narayan of Refer to NPO-44760, volume and num-
acid-based polymer membranes results Caltech and Prakash Reddy of the University of ber of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and
in fuel-cell power densities too low to be Missouri-Rola for NASA’s Jet Propulsion the page number.
of practical value. Therefore, mem-
brane electrolyte materials that have
usefully high proton conductivity in the

LASERS
temperature range of 180 °C at low rel-
ative humidity and that do not rely on
water for proton conduction at 180 °C
would be desirable.
The proposed polyoxyphenylene tria-
zole sulfonic acid-based materials have

ON TARGET
been conjectured to have these desir-
able properties. These materials would
be free of volatile or mobile acid con-
stituents. The generic molecular struc-
ture of these materials is intended to
exploit the fact, demonstrated in previ-
ous research, that materials that contain
ionizable acid and base groups covalent-
ly attached to thermally stable polymer
backbones exhibit proton conduction
even in the anhydrous state.
The sulfonic acid group in poly-
oxyphenylene triazole sulfonic acid is a
strong acid capable of generating pro-
tons when presented with a suitable base.
The triazole moiety offers at least three Powered by Evans Hybrid Capacitors
base sites for protonation. The poly-
Airborne lasers require capacitors that are powerful, rugged, reliable and energy-dense.
oxyphenylene backbone is endowed with
excellent thermal stability, as evidenced That’s why Evanscap Hybrid Capacitors power targeting lasers like JSF E-OTS,
by the numerous engineering polymers,
incorporating this and related back- SNIPER and LIGHTNING. Compact and powerful driver modules using Evans Hybrids
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peratures up to 300 °C. Also, polymers
that have similar backbones [poly(ary- Hermetic and exceptionally compact, Evanscap Hybrids have low ESR, with an
lene ether ether ketone) and poly(ary- operating temperature range of –55°C to 125°C. Available in a wide range of capacitance
lene ether sulfone)] have been reported
ratings and package styles in 10V to 125V. Up to 2 joules/cc and 0.5 joules/g.
to be electrochemically stable. Hence,
the proposed polymers are expected to Typical laser driver
Tech specs and pricing at www.evanscap.com
exhibit high thermal and electrochemi- with Evans Hybrid power.
cal stability.
Below the boiling temperature of
water, the proposed materials could
absorb and retain water and could con-
duct protons by means of the same phys- The Evans Capacitor Company
ical mechanisms as those of prior mem- Photo courtesy of Power when you need it
brane electrolyte materials that rely on Analog Modules
water. Above the boiling temperature of 72 Boyd Avenue • East Providence, RI 02914 USA
water, membranes become dehydrated, 401.435.3555 • Fax 401.435.3558 • [email protected]
but membranes made of the proposed
materials could still conduct protons by
transfer between the acid and base www.evanscap.com
NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-810 47

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 Physical Sciences

SOFIA Closed- and Open-Door Aerodynamic Analyses

A series of important evaluations are completed.
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California
Work to evaluate the aerodynamic tics of the modified 747SP airplane in existing aerodynamic models to create
characteristics and the cavity acoustic closed-door and open-door configura- aerodynamic models for various air-
environment of the SOFIA (Strato- tions. Parameter identification maneu- plane configurations. Any differences
spheric Observatory for Infrared Astro- vers were designed and then performed between configurations were examined.
nomy) airplane has been completed. during closed and open door flight tests. Air data calibration maneuvers were
The airplane has been evaluated in its Parameter estimation data analysis tech- also flown and calibrations were devel-
closed-door configuration, as well as niques were used in conjunction with oped for the various air data systems,
several open-door configura-
tions (see figure). Work per-
formed included: acoustic
analysis tool development, cavi-
ty acoustic evaluation, stability
and control parameter estima-
tion, air data calibration, and
external flow evaluation.
Cavity acoustics were evaluat-
ed using measured pressure
data. Of primary interest were
sound pressure levels and
frequency response curves.
Analysis tools were primarily
written for MATLAB. Several
tools were developed to allow
rapid analysis of acoustic data,
giving engineers the ability to
calculate and examine results
from acoustic sensors in and
around the telescope cavity. A
batch analysis capability was
created so that analysts could
process data from an entire
flight with one command.
Significant effort was put
into completing the evaluation
of the aerodynamic characteris- Photo of 747SP SOFIA Airplane undergoing tests in an open-door configuration.

.ANOPOSITIONING  0HOTONICS !LIGNMENT 3OLUTIONS

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48 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-811 NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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including the airplane pitot static sys- plane. This video was analyzed for vari-
tem and a Flush Air Data Sensing ous flight conditions, and general flow
(FADS) system. Results were compared descriptions of the aft fuselage of the
for different door configurations, to 747SP were developed for the different
determine if door position affected air closed and open door configurations.
data measurements. This work was done by Stephen Cumming,
Qualitative airflow data were obtained Mike Frederick, and Mark Smith of
during the closed- and open-door flights Dryden Flight Research Center. For further
using tufts on the aft portion of the fuse-
lage. Video was taken from a chase
information, contact Yvonne D. Gibbs at
[email protected]. DRC-010-016
WORLD LEADING
IN NON-CONTACT
WORLD LEADING
MEASUREMENT
IN NON-CONTACT
Ultra-Miniature Lidar Scanner for
MEASUREMENT
CONFOCAL
Launch Range Data Collection
CHROMATIC
New scanning technology promises at least a 10× performance
CONFOCAL
improvement. SENSORS
John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida CHROMATIC
ƒ Nanometre resolution

The most critical component in lidar is direction of the light beam delivered by SENSORS
ƒ Tiny, constant measuring spot 7μm
its laser scanner, which delivers pulsed or the single fiber is controlled by two ƒ Nanometre resolution
Any target even glass
CW laser to target with desirable field of piezoelectric drivers mounted orthogo- ƒ Tiny, constantsurfaces
and mirrored measuring spot 7μm
view (FOV). Most existing lidars use a nally on the mounting base of the single ƒƒ One-sided thickness
Any target even glass
rotating or oscillating mirror for scan- fiber to generate a controllable motion measurement
and of transparent
mirrored surfaces
ning, resulting in several drawbacks. of the cantilevered fiber with two materials (e.g. glass)
A lidar scanning technology was devel- degrees of freedom. With proper optics, ƒ One-sided thickness
ƒ Miniature sensors,
measurement of transparent
oped that could achieve very high scan- the directed light beam produces a 90° beam(e.g.
option
materials glass)
ning speed, with an ultra-miniature size bright spot on the object surface. The
and much lighter weight. This technology reflected light energy from this spot is ƒ Miniature sensors,
promises at least a 10× performance collected by multiple optical fibers 90° beam option
improvement in these areas over existing embedded into the outer housing.
lidar scanners. Features of the proposed
ultra-miniature lidar scanner include the
These light collectors form a “fiber
ring.” The time duration between the
BLUE LASER
ability to make the entire scanner <2 mm beginning of the laser pulse and receiv- TRIANGULATION
BLUE LASER
SENSOR
in diameter; very high scanning speed ing pulse (in the case of pulse laser) or
(e.g. 5–20 kHz, in contrast to several hun-
dred Hz in existing scanners); structure
phase difference between emitted and
received signals (in the case of CW laser) TRIANGULATION
ƒ Revolutionary blue-light triangulation
design to meet stringent requirements on
size, weight, power, and compactness for
determines the target distance, based on
time-of-flight principle.
SENSOR
laser for measurement on glowing hot
surfaces (3200F)
ƒ Revolutionary blue-light triangulation
various applications; and the scanning The single-fiber core moves in an ƒ Minimizes laser spot penetration
laser for measurement on glowingonhot
speed and FOV can be altered for obtain- area-fill fashion to produce laser light organic materials
surfaces (3200F) such as human skin
ing high image resolutions of targeted spot sequentially over a target surface,
areas and for diversified uses. and light collectors record the timing ƒƒ Compact
Minimizessensor, withpenetration on
laser spot
integrated electronics
organic materials such as human skin
This technology employs a single- and brightness of these data points in a
ƒƒ Ranges
Compactfrom
sensor, with
mode optical fiber attached to the end pixel-by-pixel fashion. The signal receiv-
20 to1000mm
integrated electronics
of a mini tube made of piezoelectric er, piezo controller, and the laser source
material. The two-degrees-of-freedom are all connected to the distal end via ƒ Ranges from
(DOF) piezo tube is driven at the first flexible fiber/wire bundle with diameter 20 to1000mm
mode of mechanical resonance frequen- less than one millimeter. A control com-
cy of the fixed-free cantilevered fiber. puter is used to control the piezo driver
The gain of mechanical resonance motion, laser timing and intensity,
allows a small vibration at the tip of the returned signal processing, and 3D data
piezo tube to be amplified several hun- construction and visualization.
dred times to vibrate the tip of the opti- This work was done by Jason Geng of
cal fiber. The laser beam is delivered Xigen LLC under the Small Business
through the single-mode fiber and the Innovation Research Program for Kennedy
vibrating fiber at high resonance fre- Space Center. For more information, down- www.micro-epsilon.com
quency (e.g., 5–20 kHz), and generates load the Technical Support Package (free
MICRO-EPSILON
scanning patterns with desirable FOV. white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
A laser beam is delivered via the single under the Physical Sciences category. www.micro-epsilon.com
Raleigh, NC 27617 / USA
Phone +1/919 787 9707
fiber core to the target surface. The KSC-13570
[email protected]

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 Physical Sciences

CCD Camera Lens Interface for Real-Time Theodolite Alignment

The lens simulates the human eye and creates an improved way to align a system.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Theodolites are a common instru- theodolite, but this technique limited the simultaneously. This technology removes
ment in the testing, alignment, and ability to achieve proper focus of the a substantial part of human error by rely-
building of various systems ranging from theodolite because it did not properly ing on the CCD camera and monitors. It
a single optical component to an entire simulate the human eye, and therefore also allows image recording of the align-
instrument. They provide a precise way introduced error. ment, and therefore provides a quantita-
to measure horizontal and vertical This technology minimizes time tive means to measure such error.
angles. They can be used to align multi- required to align a system with a Leica This method allows a fast and accurate
ple objects in a desired way at specific WildT3000 Theodolite or multiple method of alignment and minimizes the
angles. They can also be used to refer- theodolites. The secondary objective was need for multiple individuals to perform
ence a specific location or orientation of to allow a single individual to align a sin- alignment of multiple theodolites. It also
an object that has moved. Some systems gle coupled system to multiple theodo- eliminates the need to look through the
may require a small margin of error in lites, simultaneously, in real time. This eyepiece of the theodolite, thus eliminat-
position of components. A theodolite technology mounts a CCD camera with a ing the chance of eye injury when dealing
can assist with accurately measuring lens at the theodolite eyepiece. This sim- with high-intensity light sources. This
and/or minimizing that error. ulates the human eye and creates an method allows the ability to place the
Previously, when aligning a system with improved way to align a system with the theodolite in constrained locations that
a theodolite, it required the user to use theodolite by increasing accuracy and someone using the traditional human eye
their unaided eye with the theodolite eye- adding the ability to record alignment technique could not do.
piece. When viewing the alignment quantitatively. This work was done by Shane Wake and V.
through the eyepiece, the user could The technology is an adapter for a CCD Stanley Scott, III of Goddard Space Flight
induce human error by how well they camera with lens to attach to a Leica Wild Center. For more information, download the
could see the alignment indicators. Other T3000 Theodolite eyepiece that enables Technical Support Package (free white paper)
attempts have used a bare CCD (charge viewing on a connected monitor, and thus at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical
coupled device) array attached to the can be utilized with multiple theodolites Sciences category. GSC-16175-1

Peregrine 100-km Sounding Rocket Project

The objective is to design, build, test, and fly a stable, efficient liquefying fuel hybrid rocket.
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
The Peregrine Sounding Rocket Design Review (CDR), and Integrated This research group began studying
Program is a joint basic research pro- Test Readiness Review (ITRR) for liquifying hybrid rocket fuel technology
gram of NASA Ames Research Center, ground test facility at NASA Ames more than a decade ago. The overall
NASA Wallops, Stanford University, and Research Center; goal of the research was to gain a better
the Space Propulsion Group, Inc. • Completed subsystem testing for flight understanding of the fundamental
(SPG). The goal is to determine the weight main oxidizer valve, throttle sys- physics of the liquid layer entrainment
applicability of this technology to a small tem, helium pressurization system, process responsible for the large
launch system. The approach is to ignition system, and thrust structure; increase in regression rate observed in
design, build, and fly a stable, efficient • Completed facility integrated test these fuels, and to demonstrate the
liquefying fuel hybrid rocket vehicle to series including five cold-flow tests, effect of increased regression rate on
an altitude of 100 km. The program was two with live igniters, and three hot- hybrid rocket motor performance. At
kicked off in October of 2006 and has fire tests; the time of this reporting, more than
seen considerable progress in the subse- • Successfully fired motor ten times, 400 motor tests were conducted with a
quent 18 months. including one full duration burn dur- variety of oxidizers (N2O, GOx, LOx) at
Within this period significant progress ing 1st phase of ground testing. ever increasing scales with thrust levels
was made, including: While this was a significant progress from 5 to over 15,000 pounds (22 N to
• Successfully completed Conceptual by any measure, the project suffered a over 66 kN) in order to move this tech-
Design Review (CoDR) and Preliminary schedule setback due to the July 2007 nology from the laboratory to practical
Design Review (PDR) for flight vehicle explosion at the Scaled Composites test applications.
capable of 100-km altitude; site involving nitrous oxide. A thor- The Peregrine program is the natural
• Designed and fabricated flight-weight ough review of the system design and next step in this development. A num-
combustion chamber, main oxidizer valve, nitrous oxide operational procedures ber of small sounding rockets with diam-
throttle system, and thrust structure; was undertaken and several changes eters of 3, 4, and 6 in. (7.6, 10.2, and
• Successfully completed CoDR, prelimi- have been implemented to increase 15.2 cm) have been flown, but Peregrine
nary design review (PDR), Critical human safety. at a diameter of 15 in. (38.1 cm) and

50 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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14,000-lb (62.3-kN) thrust is by far the • Demonstrate motor throttling in This work was done by Gregory Zilliac of
largest system ever attempted and will be ground test. Ames Research Center. For more information,
one of the largest hybrids ever flown. • Fabricate the sounding rocket sys- download the Technical Support Package
Successful Peregrine flights will set the tem, transport it to the NASA (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
stage for a wide range of applications of Wallops facility, and launch a payload under the Physical Sciences category.
this technology. The metrics of the pro- to 100 km using paraffin and N2O as Inquiries concerning rights for commercial
gram are: the propellants. use of this invention should be addressed to
• Demonstrate satisfactory motor per- • Demonstrate operational efficiency at the Ames Technology Partnerships Division at
formance in ground test. the Wallops launch site. (650) 604-5761. Refer to ARC-16240-1.

Sonic Thermometer for High-Altitude Balloons

A stand-alone version of the sensor would have utility as a gas composition sensor
in industrial process situations.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
The sonic thermometer is a specialized application of well- The supporting sensor used for gas composition/molecular
known sonic anemometer technology. Adaptations have weight/gamma measurement is built as an integral part of the
been made to the circuit, including the addition of support- sonic thermometer circuitry, and consists of a pair of simple semi-
ing sensors, which enable its use in the high-altitude environ- conductor sensors. During measurements, a gas composition
ment and in non-air gas mixtures. measurement is made at the same time as a speed of sound meas-
There is a need to measure gas temperatures inside and urement is made by the sonic thermometer. Thus, each measure-
outside of super-pressure balloons that are flown at high ment has its own gas composition data associated with it,
altitudes. These measurements will allow the performance enabling a precise temperature computation to be completed.
of the balloon to be modeled more accurately, leading This work was done by John Bognar of Anasphere for Goddard
to better flight performance. Small thermistors (solid- Space Flight Center. For more information, download the Technical
state temperature sensors) have been used for this general Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
purpose, and for temperature measurements on radioson- under the Physical Sciences category. GSC-16104-1
des. A disadvantage to thermistors and other physical (as
distinct from sonic) temperature sensors is that they are
subject to solar heating errors when they are exposed to the
Sun, and this leads to issues with their use in a very high-
altitude environment.
While sonic anemometers and thermometers are com-
monly encountered in surface-based applications, they are
not found in a high-altitude [e.g., 100,000 ft (≈30.5 km) and
above] environment. One reason for this is the very thin air
and correspondingly poor sound propagation encountered
at these altitudes. A second issue is that the gas temperature
inside the balloon is required. Aside from mounting consid-
erations, this also leads to a need to operate correctly in a
helium or helium/air gas mixture. The gas composition
must be known via some means in order to compute accu-
rate temperatures.
To make accurate sonic temperature measurements, the
mean molecular weight of the gas the sensor is working in
must be known, as must the value for gamma (the ratio of
gas heat capacity at constant pressure divided by gas heat
capacity at constant volume) for that gas. Therefore, a sup-
porting measurement is required that directly or indirectly
allows gas composition and gamma to be determined.
With this data, the speed of sound as measured by the
sonic thermometer can then be used to compute an accu-
rate temperature.
The key addition to the basic sonic thermometer design
was a sensor that, in this case, measured gas heat capacity at
constant pressure. This data could then be used to identify
the gas mixture composition (ranging from pure helium to
pure air), and with that data both mean gas molecular
weight and gamma could be computed. In turn, this data is
required for the temperature calculation.

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-813 51

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 Information Sciences

Explanation Capabilities for Behavior-Based Robot Control

This mathematical framework can be applied to search and rescue or remote exploration
robotic systems.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
A recent study that evaluated issues
associated with remote interaction with an Inertial
autonomous vehicle within the frame- Stereo Images Navigation
System A B
work of grounding found that missing
Example:
contextual information led to uncertainty Head-on Approach
in the interpretation of collected data,
and so introduced errors into the com-
mand logic of the vehicle. As the vehicles
became more autonomous through the Relative Separation Hazard Path
activation of additional capabilities, more Bearing Distance Present Delta
errors were made. This is an inefficient
use of the platform, since the behavior of
remotely located autonomous vehicles Pass Maintain Avoid Stay on
to Port Lateral Hazard Transit
didn’t coincide with the “mental models”
Separation
of human operators.
One of the conclusions of the study was
that there should be a way for the
Behavior Arbitration
autonomous vehicles to describe what 18
action they choose and why. Robotic
agents with enough self-awareness to Set Set
dynamically adjust the information con- Rudder Throttle
-55
veyed back to the Operations Center
based on a detail level component analysis Behavior Perception
of requests could provide this description Input
capability. One way to accomplish this is to
Perception Engine Behavior Network
map the behavior base of the robot into a
formal mathematical framework called a Parallel Composition Operator
cost-calculus. A cost-calculus uses compo- USV (A): Maintain separation || Pass to port ||Avoid Hazards || Stay on transit
sition operators to build up sequences of UNK (B): Maintain separation || Pass to port || ε || ε
behaviors that can then be compared to
what is observed using well-known infer- An example of the Inference Mechanism in a Rules-of-the-Road behavior shows two boats approach-
ence mechanisms. ing each other head-on. The left side shows the sensory inputs that are needed by the behaviors that
The explanation system is broken up are competing with each other to control the actuators. The right side shows the behavior network
with four behaviors fed into the Arbitration module to produce the settings for the rudder (heading)
into three subsystems that address the and throttle (speed) of the vehicle. Mapping of the behavior network to an equivalent cost-calculus
principal developments needed: expression is shown at the bottom.
1. An inference mechanism for the map-
ping of observed behaviors into the terns is used for the common ground- operator if the human/machine
cost-calculus: The observation equiva- ing of behaviors sequences that were interface (HMI) has a detail level of
lence of behaviors on a single auto- not previously observed, or that are request capability.
nomous agent and between two or in the command dictionary of the This work was done by Terrance L.
more agents is done through bi-simu- autonomous agent. Huntsberger of Caltech for NASA’s Jet
lation relations. An example of the 3. Explanation capabilities for the sys- Propulsion Laboratory. For more information,
inference mechanism at work in a tem: A dynamic decision tree decom- download the Technical Support Package
Rules-of-the-Road behavior is shown position of the observed behaviors is (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
in the figure. used to generate a set of rules for under the Information Sciences category.
2. A learning mechanism for the cost- explanation. An adaptive level of The software used in this innovation is
expression generation for observed detail is automatically built into this available for commercial licensing. Please con-
behaviors outside of the cost-calculus process in that all of the sensory infor- tact Daniel Broderick of the California Institute
tactical behavior base: Reinforcement mation that led to a behavior is avail- of Technology at [email protected]. Refer to
learning of observed behavior pat- able, and can be conveyed to the NPO-46864.

52 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Upcoming...
Webinars

Particle Tracing with COMSOL Multiphysics

Live Presentation – Thursday, January 12, 2012, 2:00 PM ET
Particle tracing allows for a different class of problems to be solved which cannot be handled by the finite element method.
This webinar introduces you to how to apply particle tracing to applications such as flow visualization, mixing, spraying, particle
separation, mass spectrometry, ion optics, beam physics, computing the ion energy distribution function, acoustic streaming, and
ray tracing.

Presenter:
Dan Smith
Development Team Leader
COMSOL, Inc.

This 60-minute webinar includes:

• Live Q&A session • Application Demo • Access to archived event on demand

Please visit www.techbriefs.com/webinar75

Advanced Thermal Management Technologies

for Medical Devices
Live Presentation – Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 2:00 PM ET
In an increasing number of medical device applications, inadequate thermal management limits the overall performance and reliabili-
ty of the system.
This presentation will provide design engineers, whether in the medical device or other industries, with a better understanding of the
operation and implementation of heat pipes, vapor chambers, phase change materials, and related technologies.

Presenters:
Pete Ritt Richard Bonner
Vice President of Technical Services Manager of Custom Products
Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.

This 30-minute webinar includes:

• Live Q&A session • Application Demo • Access to archived event on demand

Please visit www.techbriefs.com/webinar76

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 Information Sciences

Shape and Color Features for Object Recognition Search

This technique can be used in Internet image searching, intelligent video, and security and
surveillance applications.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
A bio-inspired shape feature of an may expose its difficulties. To enable This work was done by Tuan A. Duong
object of interest emulates the integra- the effective system, an adaptive archi- and Vu A. Duong of Caltech, and Allen R.
tion of the saccadic eye movement and tecture and autonomous mechanism Stubberud of UCI for NASA’s Jet Propulsion
horizontal layer in vertebrate retina for were developed to recognize and adapt Laboratory. For more information, contact
object recognition search where a sin- the shape and color feature of the mov- [email protected].
gle object can be used one at a time. ing object. In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the
The optimal computational model for The bio-inspired object recognition contractor has elected to retain title to this inven-
shape-extraction-based principal com- based on bio-inspired shape and color tion. Inquiries concerning rights for its commer-
ponent analysis (PCA) was also devel- can be effective to recognize a person of cial use should be addressed to:
oped to reduce processing time and interest in the heterogeneous environ- Innovative Technology Assets Management
enable the real-time adaptive system ment where the single technique JPL
capability. A color feature of the object exposed its difficulties to perform effec- Mail Stop 202-233
is employed as color segmentation to tive recognition. Moreover, this work 4800 Oak Grove Drive
empower the shape feature recogni- also demonstrates the mechanism and Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
tion to solve the object recognition in architecture of the autonomous adap- E-mail: [email protected]
the heterogeneous environment where tive system to enable the realistic system Refer to NPO-47065, volume and number of this
a single technique — shape or color — for the practical use in the future. NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.

Feature Adaptive
Detection Feature
t

Image t+Δt
t t+Δt

Feature
Extraction
t

Object t+Δt
identification/Region
of interest

Color Detection

t+Δt
t t
Image t

Adaptive Color Adaptive Color

The Color and Shape Feature Feedback Adaptive architecture.

54 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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A DNA-Inspired Encryption Methodology for Secure,
Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
An encryption mechanism uses the principles of DNA replication and steganography.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Users are pushing for greater physical sage encoding, replication, and evolution approach, potential intruders must con-
mobility with their network and Internet and fitness. In evolutionary biology, fit- tinually intercept decoding instructions
access. Mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) ness is a characteristic that relates to the between source and destination. Missing
can provide an efficient mobile network number of offspring produced from a one generation of genome decryption
architecture, but security is a key concern. given genome. From a population genet- information seriously corrupts the decryp-
The figure summarizes differences in the ics point of view, the relative fitness of tion process. Missing multiple genera-
state of network security for MANET and the mutant depends upon the number of tions eventually renders previous decryp-
fixed networks. MANETs require the abil- descendants per wild-type descendant. In tion analyses useless. Potential attackers
ity to distinguish trusted peers, and toler- evolutionary computing, a fitness algo- are likely to be unable to continuously
ate the ingress/egress of nodes on an rithm determines whether candidate solu- intercept all traffic. The genome becomes
unscheduled basis. Because the networks tions, in this case encrypted messages, are more fit relative to cryptographic analyses.
by their very nature are mobile and self- sufficiently encrypted to be transmitted. Furthermore, DNA provides a convenient
organizing, use of a Public Key Infra- The technology provides a mechanism molecule to establish a new type of phy-
structure (PKI), X.509 certificates, RSA, for confidential electronic traffic over a sical layer encryption through which
and nonce exchanges becomes problem- MANET without a PKI for authenticating encryption codes are instantiated through
atic if the ideal of MANET is to be users. Users may enter and leave a net- biochemical means and read back or
achieved. Molecular biology models such work at will. Users may alternate between modified by biochemical means. Such
as DNA evolution can provide a basis for a trusted, untrusted, unknown, and mali- encryption models provide “Security by
proprietary security architecture that cious behavior. Existing mobile networks Obscurity.”
achieves high degrees of diffusion and rely on PKI-provided certificates and pub- Areas of interest include proprietary
confusion, and resistance to cryptanalysis. lic encryption standards such as AES secure virtual private MANETs, military
A proprietary encryption mechanism was (Advanced Encryption Standard). These MANETs, mobile-commercial MANETs,
developed that uses the principles of DNA are public standards, subject to continu- covert surveillance and tracking of goods,
replication and steganography (hidden ous scrutiny for methods of attacking the and commercial surveillance and tracking
word cryptography) for confidentiality underlying basis of security. of goods.
and authentication. The foundation of The DNA-inspired approach uses a rap- This work was done by Harry Shaw of
the approach includes organization of idly evolving genome to resist crypto- Goddard Space Flight Center. For more in-
coded words and messages using base graphic analyses. It produces one-way formation, download the Technical Support
pairs organized into genes, an expand- (encryption only) and two-way (encryp- Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.
able genome consisting of DNA-based tion/decryption) codes. Because of the com/tsp under the Information Sciences
chromosome keys, and a DNA-based mes- dynamic, evolutionary nature of this category. GSC-15374-1

MANET Fixed Networks

Emerging protocols and approaches for Established public key infrastructure

authentication and access control authentication and access control protocols

MANET versus fixed network security.

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 www.techbriefs.com 55

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 Books & Reports

ing requirements, because there is no continuously introduced and removed

Corner-Cube Retroreflector dependence on total internal reflection, from the gas flow, and thus can never
Instrument for Advanced which can fail off-axis. become clogged.
Lunar Laser Ranging This work was done by Slava G. Turyshev, Experiments determined that ESIEP
A paper describes how, based on a William M. Folkner, Gary M. Gutt, James G. can collect particles with efficiencies as
structural-thermal-optical-per form- Williams, Ruwan P. Somawardhana, and high as or higher than traditional coro-
ance analysis, it has been determined Richard T. Baran of Caltech for NASA’s Jet na-based EP, owing to the higher speci-
that a single, large, hollow corner cube Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, ficity of charging and higher levels of
(170-mm outer diameter) with custom download the Technical Support Package charge deposited on particles by the
dihedral angles offers a return signal (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp droplets. Removal rates of 95–99 per-
comparable to the Apollo 11 and 14 under the Physical Sciences category. cent and greater are typically observed,
solid-corner-cube arrays (each consist- NPO-47489 even at moderate gas flow rates — all
ing of 100 small, solid corner cubes), without the generation of ozone due to
with negligible pulse spread and much corona discharge.
lower mass. The design of the corner This work was done by Joseph Bango and
cube, and its surrounding mounting Electrospray Collection Michael Dziekan of Connecticut Analytical
and casing, is driven by the thermal of Lunar Dust Corp. for Glenn Research Center. For more
environment on the lunar surface, A report describes ElectroSpray Ion- information, download the Technical
which is subject to significant tempera- ization based Electrostatic Precipitation Support Package (free white paper) at
ture variations (in the range between (ESIEP) for collecting lunar dust parti- www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical
70 and 390 K). Therefore, the corner cles. While some HEPA filtration pro- Sciences category.
cube is enclosed in an insulated con- cesses may remove a higher fraction Inquiries concerning rights for the commer-
tainer open at one end; a narrow-band- (>99.9 percent) of the particles, the high cial use of this invention should be addressed
pass solar filter is used to reduce the efficiency may not be appropriate from to NASA Glenn Research Center, Innovative
solar energy that enters the open end an overall system standpoint, especially Partnerships Office, Attn: Steven Fedor,
during the lunar day, achieving a near- in light of the relatively large power Mail Stop 4–8, 21000 Brookpark Road,
ly uniform temperature inside the con- requirement that such systems demand. Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Refer to LEW-
tainer. Also, the materials and adhesive The new electrospray particle capture 18629-1.
techniques that will be used for this technology (inspired by the late Nobel
corner-cube reflector must have appro- Laureate Dr. John B. Fenn) is described
priate thermal and mechanical charac- as a variant of electrostatic precipitation
teristics (e.g., silica or beryllium for the that eliminates the current drawbacks of Fabrication of a Kilopixel
cube and aluminum for the casing) to electrostatic precipitation. The new Array of Superconducting
further reduce the impact of the ther- approach replaces corona prone field Microcalorimeters With
mal environment on the instrument’s with a mist of highly charged micro- Microstripline Wiring
performance. droplets generated by electrospray ion- A document describes the fabrication
The instrument would consist of a sin- ization (ESI) as the mechanism by which of a two-dimensional microcalorimeter
gle, open corner cube protected by a incoming particles are attracted and array that uses microstrip wiring and
separate solar filter, and mounted in a captured. In electrospray, a miniscule integrated heat sinking to enable use of
cylindrical or spherical case. A major flow rate (microliters/minute) of liquid high-performance pixel designs at kilo-
goal in the design of a new lunar rang- (typically water and a small amount of pixel scales (32×32). Each pixel is the
ing system is a measurement accuracy salt to enhance conductivity) is fed from high-resolution design employed in
improvement to better than 1 mm by the tip of a needle held at a high voltage small-array test devices, which consist of
reducing the pulse spread due to orien- potential relative to an opposite counter a Mo/Au TES (transition edge sensor)
tation. While achieving this goal, it was electrode. At sufficient field strength, a on a silicon nitride membrane and an
desired to keep the intensity of the sharp liquid meniscus forms (known as a electroplated Bi/Au absorber. The pixel
return beam at least as bright as the so-called “Taylor Cone”), which emits a pitch within the array is 300 microns,
Apollo 100-corner-cube arrays. These jet of highly charged droplets that drift where absorbers 290 microns on a side
goals are met in this design by increasing through the surrounding gas and are are cantilevered over a silicon support
the optical aperture of a single corner collected on the walls of a conductive grid with 100-micron-wide beams. The
cube to approximately 170 mm outer tube. Particles in the gas have a high high-density wiring and heat sinking are
diameter. This use of an “open” corner probability of contact with the droplets both carried by the silicon beams to the
cube allows the selection of corner cube either by adhering to the droplets or edge of the array. All pixels are wired out
materials to be based primarily on ther- otherwise acquiring a high level of to the array edge.
mal considerations, with no require- charge, causing them to be captured on ECR (electron cyclotron resonance)
ments on optical transparency. Such a the collecting electrode as well. The oxide underlayer is deposited under-
corner cube also allows for easier point- spray acts as a filtration material that is (Continued on page 61)

56 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Product of the Month
OriginLab Corp., Northampton, MA, has released Origin and OriginPro version 8.6 graphing and data analysis
software that is available in a native 64-bit version. New features include increased data storage and “gadgets” that
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OriginPro includes all Origin new features, in addition to advanced statistical tools in the area of principal compo-
nent analysis, and cluster and discriminant analysis. More normality test methods also have been added.
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Product Focus: Imaging/Cameras/Displays

Frame Grabber Area Scan Cameras

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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-814 57

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 CameraLink Translators Pulse Control Module
Vivid Engineering, Shrewsbury, OMEGA Engineering, Stamford, CT, offers
MA, offers the CLT-302R and CLT- the PCM5 series pulse control module that con-
302L CameraLink translators that verts a 4 to 20 mA signal from a process/tem-
enable the use of RS-422 and LVDS perature controller or computer to a time pro-
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Atomizing Nozzles
Graphics Capture Card The Lee Company, Westbrook, CT, has
Matrox Imaging, Dorval, QE, Canada, offers the Matrox Orion HD released atomizing nozzles in both airless
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Super HAD ICX655 CCD sensor, 2448 × MEMSIC, Andover, MA, offers the MX6226XV
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Upcoming...
Webinar
High-Fidelity Physical Modeling for
Aerospace Mechatronics Applications
Live Presentation – Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 2:00 pm ET
This webinar focuses on new modeling techniques and tools for rapidly creating high-fidelity plant models for advanced appli-
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An introduction to fundamental symbolic techniques to model formulation will be discussed, along with how to create efficient multi-
body plant models, generate real-time code, and perform complex analysis such as inverse kinematic equation derivation.
Case studies including a gimbal model, a model of a quadrotor, and a planetary rover will be presented.

Presenters:
Paul Goossens Dr. Orang Vaid
VP of Application Engineering Application Engineer
Maplesoft Maplesoft

Please visit www.techbriefs.com/webinar77

58 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 stay
integrates signal-conditioning circuitry, including a digital signal
processor. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-107 connected
Adhesive Preforms
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CAD and CAE Software Hackensack, NJ 07601 USA

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Captive Panel Screws

PEM® C.A.P.S.® captive panel screws
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Data Acquisition Devices

Measurement Computing, Norton, MA,
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Strain Gauge Amplifier

The CSG110 strain gauge signal amplifier from Futek Advanced
Sensor Technology, Irvine, CA, includes reduced outputted noise. A
safeguard in the device protects it from short-circuits, and DIP switch-
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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-816 59

➮
Intro Cov ToC + – A
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 Product Spotlight
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60 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Intro Cov ToC + – A
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 Books & Reports
PEI-GENESIS NOW
(Continued from page 56 ) ues precisely. Results show that precise CONFIGURING
neath the sensor layer. The sensor (TES) attitude tracking can be reached, and EMERSON
layer consists of a superconducting the attitude-control accuracy is compara- NETWORK
underlayer and a normal metal top layer. ble with 3-axis wheel control. POWER
If the sensor is deposited at high temper- This work was done by Zhiqiang Zhou of
PEI-Genesis is now stocking and configuring a broad
ature, the ECR oxide can be vacuum Langley Research Center. For more informa- range of medical-grade power supply solutions from
annealed to improve film smoothness tion, download the Technical Support Package Emerson Network Power in the Americas and
and etch characteristics. (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp Europe. Standard products are available for immedi-
ate delivery; modified standards have a five-day turn-
This process is designed to recover under the Information Sciences category. LAR- around. PEI’s team of power design engineers is
high-resolution, single-pixel x-ray 17862-1 available to help you with the most complex designs.
microcalorimeter performance within www.peigenesis.com/enp1207
arrays of arbitrarily large format. The
critical current limiting parts of the cir- PEI-Genesis
cuit are designed to have simple inter- Coherent Detector for
faces that can be independently verified. Near-Angle Scattering Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-828

The lead-to-TES interface is entirely and Polarization

determined in a single layer that has Characterization of USED
multiple points of interface to maximize Telescope Mirror Coatings LABORATORY
critical current. The lead rails that over- A report discusses the difficulty of meas- EQUIPMENT
lap the TES sensor element contact both uring scattering properties of coated mir- PhotoMachining, Inc. is
rors extremely close to the specular reflec- a contract laser manufac-
the superconducting underlayer and the turer and custom systems
TES normal metal. tion peak. A prototype Optical Hetero- builder. We specialize in
This work was done by James Chervenak of dyne Near-angle Scatterometer (OHNS) laser micromachining
was developed. Light from a long-coher- using lasers from the far IR through the UV. In addi-
Goddard Space Flight Center. For more informa- tion, we sell used, refurbished, and “like new” labora-
tion, download the Technical Support Package ence-length (>150 m) 532-nm laser is tory equipment including lasers, optics, optical hard-
(free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp split into two arms. Acousto-optic modu- ware, electronics, microscopes, etc. Contact
lators frequency shift the sample and ref- [email protected], or phone 603-882-
under the Manufacturing & Prototyping cate- 9944. www.photomachining.com
gory. GSC-15915-1 erence beams, establishing a fixed beat
frequency between the beams. The sam-
PhotoMachining, Inc.
ple beam is directed at very high f/#
onto a mirror sample, and the point Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-827
Spacecraft Attitude spread function (PSF) formed after the
Tracking and Maneuver mirror sample is scanned with a pinhole. MODEL 600
Using Combined This light is recombined by a non-polar- IMAGING SPECTRO-
Magnetic Actuators izing beam splitter and measured PHOTOMETER
A paper describes attitude-control through heterodyne detection with a Color has never been meas-
algorithms using the combination of spectrum analyzer. Polarizers control the ured this precisely. Measure
magnetic actuators with reaction wheel illuminated and analyzed polarization color differences over large
to small measurement areas instead of single points.
assemblies (RWAs) or other types of states, allowing the polarization depend- Measure highly complex patterned and textured sur-
actuators such as thrusters. The combi- ent scatter to be measured. faces with ease. Make 1.2 million spectrophotometer
nation of magnetic actuators with one or The bidirectional reflective or scatter- readings in less than 1 minute. Automatic E calcula-
tion between standard and sample. This single system
two RWAs aligned with different body ing distribution function is normally can be used to measure reflective, transmissive and
axis expands the two-dimensional con- measured through use of a scattering radiated color, as well as color differences. For more
trol torque to three-dimensional. The goniometer instrument. The instrumen- information visit www.imagingspectrophotometer.com
or contact TRICOR Systems Inc.; Tel: 1-847-742-5542;
algorithms can guarantee the spacecraft tal beam width (collection angle span) [email protected]
attitude and rates to track the command- over which the scatterometer responds
is typically many degrees. The OHNS
TRICOR Systems Inc.
ed attitude precisely.
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-829
A design example is presented for enables measurement at angles as small
nadir-pointing, pitch, and yaw maneu- as the first Airy disk diameter.
LOW-COST
vers. The results show that precise atti- This work was done by Steven A. Macenka
RADIOMETRIC
tude tracking can be reached and the of Caltech and Russell A. Chipman, Brian J.
Daugherty, and Stephen C. McClain of the
CAMERA
attitude-control accuracy is comparable
University of Arizona for NASA’s Jet Infrared Cameras Inc. has
with RWA-based attitude control. When introduced exciting prod-
there are only one or two workable Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, ucts. The ICI 7640 a Low-
RWAs due to RWA failures, the attitude- download the Technical Support Package Cost Radiometric Camera for
(free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp Scientific/Medical purposes. Optional integration
control system can switch to the control with micro PC/tablet a handheld device working
algorithms for the combined magnetic under the Physical Sciences category. wirelessly for multiple applications. ICI’s 7612 scien-
actuators with the RWAs without going This invention is owned by NASA, and a tific 640 × 512 InGaAs camera for laser profiling,
patent application has been filed. Inquiries semiconductors, agriculture. ICI’s cameras include
to the safe mode, and the control accu- IR Flash software. www.infraredcamerasinc.com
racy can be maintained. concerning nonexclusive or exclusive license
The attitude-control algorithms of the for its commercial development should be
combined actuators are derived, which addressed to the Patent Counsel, NASA Infrared Cameras Inc.
can guarantee the spacecraft attitude Management Office–JPL. Refer to NPO-
and rates to track the commanded val- 47310. Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-830

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 www.techbriefs.com 61

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 NASA’s Innovative Partnerships w w w . t e c h b r i e f s . c o m
Office (IPO)
Published by .........................................Tech Briefs Media Group
Publisher.....................................................Joseph T. Pramberger
NASA’s R&D efforts produce a robust supply of promising technologies with applications in many indus- Editorial Director ........................................................Linda L. Bell
tries. A key mechanism in identifying commercial applications for this technology is NASA’s national Editor, PTB and Embedded Technology...............Bruce A. Bennett
network of laboratories and business support entities. The network includes ten NASA field centers, Technical/Managing Editor.........................................Ted Selinsky
and a full tie-in with the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer. To explore tech- Technical Writers.........................................................Shirl Phelps
nology transfer, development, and collaboration opportunities with NASA, visit www.ipp.nasa.gov. .........................................................................Nick Lukianoff
Editor, Green Design & Manufacturing ....................Kendra Smith
Editor, Medical Design Briefs .....................................Emily Chang
NASA’s Technology Sources Associate Editor...........................................................Billy Hurley
If you need further information about new technologies presented in NASA Tech Briefs, Production Manager.............................................Adam Santiago
request the Technical Support Package (TSP) indicated at the end of the brief. If a TSP is not Production Manager ................................................Cortney Silva
Innovative
available, the IPO Partnerships
at the NASA Officethat
field center at the NASA field
sponsored center that
the research cansponsored thewith
provide you Art Director ...............................................................Lois Erlacher
research can
additional provide you
information with
and, additional refer
if applicable, information
you to and, if applicable,These
the innovator(s). refer centers
you to the
are the Designer ...........................................................Bernadette Torres
innovator(s).
source These centers aretechnology.
of all NASA-developed the source of all NASA-developed technology. Marketing Director.............................................Debora Rothwell
Ames Research Center Kennedy Space Center Circulation Manager .............................................Marie Claussell
Selected technological strengths: Information Selected technological strengths: Fluids and Circulation/Audience Development Coordinator ....Brandie Denlinger
Technology; Biotechnology; Nanotechnology; Fluid Systems; Materials Evaluation; Process
Aerospace Operations Systems; Rotorcraft; Engineering; Command, Control, and Monitor NASA Tech Briefs are provided by the National Aeronautics
Thermal Protection Systems. Systems; Range Systems; Environmental and Space Administration, Innovative Partnerships Program:
Mary
Lisa L.Walsh
Lockyer Engineering and Management. Administrator...............................................Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
(650) 604-1405
604-1754 David R. Makufka Chief Technologist.......................................................Mason Pack
[email protected]
[email protected] (321) 867-6227 Technology Transfer Program Executive ................Daniel Lockney
[email protected]
Dryden Flight Research Center TECH BRIEFS MEDIA GROUP
Selected technological strengths: 261 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1901, New York, NY 10016
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Aeropropulsion; Flight Systems; Thermal Flight Systems; Materials; Structures; Sensors; Chief Executive Officer ..............................Domenic A. Mucchetti
Testing; Integrated Systems Test and Measurements; Information Sciences. Executive Vice-President.......................................Luke Schnirring
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B. Plentovich Technology Director .............................................Oliver Rockwell
Ron Young
Yvonne D. Gibbs (757) 864-5617
864-2857 Systems Administrator ............................................Albert Sunseri
(661) 276-3741
276-3720 [email protected]
[email protected] Web Developer......................................................Karina Adames
[email protected]
[email protected] Online Content Manager/Web Developer..............Peter Bonavita
Marshall Space Flight Center Digital Media Producer ................................................Phil Abalos
Glenn Research Center Selected technological strengths: Materials; Credit/Collection ......................................................Felecia Lahey
Selected technological strengths: Manufacturing; Nondestructive Evaluation; Accounting/Human Resources Manager.......................Sylvia Ruiz
Aeropropulsion; Communications; Energy Biotechnology; Space Propulsion; Controls and
Technology; High-Temperature Materials Office Manager ...................................................Alfredo Vasquez
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Kathleen (256) 544-7604 NASA TECH BRIEFS ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
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433-2802 [email protected] CT, MA, NH, ME, VT, RI, Eastern Canada ......................Ed Marecki
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[email protected]
......................................................................Tatiana Marecki
Stennis Space Center ...........................................................................at (401) 351-0274
Goddard Space Flight Center Selected technological strengths: Propulsion NJ, PA, DE ..................................................................John Murray
Selected technological strengths: Earth and Systems; Test/Monitoring; Remote Sensing; ...........................................................................at (973) 545-2132
Planetary Science Missions; LIDAR; Cryogenic Nonintrusive Instrumentation. NY ........................................................................Stan Greenfield
Systems; Tracking; Telemetry; Remote Sensing;
Ramona Travis ...........................................................................at (203) 938-2418
Command.
(228) 688-3832 VA, MD, DC, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TN,
Nona Cheeks MS, LA, AR, OK, TX, WV ...........................................Ray Tompkins
[email protected]
(301) 286-5810 ...........................................................................at (281) 313-1004
[email protected] Western NY, OH, MI, IN..........................................Ryan Beckman
National Technology Transfer Center
NASA
DarwinHEADQUARTERS
Molnar
...........................................................................at (973) 409-4687
Jet Propulsion Laboratory MN, ND, SD, WI, IL, KY, MO, KS,
Selected technological strengths: Near/Deep- Wheeling, WV IA, NE, Central Canada .................................................Bob Casey
Daniel Lockney, Technology Transfer
(800) 678-6882
Space Mission Engineering; Microspacecraft; Program Executive ...........................................................................at (847) 223-5225
Space Communications; Information Systems; Northwest, N. Calif., Western Canada.......................Craig Pitcher
(202) 358-2037
Remote Sensing; Robotics. at (408) 778-0300
[email protected]
NASA HEADQUARTERS
Indrani Graczyk
Graczck Bill Hague
(818) 354-2241
354-4906 ...........................................................................at (310) 457-6783
[email protected]
[email protected] Innovative Partnerships
Small Business InnovationProgram
ResearchOffice
(SBIR) & Small CO, UT, MT, WY, ID, NM ...............................................Tim Powers
Doug Comstock,
Business TechnologyDirector
Transfer (STTR) Programs ...........................................................................at (973) 409-4762
Johnson Space Center (202) 358-2221
Carl Ray, Program Executive S. Calif., AZ, NV ...............................................................Tom Boris
Selected technological strengths: Artificial [email protected]
(202) 358-4652 ...........................................................................at (949) 715-7779
Intelligence and Human Computer Interface; [email protected] New Business Managers ........................................Patrick Harvey
Life Sciences; Human Space Flight Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & ...........................................................................at (973) 409-4686
Operations; Avionics; Sensors; Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Angelo Danza
Communications. Programs ...........................................................................at (973) 874-0271
John
DavidE.Leestma
James Carl Ray, Program Executive Michael Barboza
(281) 483-3809 (202) 358-4652 ...........................................................................at (973) 545-2565
[email protected]
[email protected] [email protected] Reprints........................................................................Jill Kaletha
.................................................................at (866) 879-9144, x168

62 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Advertisers Index
For free product literature, enter advertisers’ reader service numbers at www.techbriefs.com/rs, or visit the
Web site listed beneath their ad in this issue.
Advertisers listed in bold-face type have banner ads on the NASA Tech Briefs Web site — www.techbriefs.com

Reader Service Reader Service

Company Number Page Company Number Page
4D Technology ....................................................609 ..........................17a Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH....................812 ............................49
Abrisa Technologies ..........................................600 ..........................16a Miyachi Unitek....................................................755 ............................9a
AFL ......................................................................615 ..........................18a Mouser Electronics, Inc. ....................................776 ....................COV II
Agilent Technologies..........................................783 ..............................9 National Aperture, Inc. ......................................604 ..........................16a
AllMotion, Inc.....................................................786 ............................12 National Instruments..........................................817....................COV IV
ATI Industrial Automation ................................808 ............................45 Newark/element14 ............................................785 ............................11
AutomationDirect ..............................................791 ............................23 Novotechnik........................................................805 ............................42
Avantes ................................................................617 ..........................18a NuSil Technology ..............................................778 ..............................2
Avnet Electronics ................................................792 ............................25 Ocean Optics, Inc. ..............................................804 ............................41
Bird Precision ....................................................818 ............................60 Ocean Thin Films, Inc. ......................................747 ............................1a
c3controls............................................................775 ............................29 OEM Imaging ....................................................612 ..........................17a
Cargille Laboratories, Inc. ................................819 ............................60 OFS | Specialty Photonics Division ....................756 ..........................11a
Cepoint Networks ..............................................820 ............................60 Omega Engineering ........................................777 ............................1
COMSOL, Inc. ................................................782, 821 ..............7, 60 Omicron USA ....................................................801 ............................37
DataRay Inc. ........................................................758 ..........................12a OriginLab Corporation......................................793 ............................27
Dayoptics, Inc. ....................................................601 ..........................16a PEI-Genesis ....................................................828 ..........................61
Deposition Sciences Inc. ....................................749 ............................3a PhotoMachining Inc...........................................827 ............................61
Dewetron Inc. ....................................................789 ............................19 Photon Engineering ..........................................607 ..........................17a
Digi-Key Corporation ........................................779 ..............................3 Photonis USA......................................................748 ............................2a
Dimension ......................................................................................30 PI (Physik Instrumente) LP ..............................811 ............................48
Edmund Optics ..............................................751 ..........................5a Proto Labs, Inc. ..................................................796 ............................31
EMCO High Voltage Corporation ....................611 ..........................17a RedEye RPM....................................................................................30
Enwave Optronics, Inc. ......................................753 ............................8a RF Monolithics, Inc. ..........................................799 ............................35
Evans Capacitor ..................................................810 ............................47 Roithner Lasertechnik GmbH ..........................750 ............................4a
FLIR Commercial Vision Systems....................794 ..........................28 SENSORS Tech Forum ......................................795 ..................COV III
Fluid Metering Inc. ............................................822 ............................60 Siemens PLM Software ......................................788 ............................17
FORTUS 3D Production Systems ....................................................30 Smalley Steel Ring Company ............................807 ............................44
General Polygon Systems ..................................823 ............................60 SolidWorks Corporation ..................................787 ..........................13
Goodfellow Corporation ....................................809 ............................46 Super Micro Computer, Inc.............................790 ..........................21
GPD Optoelectronics Corp. ..............................752 ............................7a Synopsys, Inc., Optical Solutions Group ..........610 ..........................17a
GT Advanced Technologies ..............................757 ..........................11a TAL Technologies Inc. ......................................816 ............................59
HaydonKerk Motion Solutions ........................824 ..........................60 TDK-Lambda Americas Inc. ..............................803 ............................40
Helical Products Co., Inc. ..................................806 ............................43 TRICOR Systems Inc. ........................................829 ............................61
ID Quantique ......................................................603 ..........................16a U-C Components, Inc.........................................614 ..........................18a
Infrared Cameras Inc. ........................................830 ............................61 Vision Research, Inc. ..........................................759, 814 ............13a, 57
Insaco Inc. ..........................................................797 ............................32 Voltage Multipliers Inc. ......................................602 ..........................16a
International Rectifier ....................................798 ..........................34 Wavelength Electronics ......................................616 ..........................18a
KAMAN Corporation ........................................784 ............................10 Xenon Corporation............................................754 ............................8a
Krell Technologies, Inc. ....................................613 ..........................17a yet2.com ................................................................................................33
Krohn-Hite Corporation ....................................825 ............................60 Yokogawa Corporation of America....................802 ............................39
Labsphere, Inc. ..................................................608 ..........................17a
Ride-along enclosed in versions 3 and 4.
Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc. ............................813 ............................51
NASA Tech Briefs, ISSN 0145-319X, USPS 750-070, copyright © 2012 in U.S. is published
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NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012 www.techbriefs.com 63

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 NASA TechNeeds www.techbriefs.com/nasatechneeds

NASA Tech Briefs (NTB) has been a very successful method by which NASA conveys technologies available for commercial use to
the NTB audience. NTB readers represent a broad spectrum of technology experts in many disciplines and industries across the coun-
try, and just as you may benefit from NASA technology, NASA may also benefit from your technology.
To help tap into the technologies you may be aware of that can address NASA’s technology needs, NTB features NASA TechNeeds,
a series of articles that highlights the technology needs of the Agency. (A detailed overview of NASA’s tech needs areas is available
at: www.techbriefs.com/nasatechneeds.) The objective is to provide awareness of NASA’s future needs and requirements, which
could facilitate potential future partnerships.
Each article describes specific selected technologies of importance. In every case, a NASA point of contact will be provided so that
those interested have the means to explore the potential for partnerships with NASA.
NASA wants to make NTB a means by which we can achieve mutually beneficial two-way technology transfer, building on the
track record of success that NTB has achieved in transferring NASA technology for commercial development and public benefit.

Long-Term Data Acquisition, Command, and Control

of Spaceflight-Quality Laser Systems
By Paul Stysley, Barry Coyle, and Eric Lyness, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

N ASA Goddard Space Flight Center is

a leader in developing satellite-
based laser technology for remote sens-
tions. These measurements can include,
but are not limited to, laser beam quali-
ty, power, and temperature. Frequent
Technology Challenges
The primary challenge lies in the
compatibility concerns of tracking laser
ing measurements of the Earth and crashes and updates along with inherent data from multiple sources, as well as
other planetary bodies. Laser perform- incompatiblities with different software controlling hardware from several dif-
ance for such missions must be highly and hardware made long-term tests diffi- ferent vendors. This was the initial spir-
efficient and stable over long periods of cult. After completing the tests because it of using LabVIEW in designing our
time in order to successfully accomplish data had to be compiled from several own in-house system since it has the
the desired science goals of these mis- different sources, the task of processing capability to accomplish that task. The
sions. It is therefore critical to be able to the relevant data from each of the appli- problem with this solution is that the all-
measure and control multiple laser cations took several tedious hours. Also, in-one solution is not a commercially
input and output parameters simultane- during these tests, it is often necessary to upgradable product that actively keeps
ously and accurately over a period of control the input parameters such as up with advances in technology. Any
time that significantly reduces risk. diode current, chiller temperature, q- upgrade to the current system requires
Currently, for the lifetime testing of the switch voltage, etc. in order to properly design time and contracts to support
High Output Maximum Efficiency Res- characterize the laser. This would also that effort, which has inherent ineffi-
onator (HOMER), we use a LabVIEW- require either a lab tech physically ciencies. Challenges will also occur
based data system on an Apple Mac- changing the settings on the equipment because it will be difficult to make a
intosh to acquire and analyze images of or yet another PC. product that can work well across a wide
the laser beam as it exits the laser cavity, Especially for laser systems that are at range of laser design applications.
evaluate the laser’s performance over TRL-5 and below and do not have the Another challenge will lie in accurately
time, and monitor and control the envi- resources of a spaceflight program at and consistently measuring multiple
ronmental conditions under which the hand, there is a clear demand for a data beams. Where there are several tech-
laser is tested. One computer attached to system that could combine all of these niques for making beam measurements
multiple cameras and instruments run- and other features in one application in that have successfully been implement-
ning stable LabVIEW-based software an affordable and upgradable package. ed by private industry, there is an issue
replaces a conglomeration of computers At the most basic level, it would be ideal with doing this and capturing the data
and software packages, saving hours in to have a laser data system that could to NIST standards over a several-month
maintenance and data analysis, and mak- characterize multiple beams while also period of time.
ing very long-term tests possible. tracking the laser output power and con-
trol the input current going to the laser More Information
Technology Needs system in a breadboard format. A more For additional information, or to discuss
When characterizing breadboard laser complex system would allow for tracking ideas about this concept, contact Paul Stysley
systems destined for spaceflight missions, or controling more paramaters such as at [email protected], or email nasa@
NASA scientists are often forced to use temperature, q-switch voltage, laser tim- techbriefs.com.
several PCs running multiple applica- ing, and others.

64 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 the sensors technology industry is abuzzz…

OCTOBER 1- 3 • 2O1 2 • H I LTON A N A H E I M

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➮
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 Name
Peter Simonsen
Job Title
Design Engineer,
Embedded Software
Area of Expertise
Renewable Energy
LabVIEW Helped Me
Perform real-world
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©2010 National Instruments. All rights reserved. LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments.
Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. 2811
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 Photonics Solutions for the Design Engineer
January 2012

Transforming Gaussian Beams Into Uniform, Rectangular Intensity Distributions ..........IIa

Designing Optical Systems With Off-the-Shelf Products ....................................................6a
High-Speed Digital Interferometry ......................................................................................10a
Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller for Stellar Interferometry ......................................10a
Near-Infrared Photon-Counting Camera for High-Sensitivity Observations ....................11a
Products of the Year..............................................................................................................12a
Product of the Month/New Products ..................................................................................13a
On the cover: Many machine vision tasks, such as inspection of printed circuit boards, benefit from illumination with
a uniform, line beam. However, most laser sources produce a round beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution.
Coherent employs Powell lenses (cylindrical aspheres) to transform round Gaussian beams into highly uniform,
rectangular intensity distributions with superior optical efficiency. To learn more, read the feature article on page IIa.

(Image courtesy of Coherent, Inc.)

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Tech Briefs
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 SUPERIOR Transforming Gaussian
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FOR SUPERIOR Beams into Uniform,
COATINGS...AT A Rectangular Intensity
SUPERIOR ROI.
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he majority of laser types in cur- There are several ways to convert a
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UDWHV2XUPDFKLQHVSURGXFH with circular or elliptical cross- distribution (in both one and two
XOWUDGHQVHVKLIWIUHHFRDWLQJV sections, with either Gaussian or near- dimensions).
GHOLYHULQJH[WUHPHO\KLJKVSHFWUDO Gaussian intensity profiles. This
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FRVWSHUSLHFHUHVXOWLQJLQDPRUH beam is being focused to a small spot. form intensity distribution is to pass the
SURILWDEOH52, However, there are also many different beam through an aperture which
uses for which a uniform intensity dis- blocks all but the central, and most uni-
tribution (often referred to as a “flat- form portion of the beam (Figure 1).
top”) would be more optimal. For There are two disadvantages to this
example, in materials processing tasks, approach. First, a very large fraction of
a uniform intensity distribution ensures the laser power is discarded, as much as
that the entire laser illuminated area is 75%. Second, the resulting beam still
processed evenly. It is also valuable in has a substantial falloff in intensity
situations where the laser light is used from the center to the edge. Add-
essentially for illumination. This is itionally, other optics are often needed
because uniform illumination makes to clean up the beam by removing stray
identical features that all appear to lobes produced by diffraction from the
SYRUSpro have the same brightness, regardless of aperture edge.
N 1(:GLUHFWRSWLFDOPRQLWRU where they are located in the illuminat- Transforming a Gaussian beam to flat-
ed field, simplifying the image process- top without substantial light loss, there-
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resolution. These same benefits apply nique which can redirect energy from
over a wide range of other applications the center to the edges of the distribu-
that can be broadly classed as “illumina- tion without simply blocking it. This can
tion,” from machine vision, through be accomplished with either diffractive
flow cytometry, inspection, and even or refractive techniques.
some medical uses. Diffractive optics offer a very powerful
means for reshaping the Gaussian inten-
NEW LION 300 source sity distribution. Specifically, they can be
N 9HU\ORZORVVHV used to produce virtually any arbitrary
intensity profile, including nearly flat-
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highly wavelength dependent, so a
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problematic when pairing diffractives
Figure 1. The simplest way to transform a with diode lasers because these have a
Gaussian beam to a uniform intensity profile is
/HDGHULQ6SXWWHULQJDQG(YDSRUDWLRQV\VWHPV to truncate it, but this approach yields the poor- relatively large wavelength bandwidth
est results. as compared to other laser types. Also,

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INNOVATIVE PATTERNED OPTICAL COATINGS

s -ICRON SCALE PATTERNING INTRICATE FEATURES  SIZES

s #USTOM ENGINEERED COATINGS  SPECTRAL PERFORMANCE

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 Transforming Gaussian Beams
fractive beam shaper. Similarly, the large
and small scale (ripple) uniformity of
the patterns produced with diffractive
optics are limited by grating manufac-
turing tolerances. Finally, diffractive
optics for creating two dimensional uni-
form distributions typically have a rela-
tively limited working distance outside
of which the desired intensity pattern
will not be produced.
Another quite different approach is
to use cylindrical lens (Figure 2) arrays
to construct a purely refractive beam Flat-top Technology
shaping system. The incoming beam To avoid such limitations, Coherent’s
Figure 2. Two configurations of cylindrical lens covers several of the lenslets, and the approach to transforming Gaussian
arrays. pattern from each overlaps in the far beams into uniform, rectangular distri-
field, creating the desired uniform butions is based on Powell lenses
there are large unit-to-unit variations intensity distribution. (Figure 3). The Powell lens is an aspher-
in the nominal output wavelength of Cylindrical lens arrays are most fre- ic cylindrical lens that purposefully aber-
laser diodes. quently employed for homogenizing rates a collimated Gaussian input beam
Diffractive optics also always put at excimer lasers, which have a rectangular so that the energy is efficiently redistrib-
least some light into unwanted diffrac- output beam that is well-matched to this uted from the beam center to the edges
tion orders. The simplest and lowest cost approach. These types of arrays can also in the far field (which usually begins at
of diffractive optics for beam shaping is be used with round, Gaussian beams but 100mm from the last lens surface). This
binary, etched gratings. Unfortunately, in this case, they tend to produce patterns can be seen clearly in the ray trace dia-
manufacturing tolerances in the type of which are not highly uniform and usually gram (Figure 4). Because a Powell lens is
optic usually result in a substantial have a substantial amount of high fre- a type of cylindrical lens, it only homog-
decrease in efficiency due to this phe- quency ripple. The optical systems uti- enizes the beam in one dimension. So,
nomenon; an overall efficiency of 70% lized with lenslet arrays usually have a lim- for applications that require uniform
would be considered excellent for a dif- ited working distance as well. radially symmetric intensity distribu-

2a Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-748 Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 ultra-durable

our optical coatings couldn’t

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➭
 Transforming Gaussian Beams

Figure 3. A Powell lens is a type of aspheric cylindrical lens.

tions, we use a patented combination of Powell optics with

their cylindrical axes oriented at right angles to each other to
achieve a uniform, two dimensional distribution.
This approach delivers superior results over diffractive optics
in almost every aspect of performance, especially when utilized
with diode lasers. In particular, Coherent’s flat-top technology
yields very high efficiency (over 90%), and produces a steep
edged pattern, with little light outside the desired region. This Figure 4. The Powell lens efficiently transforms a Gaussian input into a flat-
configuration is also fairly insensitive to input wavelength, top in one dimension.
meaning it is unaffected by unit-to-unit variations in diode laser
wavelength, as well as the inherent bandwidth and wavelength out having to wavelength select or bin diode lasers (Figure 5).
temperature dependence of these sources. The result is that an Diode laser homogenization and reshaping is also aided by
overall intensity uniformity of ±5% over the entire pattern can the fact that a Powell lens only operates in a single dimension.
be routinely achieved in production beam homogenizers with- Diode lasers typically exhibit very large divergence differences
in orthogonal axes. As a result, two Powell lenses of differing
characteristics can be used in the high divergence (fast) and

Figure 5. Two different Powell lenses can be used to transform the asym-
metric output from a diode laser into a square or a rectangle having virtu-
ally any aspect ratio.

4a Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-750 Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 MORE THAN A CATALOG

WE MAKE
IT.

Figure 6. Definitions of various flat-top system parameters. Edmund Optics®

manufactures over
low divergence (slow) axes to simultane- Divergent Flat Tops:
5 million optics every year
ously achieve both optimum homoge-
⎛ FA(x , y ) ⎞⎟ at its GLOBAL FACILITIES.
nization performance, and the desired ⎜ ⎟⎟ * WD
DFTS(x , y ) = 2 * tan ⎜⎜
beam dimensions in each. ⎜⎜⎝ 2 ⎟⎟⎠
Coherent’s flat-top technology is also
flexible from a design standpoint, and
can be readily adapted to meet specific
requirements. For example, designs can Focusing Flat Tops:
be produced that deliver diverging (fan
angle from 1° to 120°) beams, or incor- ⎛ FA(x , y ) ⎞⎟
⎜ ⎟⎟ * f
porate additional lenses to produce 2 * tan⎜⎜
⎜⎝ 2 ⎟⎟⎠ (x , y )
focused or collimated output beams
FTS(x , y ) = WE DESIGN.
with patterns over a very wide range of E(x , y )
aspect ratios. Systems can also be
designed to work with varying input
beam shapes and sizes, so as to mate with
a user’s existing optical system. Depth of Uniformity:

Design Considerations FTS(x , y ) * f(x , y )

Virtually all Coherent flat-top optical DOU (x , y ) = WE MANUFACTURE.
systems are custom made to meet cus- 2 * ϕι
tomers’ exact requirements. It’s useful
to understand some of the basic design Depth of (intensity) uniformity specif-
parameters for these systems so you may ically refers to the maximum intensity
present engineers with all of the infor- variation over the width of the focused,
mation necessary for them to create a flat-top pattern.
flat-top optical system that will work per- WE DELIVER.
fectly in your application. Conclusion
Coherent’s flat-top technology pro-
φi is the input beam diameter (at the vides a powerful means for creating
1/e2 points) highly uniform, rectangular focused
FA is the fan angle output from the patterns from round or elliptical
Powell Lens Gaussian input beams. These optical Booth 1323
E is the beam expansion power, systems are particularly useful with
i.e., the expander’s output beam diode lasers because they deliver supe- HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
diameter divided by its input beam rior performance even if there are Contact our Sales Department
diameter large unit-to-unit variations in source today for a quote!
f is the focal length of the final wavelength or changes in wavelength
focusing lens during device operation. more optics | more technology | more service

WD is the distance from the last optic This article was written by Wallace
to the image plane Latimer, LASIRIS Product Manager,
Coherent, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA). For more
USA: +1-856-547-3488 ASIA: +65 6273 6644
The most important flat-top perform- information, contact Mr. Latimer at EUROPE: +44 (0) 1904 788600 JAPAN: +81-3-5800-4751
ance parameters determined by these [email protected], or visit
variables are: http://info.hotims.com/40429-200. www.edmundoptics.com

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➮
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➭
Applications
Designing Optical Systems With Off-The-Shelf Products
U tilization of COTS (commercial
off-the-shelf) products is now
almost a bylaw of government and mil-
itary design projects and is becoming
of increasing interest in commercial
designs, as well. Optical systems are no
exception; the use of stock optics can
provide tremendous advantages in
terms of reduced cost and develop-
ment effort. The key is finding the
most appropriate way of employing
stock optics in a custom design.
The obvious benefit of using COTS
products is reduced cost. Volume pro-
duction yields reduced unit cost, espe-
cially in optical components. Using a
stock product avoids setup fees and tool-
ing costs that can make a custom optic as
much as ten times more expensive in
small quantities. Further, that differen-
tial only begins declining when produc-
tion volume reaches 1000 pieces, a quan-
tity seldom reached in high-end optical
system manufacturing.
Stock optics can also help reduce
design and development time because
they are readily available. Rather than
waiting months for a custom optic to
arrive before assembling a prototype to
begin testing, designers can obtain stock
optics overnight. This high availability
also provides benefits during final pro-
duction by eliminating the need to Figure 1. Many manufacturers can perform simple modifications to stock optics in order to provide a
maintain an expensive in-house invento- custom solution such as edge down (shown above).
ry. Because vendors seldom discontinue
or alter their stock optics, supply issues
seldom arise.

Custom vs. Stock

There are drawbacks to using stock
optics in certain situations, however.
Stock optics work best when the optical
system is relatively slow and paraxial in
its design requirements. An optical
speed of f/8 or higher with a field angle
of 15° or less are easy to obtain using
only stock components. When seeking
lower f/#, though, the ability to cus-
tomize the exact curvature, composi-
tion, and coatings of lenses may prove
more efficient than restricting a design
to using only stock optical components.
Despite the vast range of stock compo-
nents available, there may not be a pre-
cise match to the design’s needs. Any
Figure 2. Machine vision lenses, such as the double gauss macro lenses, make excellent collimating lenses.
mismatches will compound the need for These lenses, when used in conjunction with stock or custom optics, can be used to correct for specific con-
making design iterations in order to jugate distances for a variety of applications.

6a www.ptbmagazine.com Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

➮
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➭
optimize performance. When perform- 200mm focal length tube lens can be own production facilities can often
ance needs are extremely demanding, made into a 17.5x system by replacing address such slight mismatches by modi-
then, custom optics may provide the the tube lens with a 175mm off-the-shelf fying an off-the-shelf lens, such as by
fastest route to final design despite the doublet. Because the tube lens runs grinding the edges of a lens that is too
wait for initial delivery. slow and has small field angles, this sub- large. Vendors can also re-process stock
Custom optics may also be necessary stitution will not introduce significant lenses by applying custom coatings to
when the optical system must meet tight aberration and so will still provide the meet application needs.
size and weight constraints. While a desired imaging quality. Developers can also find clever ways of
design composed of stock optics may be Sometimes the only thing wrong customizing stock optical components
able to achieve the same performance as about a stock optical element in a specif- to address their design needs. There are
one using custom components, the stock ic application is that it is not quite the not as many stock options for mirrors,
design may involve multiple lenses and a right size (Figure 1). Vendors with their for instance, as there are for lenses, but
longer optical path to achieve the equiv-
alent performance of a single custom
lens. When size and weight are critical,
then, custom optics may be essential.
Often a system that will employ cus-
tom optics in the final design, however,
will want a stock component solution
for the early stages of development
where availability and low cost are criti-
cal. A development team might, for
instance, need to create a demonstra-
tion or proof-of-principle prototype in
order to obtain funding for full product
development. A prototype optical ele-
ment may also be needed in order to
support the development and evalua-
tion of other system elements before
establishing definitive final optical per-
formance requirements. Custom optics
can quickly become prohibitively
expensive when there are many design
iterations involved.

Stock Empowers Prototypes

In many cases, too, the constraints
that might require a custom final solu-
tion may not apply to the prototype. An
imaging system for airborne reconnais-
sance, for instance, may tolerate longer
light pathways and more lenses (hence
more weight) in the system’s optical
components during test and evalua-
tion of image sensors and processing
algorithms than the final deployed sys-
tem will have. This tolerance allows
developers the option of creating a
stock component solution for system
test purposes while developing final
specifications or awaiting delivery of
custom optics.
Even in applications where such stock
solutions are not optimal, developers See us at
can use them in combination with other Photonics West
stock items or custom lenses. An appli- Booth #2535
cation requiring a high-quality imaging
lens with an odd magnification, such as
17.5x, can be formed by combining
stock items in a hybrid configuration. In
this example a 20x infinite conjugate TE-cooled Extended Response to 2.6 microns available
objective designed for use with a

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➮
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➭
 Applications
developers can still modify a stock part to get the mirror they

ProRaman-L-9 need. Simply select a lens that has the right surface curvature
and have it mirror coated with aluminum, silver, or gold as
needed to gain access to mirrors in a huge range of sizes and
High Performance Raman Analyzer focal lengths.
Great for ApplicaƟons x Reduced fluorescence and
Maximizing Stock Opportunities
such as: more Raman revealed! To maximize the opportunity of using stock optics in a system
x Food & nutriƟon x Covers full fingerprint region design it is important to consider the optical subsystem as early in
Ͳ1
x Gemology with 5 cm resoluƟon the system design effort as possible. Early planning helps optical
x Polymers & plasƟcs x Enables measurements of developers secure an adequate space and weight budget within
x Bio fuels natural, fluorescenceͲprone the system design to allow for a solution based on multiple stock
samples lenses rather than a single custom lens.
Raman Spectra of Red Wine A convenient way to create stock solutions is to break the
785nm Raman optical design into subsections based on focus. Collimators and
collectors are easy to find as stock products because many
achromat and PCX lenses are already optimized for those
ProRaman-L-9
applications (Figure 2). In addition, many stock lens assem-
blies are optimized for infinite conjugate on one side coming
ProRaman-L-9 to a focus on the other side or as a 1:1 relay (4F system). This
Baseline Subtraction allows partitioning of optical designs into a series of infinite
conjugate systems, each partition consisting of a stock solution.
A developer might, for example, need a small image lens with
2.5x magnification for a small CCD camera. The lens can be
Raman Shift (cm-1)
implemented using two achromats with effective focal lengths in
www.enwaveopt.com a 5-to-2 ratio, such as a 6.25mm dia. x 20mm focal length lens and
Tel: +1 (949) 955-0258 a 6.25mm dia. x 50mm focal length lens. Placing the 20mm lens
with its close conjugate side toward the object will collimate the
object image. Placing the 50mm lens with the close conjugate
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-753
side toward the camera will focus the collimated image onto the
sensor. The result is a 2.5x image on the CCD.
Finding the right stock element for a design does not need
RESEARCHERS ARE TAKING A to involve pouring over large catalogs from multiple vendors
and distributors. Lens design software such as ZEMAX and
CLOSER CODE V allows developers to quickly search a collection of cat-
alog listings for individual lenses based on parameters such as
LOOK AT size and focal length. Also, most vendors have a knowledgeable
PULSED support staff that can answer questions and quickly identify
candidate items as well as suggest design alternatives to achieve
LIGHT the desired ends. The more a developer works with the vendor
at defining the design’s needs, though, the better the chances
of a vendor locating an optimum set of choices.

Creating Hybrid Designs

Mitchell C. Ruda, President of Ruda Cardinal, Inc., states
that developers can start with a stock assembly such as a
High peak energy source for emerging applications microscope objective, imaging lens, or eyepiece as their
IN NANOTECHNOLOGY... design’s basis, and then add lenses to correct residual aberra-
• Sintering nanoparticle inks on low-temperature tions and adjust performance to match system requirements
substrates (Figure 3). This hybrid approach leverages the optimized
IN HEAT SENSITIVE THIN FILM CURING... performance and relatively low cost of stock assemblies for
• Curing materials for organic photovoltaics, OLED their given function while still achieving the required end-to-
displays and flexible circuit printing. end performance.
To follow this approach, however, developers need detailed
IN POLYMER SCIENCE AND BIOCHEMISTRY...
information on the stock assembly’s design and optical char-
• Developing biological surface coatings for cell growth acteristics so they can model it in their optical design tools to
Call us with your next application: determine the corrections they will need. Most companies
+1 978-661-9033 ext. 216 are reluctant to give out this kind of detail on their propri-
www.xenoncorp.com/light
etary designs, but there are alternatives available. Companies
such as Edmund Optics will create Black Box descriptions of
their assemblies for design tools such as those from ZEMAX
(Figure 3). These descriptions allow developers to model the

8a Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-754 Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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Figure 3. Vendors can provide optical design software with “black box” models of their stock lens assemblies to support developers in their system design
analysis without compromising the vendor’s intellectual property.

performance of the stock assembly in many circumstances. Depending on the optics an inevitable part of the final
their overall system without compro- system constraints, developers can cre- design, leveraging stock optics in opti-
mising the vendor’s design secrets, sim- ate designs entirely from stock compo- cal system designs can yield a substan-
plifying the creation of appropriate cor- nents, blend stock and custom compo- tial dividend.
rections and adjustments in the overall nents, or modify stock components to This article was written by Jeremy Govier,
optical design. avoid the delays and costs inherent in Principal Engineer, Edmund Optics (Barrington,
Stock optics, then, can offer system creating custom optical elements. Even NJ). For more information, contact Mr. Govier at
developers significant advantages in if only used for prototyping and proof- [email protected], or visit http://info.
terms of cost and design effort under of-principle development, with custom hotims.com/40429-201.

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Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-755 9a

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 Photonics Tech Briefs

High-Speed Digital Interferometry

Optical decoding eliminates the need for high-speed detectors and digital signal processing.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Digitally enhanced heterodyne inter- tors and digital signal processing. This the encoded laser beams (as opposed to
ferometry (DI) is a laser metrology tech- reduced bandwidth also reduces the the more traditional/common electronic
nique employing pseudo-random noise power consumption of the entire system. demodulation). This technique is entire-
(PRN) codes phase-modulated onto an The heterodyne signal is created by ly implemented in software via hardware
optical carrier. Combined with hetero- off-set phase-locking two lasers with a that would already exist onboard a space-
dyne interferometry, the PRN code is digital phase-locked loop. The error- craft. This reduces complexity, power
used to select individual signals, return- point is monitored on a dedicated consumption, volume, and risk of failure.
ing the inherent interferometric sensitiv- phase-locking photoreceiver. PRN codes There are many proposed missions
ity determined by the optical wavelength. are phase-modulated by waveguide mod- that will employ lasers and require
The signal isolation arises from the auto- ulators onto each laser beam. These are extremely high-resolution metrology.
correlation properties of the PRN code, subsequently interfered via a fiber beam- Digital interferometry can be implement-
enabling both rejection of spurious sig- splitter, thus optically demodulating the ed and achieve sub-10-pm resolution.
nals (e.g., from scattered light) and mul- laser signals, before being detected on a With this new technique, the metrology
tiplexing capability using a single metrol- signal photoreceiver. One PRN code is can be performed on optical compo-
ogy system. The minimum separation of digitally delayed with respect to the nents separated by centimeters. This
optical components is determined by the other in order to align the codes with allows measurements of optics on a single
wavelength of the PRN code. respect to the reflected light from an optical bench within a single spacecraft,
A variation of DI has 100 times reduc- optic under interrogation, thus optically in addition to inter-spacecraft metrology
tion in the minimum component separa- demodulating the signal for that specific measurements.
tion, allowing measurements of optical mirror. The delay is altered (controlled This work was done by Glenn De Vine,
components only a few centimeters apart. digitally) to pick out any one of the Daniel A. Shaddock, Brent Ware, Robert E.
Instead of the usual electronic decoding, optics under interrogation. Spero, Danielle M. Wuchenich, William M.
the DI signal is interfered with an appro- At the time of this reporting, this is the Klipstein, and Kirk McKenzie of Caltech for
priately delayed, identically PRN-encod- first known time that DI has been NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more
ed, local oscillator beam. Optical decod- employed to measure optics separated by information, download the Technical Support
ing allows the use of a low-bandwidth sig- less than meters, down to a few centime- Package (free white paper) at www.tech-
nal processing chain with GHz codes, ters. This was achieved by implementing, briefs.com/tsp under the Physical Sciences
negating the need for high-speed detec- for the first time, optical demodulation of category. NPO-47886

Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller for Stellar Interferometry

Nuller allows faint off-axis light to be much more easily seen.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
This innovation will replace a beam weight and space in future missions. mode-sorting property of adiabatic
combiner, a phase shifter, and a mode This nuller is a dielectric-waveguide- asymmetric couplers that are intrinsical-
conditioner, thus simplifying the system based, four-port asymmetric coupler. Its ly achromatic. This nuller has been
design and alignment, and saving nulling performance is based on the designed, and its performance mod-

Input Field

Anti-Symmetric
Symmetric Input Input (Planet)
(Star)

a
b
A 3-dimensional view of the Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller device. (a) The scales are distorted for visual clarity. The input from the two telescopes is inci-
dent on the device from the left. (b) The input field for the case of the two telescope beams arriving in-phase (starlight) and exactly out-of-phase (planet light).

10a www.ptbmagazine.com Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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eled, in the 6.5-micrometer to 9.25-micrometer spectral inter-
val (36% bandwidth). The calculated suppression of starlight
for this 15-cm-long device is 10–5 or better through the whole Specialty Photonics Division
bandwidth. This is enough to satisfy requirements of a flagship Your medical Optical Fiber Solutions Partner
exoplanet-characterization mission.
Nulling interferometry is an approach to starlight suppres- Medical Grade: Optical Fiber . Cables . Assemblies
sion that will allow the detection and spectral characterization ISO 13485 Certified | USP Class VI Standards | Dedicated medical Engineering Team
of Earth-like exoplanets. Nulling interferometers separate the
light originating from a dim planet from the bright starlight by
placing the star at the bottom of a deep, destructive interfer-
ence fringe, where the starlight is effectively cancelled, or
nulled, thus allowing the faint off-axis light to be much more Come talk to us at booth 8302, BiOS Weekend,
easily seen. This process is referred to as nulling of the starlight. part of SPIE Photonics West | Jan 21-22, 2012
Achromatic nulling technology is a critical component that
provides the starlight suppression in interferometer-based
observatories. Previously considered space-based interferome-
ters are aimed at approximately 6-to-20-micrometer spectral
range. While containing the spectral features of many gases
that are considered to be signatures of life, it also offers better
planet-to-star brightness ratio than shorter wavelengths.
In the Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller (IOAN) device,
the two beams from the interferometer’s collecting telescopes
pass through the same focusing optic and are incident on the
input of the nuller.
The dual-input waveguide structure accommodates two
modes, while each of the output waveguides accommodates Discover your Optical Fiber Solution Today!
one mode only. At the input, the waveguide structure is sym-
OFS | Specialty Photonics Division | 860 678 0371 | www.SpecialtyPhotonics.com
metric and, therefore, the fundamental mode of the structure
at the input is symmetric and the other mode is anti-symmet- /SpecialtyPhotonics /company/ofs /OFS_medical /ofsSpecialty
ric. At the output, one of the waveguides is wider than the
other, and therefore has a higher effective refractive index. For
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-756
the light originating from the star, if the interferometer is per-
fectly balanced, the input field in the focal plane of the focus-
Vis
ing optic at the input of the device is symmetric, while for the Bo it us
oth at
light field originating from the planet (assuming the exact π #5 Pho
32 to
phase shift) it is anti-symmetric. Thus, in the two-mode input 7 - nic
No s W
waveguide the starlight excites the fundamental mode, while GROWTH rth es
Ha t
the planet light excites the second, anti-symmetric, mode. ll
This work was done by Alexander Ksendzov of Caltech for NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical
Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under BEGINS
the Physical Sciences category. NPO-47834

HERE

Near-Infrared Photon-
Counting Camera for
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be observed and imaged. a leading producer of high quality sapphire to 15” in diameter

material. GT’s HEM sapphire is known for its high Optical wave fronts of 1/10
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland purity levels (>99.996%), crystalline perfection wave peak to valley and better

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(Continued on page 18a)

Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-757 11a

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 Photonics Tech Briefs Announces
Smart


Beam Profilers 2011 Products of the Year
Now 190 nm-50 μm
Resolution to 0.1 μm The votes are in and the winners of the 2011 Photonics Tech Briefs Readers’
Divergence, Collimation Choice Product of the Year Awards have been selected. The three PTB Products
of the Year awards will be presented to each company in person.
9 Affordable
9 Compact For each of the eight issues of PTB, the editors chose a Product of the Month.
9 Port–powered USB 2.0 That product exhibits exceptional technical merit and practical value for our
readers. At the end of the year those eight products were placed on a ballot on
the PTB Web site, and our readers chose the products they felt were the most
significant new introductions to the photonics engineering community in 2011.

The 2011 PTB Products of the Year are:

Hexagon Metrology
(North Kingston, RI)
The manual Cognitens WLS400M and the
automated Cognitens WLS400A white light
measurement systems use digital stereo vision
2.65 x 2.4 x 2.7” (W x H x D)
technology to generate 3D data. Customers can
choose between a portable configuration and an
XYZTI BeamMap2™ automated system, which can be operated with
XY Beam’R2™ all common industrial robots. CoreView version
5.0 software has been configured to achieve improved utilization of the operating sys-
tem, memory management, and 3rd-party 64-bit software. The products include Blue
Light LED technology, which enables a greater variety of surface finishes to be meas-
ured or reverse engineered.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-245

Hypertherm
(Hanover, NH)
The HyIntensity™ Fiber Laser HFL015 cutting system
includes a power source, cutting head, gas supply, operator
interface consoles, motion controls, and software, all in
one package. The single-emitter, diode-based design sys-
tem operates on familiar Hypertherm control platforms,
Also Available: with pre-developed cutting processes that simplify table
integration and operation. The power supply is smaller
BeamScope™-P8
than CO2 laser systems, and the fiber laser delivery enables
190 to >2.7 μm
the beam to travel greater distances, allowing for installa-
WinCamD™ Series Cameras tion on larger tables.
X-Ray to 16 microns For Free Info Visit http:// info.ims.ca/40429-246

Windows 7, XP & Vista Keyence Corp. of America

64 and 32 Bit OS (Elmwood Park, NJ)
Active X, LabView™ interface The BZ-9000 (BIOREVO) all-in-one fluorescence
microscope performs fluorescence, bright field, and
DataRay Inc. phase-contrast imaging on a variety of specimen hold-
ers, including slides, dishes, and well-plates. The
BIOREVO switches among up to four different fluores-
www.dataray.com
cent channels, automatically adjusting the filter and
1-866-WinCamD (946-2263)
exposure time. It incorporates a single 12-bit mono-
1-203-210-5065
chrome camera that can easily switch to color imaging.
Advancing the technology of laser analysis The BZ-9000 incorporates a Z-stack and image stitching function that allows users to
stitch up to 1,200 images in XY directions. The BIOREVO also provides options for
See us at Photonics West quantitative analysis, including standard two-dimensional measurements, cell counting,
Booth # 2300
and brightness analysis. A Real-Time 3D Module generates a three-dimensional image
of a fluorescent specimen.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-247

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-758 www.ptbmagazine.com Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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New Products
Thermal Surveillance Cameras
Product of the Month
Vumii (Atlanta, GA) has added four thermal camera lines
Goniometric Radiometer to its imaging solutions portfolio: CompactSec™, EyeSec™,
The LD8900 Goniometric Ra- DualSec™, and RangeSec™. The IP-enabled CompactSec
diometer from Ophir Photonics thermal camera is available in three models: 8.5mm lens for
Group (Logan, UT) makes X-Y, holo- 65° field of view; 19mm lens for 28° field of view; and 35mm
graphic, and 3D measurements with- lens for 15° field of view. The EyeSec, a line of uncooled ther-
out moving either the detector or mal cameras, has a wide variety of lens and resolution config-
the source. The design allows the far- urations, including a 15-100mm continuous zoom model. The
field profiler to characterize and camera provides thermal video through darkness, light fog, or
confirm the divergence of light pass- smoke. The EyeSec line
ing through holographic materials, features IP or analog
such as those used for computer dis- communication op-
play screens, smartphones, and in- tions with 320 x 240
strument panels. The 3D capability 25μ or 640 x 480 17μ
of the LD8900 makes it possible to resolution. The Du-
measure radially symmetric divergences or angularly different types. alSec dual-video (ther-
The LD8900 has a dynamic range of >24dB, while the LD8900R has a dy- mal and visual) chan-
namic range of >36dB, providing greater detail in the “tails” of the far-field nel pan tilt camera
pattern. The LDR8900R also offers real-time measurements of Mode Field Di- system allows medium-
ameter (MFD) in single-mode optical fibers; its angular field of view is 144° range observation and detection. The RangeSec imager, a
with a resolution of 0.055°. In addition to measuring diffusion materials, the high-sensitivity, cooled midwave (3-5 μm) thermal camera, uti-
LD8900 can be used to optimize gradient index (GRIN) lenses and measure lizes a 19mm to 275mm continuous zoom (29° to 2° field-of-
laser diodes at any stage in their manufacture. view) or a 47.5mm to 687mm continuous zoom lens (12° to
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-205 0.8° field-of-view).
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Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-759 13a

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New Products

Color Sensors Laser Diode Module

TAOS (Plano, TX) has announced the TCS3x71 and TCS3x72 Se- Power Technology (Little Rock, AR) offers
ries of Digital Color RGB and Proximity Sensors. When coupled with a violet laser diode module with 250mW of
IR LED, the sensors also provide proximity detection within a output power at
range of lighting conditions and through a variety of attenuating 405nm. The mod-
materials. The TCS3x72 Series is the industry’s first color sensor ule meets OEM an-
with an IR blocking filter integrated directly on-chip and localized alytical and gen-
only to the color sensor photodiodes. In addition, the on-chip IR eral scientific laser
blocking filter enables the devices to perform ambient light sensing (ALS). application needs,
For color sensing in closed environments with no IR light sources, the including laser-in-
TCS3x71 Series applications include closed-loop color temperature feedback duced fluorescence, microscopy, spectroscopy,
control in solid-state lighting (SSL) and LED RGB backlit displays. lithography, data storage, flow cytometry, can-
For Free Info Visit: http://info.hotims.com/40429-207 cer detection, remote optical sensing, hologra-
phy, and illumination.
For Free Info Visit:
http://info.hotims.com/40429-208
CW and Pulsed Laser Diode Driver
Analog Modules (Longwood, FL) has released its
CW and pulsed laser diode driver, Model 784. The
50A, 2.5V driver requires +5VDC input power.
Pulsewidths vary from 600ns to CW, with power ca- Industrial Sensors
pabilities up to 125W with adequate cooling. The The FB series M18
784 is manufactured as a RoHS-compliant assembly, but plastic DC photo-
military versions are also available. electric sensors from
For Free Info Visit: http://info.hotims.com/40429-209 AutomationDirect
(Cumming, GA) are
diffuse, polarized re-
Epoxy flective and through-
beam models. The
The Polymer System EP37-3FLF from Master Bond
18mm devices have sensing distances rang-
(Hackensack, NJ) resists cryogenic temperatures and ther-
ing from 70mm to eight meters. All models
mal cycling. The two-component epoxy, which features a
feature M12 quick-disconnects and are
low exotherm, functions as a potting, encapsulating, and
available in NPN and PNP output logic
casting system, especially where wider cross section thick-
configurations.
nesses are specified. Serviceable over the range of 4K to
For Free Info Visit
250°F, EP37-3FLF cures at room temperature in 2 to 3 days
http://info.hotims.com/40429-210
or faster at elevated temperatures. The product offers a non-critical 1-to-1 mix ratio by
weight or volume, and a low mixed viscosity of 1,400 to 1,500 cps. Additionally, users can
work with a 100 gram mass of the adhesive at room temperature for up to 90 minutes.
EP37-3FLF has a bond shear strength exceeding 2,000 psi and a T-peel strength of 25 pli.
The flexible epoxy has an elongation of 180% and superior electrical insulation properties
with a volume resistivity of 1x1014 ohm-cm. It bonds to substrates including metals, glass,
ceramics, rubbers, and many plastics.
For Free Info Visit: http://info.hotims.com/40429-211

Forensic Analytical Microscope Vacuum UV Imaging

The CRAIC Elixir™ micro- Spectrometer
scope from CRAIC Technolo-
Vacuum spectrometers from
gies (San Dimas, CA) offers
McPherson (Chelmsford, MA) have a
multiple forensic analytical
670mm focal length. The spectrometers
techniques. Forensic scientists
feature stainless steel housings and compo-
can use the tool to conduct mi-
nents for ultra-high-vacuum applications. The instruments readily achieve
crospectroscopy, high-resolution
10E-6 torr vacuum during operation with elastomer (Viton™ or Buna-N)
imaging, Raman microspec-
seals. The McPherson models have master polished optics, multiple entrance
troscopy, and glass refractome-
and exit port locations, and high precision wavelength drives for wavelength
try. The microscope offers accu-
reproducibility. Specialized high reflectivity coatings provide up to 78% reflec-
rate and rapid analysis of trace
tive efficiency at wavelengths as short as 120 nm. The device has an f/4.7 aper-
evidence, including glass, paints,
ture ratio (670mm f.l.). The tools are available in focal lengths of 0.67, 1.0,
fibers, and documents.
1.3, and 2-meters.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-214
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-212

14a www.ptbmagazine.com Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Source Measurement Unit Submillimeter Achromats
Keithley Instruments (Cleveland, OH) has announced the and Doublets
Model 2401 SourceMeter® instrument, which is optimized Bern Optics (Westfield, MA) has released
for high-precision test applications such as current vs. voltage submillimeter achromatic lenses as small as
(I-V) characterization of photovoltaic (solar) cells, high 0.20mm in diameter. The achromatic doublet,
brightness LEDs (HBLEDs), low voltage materials, and semi- a compound lens consisting of two elements
conductor devices, as well as resistance measurements. The cemented together, can be custom engi-
instrument provides source and measurement unit capabili- neered, ground,
ties at 20V and 1A signal levels. In a single enclosure, the Model 2401 integrates a highly and polished to
stable DC power source with an instrument-grade 5 1⁄2 or 6 1⁄2-digit multimeter. micron tolerances.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-213
In addition to
careful control of
Multispectral Imaging Camera the grinding and
polishing of these
The SpectroCam™ Multispectral Imaging (MSI) Camera from Ocean Thin complex lenses,
Films (OTF) (Largo, FL) combines a scientific-grade CCD array with a pre- Bern Optics verifies the centration of each el-
cision rotating optical filter wheel. With a single-point spectrometer, users ement before and after cementing. They can
can analyze spectral differences from sample to sample and then, by se- be produced with or without specialized coat-
lecting discrete filters in and around spectral areas with the most signif- ings to meet specific requirements.
icant differences, use SpectroCam to create an image that shows vivid For Free Info Visit
contrast between the samples. The SpectroCam has a wideband CCD http://info.hotims.com/40429-215
that is responsive from the visible through near-infrared spectrum. Image
speed is 20 fps at full resolution, and the standard F-Mount configuration
accommodates a range of lens choices, focal lengths, and fields of view. Each
system includes a lens, eight standard interchangeable filters, and software. HD Zoom Lens
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-216 Resolve Optics Ltd (Chesham, UK) offers
the adaptable Z10-HDCF compact f/1.8 high-
definition zoom lens. The motorized 10x HD
zoom lens is 87.5mm long and 45mm square.
Laser Diode Driver The Z10-HDCF, which is lighter than 500g, is
The laser diode drivers iC-NZN and iC-NZP from iC- also able to focus upon objects up to 450mm
Haus Corp. (Bodenheim, Germany) operate laser diodes from the lens. A
in both CW and spike-free pulse mode, with up to 155 camera mount in-
MHz. The devices allow either the optical output power corporates topside
(APC) or laser diode current (ACC) to be controlled. Blue and back focus ad-
laser diodes can also be operated with iC-NZN. The maxi- justment. A change-
mum available laser diode current is 300mA, and the de- able rear cell en-
vices have an adjustable current limit. When the current limit is reached, it is signaled as an ables the Z10-HDCF
error message output which also indicates undervoltage and overtemperature. There is a to be simply adapted for use on camera for-
safety shutdown function for the output stage in the event of overtemperature. The device mats between 1/3- and 2/3-inch including
can also be driven by either LVDS or TTL pulse signals. iC-NZN and iC-NZP have a standby 3CCD formats.
mode with a low current consumption of < 50 μA. For Free Info Visit
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-217 http://info.hotims.com/40429-219

Single-Photon Counter Hybrid Sensor

AUREA Technology (Besancon, France) has intro- OSRAM Opto Semiconductors (Sunnyvale,
duced the SPD_B, a single-photon counting module CA) has released a “3 in 1” SFH 7773 digital
used for short near infrared wavelengths [1,000 to sensor that combines an IR LED emitter and
1,350 nm]. The SPD_B is an ultra-low-noise, high- detector chips together, eliminating the need
quantum-efficiency, and low-timing-jitter near-in- to install a separate IR emitter to enable the
frared single photon proximity sensor function. Apertures are inte-
counter. The SPD_B in- grated into the package to reduce crosstalk.
cludes a Geiger-mode The SFH 7773 detects objects up to a distance
InGaAs avalanche pho- of 15cm (5.9 in.) while simultaneously measuring the intensity of the ambient light.
todiode and thermo- Its power consumption is a maximum of 5μA in standby mode and 300μA in oper-
electric coolers that ational mode. The integration time of the detector and, thus, the detection range
ensure high detection of the proximity sensor, can be selected via the I2C interface. The 5.3mm x 2.5mm
efficiency up to 30%, a very low dark count rate of x 1.2mm sensor can also be adjusted to the transparency of the smart phone cover.
< 5.10-6 per ns gate, and a low timing jitter of < 180ps. A variety of sensitivity levels is available, ranging from 3 to approximately 65.500 lux
The SPD_B comes with a graphical user interface and 0.03 to 655 lux.
compatible with LabView and C++. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-218
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/40429-220

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Product Showcase

Photonics West PREVIEW

The following companies will be exhibiting their products and
services at SPIE Photonics West, January 24 – 26,
at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.
Thin. Strong. Flexible. High Power Polarizing Beamsplitter (PBS)
Abrisa Technologies' High Ion- Dayoptics manufacture high
Exchange (HIE) Glass is chemically power PBS with high transmis-
strengthened to be ultra-tough up to 6X sion (>98%), high extinction
to 8X stronger than float glass. Available ratio (>30dB), wide range of
in thicknesses of 0.5 to 3 mm, our HIE wavelength (300-2000nm), high
glass has improved scratch & impact damage threshold: >15J/cm2 @
resistance, improved resistance to tem- 20ns, 20Hz, 1064nm, low cost for
perature fluctuations and improved mass production; Glan Laser,
flexibility strength. This thin yet strong Glan Taylor, Glan Thompson made of calcite, a-BBO, YVO4
glass can be custom fabricated & various coatings applied to material; polymer polarizer.
provide a fully integrated optics solution. [email protected]
www.abrisatechnologies.com www.dayoptics.com
Photonics West Booth # 1738 Photonics West Booth # 1901-L
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-600 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-601

10kV High Voltage Opto-diode from VMI Free-running NIR Photon

The OZ100SG opto-diode from VMI Counter With Very Low
features high voltage, high gain, and
high isolation. It is designed to be part
Dark Count Rate
The id220-FR-SMF from ID
of remotely controlled feedback systems
Quantique, based on InGaAs/InP
such as high voltage opto-couplers or
APD, brings a major breakthrough for single photon detection
voltage regulators. Applications range
in free-running mode at telecom wavelengths in which asynchro-
from noisy industrial environments to
nous photon detection is essential. The device has been special-
sensitive high voltage applications where
ly designed for achieving low dark count and afterpulsing rates
system isolation is necessary. Features: 10kVrwm; .51 Gain
in free-running mode. The module can operate at two detection
(typical); Optically clear encapsulation.
probability and with an adjustable deadtime.
www.voltagemultipliers.com/html/
www.idquantique.com/scientific-instrumentation/
Opto-coupler%20Information%20Index.html
products-overview.html
Photonics West Booth # 5323
Photonics West Booth # 330
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-602 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-603

Miniature Goniometers Announcing the Release of Lambda

National Aperture is now offering Research Corporation’s TracePro 7.1
small profile, high precision manual Lambda’s TracePro 7.1
goniometers. These units are 50mm software now features dra-
× 20mm × 20mm in size and are avail- matic 3D illuminance, CIE
able in a 25 & 42mm radius which and true color maps dis-
allows these stages to be configured played directly on every
for XY use so that both stages rotate selected curved and planar
about the same common point. parts to show power, unifor-
These stages offer unobstructed motion and ±10° of angular mity and color. The new ray
rotation. Phone: (800)360-4598; Fax: (603) 893-7857; path sorting feature lists and displays every possible ray path
[email protected] in your design both quantitatively and visually.
www.naimotion.com www.lambdares.com
Photonics West Booth # 423 Photonics West Booth # 1010
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-604 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-605

16a www.ptbmagazine.com Photonics Tech Briefs, January 2012

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 Microfabrication and FRED — The Essential Software for
Nanopatterning Services “Real World” Optical Engineering
by MNX Photon Engineering is the creator and distributor of FRED,
MNX offers specialty thin films the choice of engineers worldwide for solving complex “real
such as ITO, AZO, NTO, TiO2, world” optical problems.
ZrO2, MgF2; micro/nano-scale FRED's ability to propagate
gratings, photonic metamaterials, optical waveguides, plas- both incoherent and coherent
ma glass processing, custom optical sensors, and much light applies to a diverse
more. We specialize in fabricating customized process range of applications that
sequences for many application areas including optics and include stray light analysis,
photonics. Inquire about Gradient-index (GRIN) lens fabri- laser applications, illumination,
cation capabilities! imaging systems and much more!
www.mems-exchange.org www.photonengr.com
Photonics West Booth # 6086 Photonics West Booth Number # 218
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-606 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-607

Labsphere-Your Global Partner for Light AccuFiz Compact Laser Interferometer

Measurement The compact AccuFiz® laser interferometer from 4D
Labsphere, Inc. is part of the Halma p.l.c. Technology provides unparalleled accuracy at mid-spatial fre-
group of companies and is headquartered in quencies, letting you measure polishing artifacts
North Sutton NH, with a satellite facility in that other interferometers simply miss. Standard
Shanghai China and a global network of distri- features include touch-screen remote, fully motor-
bution partners. Labsphere specializes in the ized controls and Smart Zoom™ for repeat-
design and manufacture of high end light able lateral resolution at all zoom settings.
measurement solutions for the LED/SSL light- Options include wavelengths from 532nm-
ing industry, uniform sources for remote sensing and imager cal- 1053nm, a range of apertures and mounting
ibration, optical coatings and materials, and instrumentation configurations, and Dynamic Interferometry®
and reflectance standards for spectroscopy applications. capability to measure despite vibration and turbulence.
www.labsphere.com www.4dtechnology.com/products/accufiz.php
Photonics West Booth # 4726 Photonics West Booth # 1638
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-608 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-609

CODE V 10.4 Enhances Analysis of EMCO High Voltage A Series Converters

Precision Optical Systems Only 1⁄4" high! EMCO is setting New Standards in High
Synopsis’ CODE V 10.4 delivers Voltage Miniaturization
enhancements to its Beam Synthesis • Input to Output Galvanic
Propagation tool that enable optical Isolation
designers to model and analyze dif- • Low Turn-On Voltage < 0.7 V
fraction effects in an optical system • Meets RoHS/REACH
with increased flexibility, speed and Directives
accuracy. In addition, the fully inte- • No External Components
grated Glass Expert tool automati- Required
cally finds the optimal set of glasses for any lens design, in a frac- • High Reliability, MTBF >
tion of the time required by manual glass selection. 1,862,000 hours, per Belcore TR 332
www.opticalres.com/cv/cv104.html www.emcohighvoltage.com/pdfs/aseries.pdf
Photonics West Booth # 700 Photonics West Booth # 4538
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-610 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-611

OEM Imaging – The OEM Camera Division Rev2 Automated Micro-Polisher

of Photometrics and QImaging Krell’s next generation of Rev
Achieve excel- Polishers feature automated z-axis
lence in your pro- movement. This “micro-feed” func-
duct vision by join- tion gradually advances compo-
ing the team that’s nents to the polishing surface at a
committed to en- controlled rate. Connector air-pol-
suring your OEM Imaging camera solutions are exactly what ishing for fiber denub and epoxy
you need, easy to integrate, cost-effective and on-time. From removal, traditionally performed
project initiation, throughout the development process, manu- manually, is now integrated in Rev.
facturing and aftermarket support, our focused approach has Additionally, bare fibers can be pol-
been sought by customers for nearly three decades. ished without damage or breakage.
www.OEMImaging.com www.krelltech.com
Photonics West Booth # 5207 Photonics West Booth # 4100
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-612 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-613

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Photonics West PREVIEW Photonics Tech Briefs
UC Components Debuts RediVac™ (Continued from page 11a)
Fastener Catalog 2012 at Photonics West zero at such low temperatures. Moreover, it has not been
UC Components offers lines of demonstrated that the target dark current can be reached at
Vented, Plated, Coated, Baked and any temperature using existing photocathodes.
Cleaned RediVac™ Fasteners and Changes in the transferred-electron photocathode epistruc-
RediVac™ Cleaned and Vacuum-Baked ture (with an InGaAs absorber lattice-matched to InP and
O-Rings for laser, vacuum, biomedical exhibiting responsivity over the 0.9-to-1.7-μm range) and fabrica-
and other clean-critical environments. tion processes were developed and implemented that resulted in
Gold and silver platings are among the a demonstrated >13× reduction in dark current at –40 ºC while
finish offerings and all products are pre- retaining >95% of the ≈25% saturated room-temperature QE.
cision cleaned, nitrogen purged and Further testing at lower temperature is needed to confirm a >25
vacuum sealed in class 100 packaging. ºC predicted reduction in cooling required to achieve an
www.uccomponents.com/default.asp?pg=printcatalog ultralow dark-current target suitable for faint spectral astronom-
Photonics West Booth # 4315 ical observations that are not otherwise possible. This reduction
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-614 in dark current makes it possible to increase the integration time
of the imaging sensor, thus enabling a much higher near-
Introducing AFL’s LGP-100 Laser Glass infrared (NIR) sensitivity than is possible with current technolo-
Processor gy. As a result, extremely faint phenomena and NIR signals emit-
AFL introduces the new LGP-100 Laser ted from distant celestial objects can be now observed and
Glass Processor and splicing system. imaged (such as the dynamics of red-shifting galaxies, and spec-
Splicing or adiabatic tapering (to create tral measurements on extra-solar planets in search of water and
Mode Field Adapters or pump com- bio-markers) that were not previously possible. In addition, the
biners) can be performed with enhanced NIR sensitivity also directly benefits other NIR imag-
glass diameters of 2mm or more. ing applications, including drug and bomb detection, stand-off
Laser heating is used rather detection of improvised explosive devices (IED’s), Raman spec-
than electrodes or a filament troscopy and microscopy for life/physical science applications,
to ensure repeatable perform- and semiconductor product defect detection.
ance and low maintenance. A set of methods was developed for implementing an
www.AFLglobal.com InGaAs photocathode whereby the dark current can be
Photonics West, booth #801 reduced by lowering the temperature to the ultralow target
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-615 level, while at the same time, exhibiting QE that is high
enough to perform the astrophysical measurements.
PCB-Mount Laser Diode & This innovation features a thin, n-type InP cap layer that is
etched during final cleaning between the grid lines. Along with
Temp Control for OEMs an n-type InP layer at the heterointerface and a p-type InP
Both the Wavelength Electronics
emitting surface layer, the extra degree-of-freedom provided
PLD Laser Diode Driver and the PTC
by the n-type InP cap layer enables independent tailoring of
Temperature Controller Series offer
the electric field at 3 key locations in the device: beneath the
high precision control and excellent
grid lines, at the emitting InP surface between grid lines, and
stability in a compact, PCB-mount
at the p-type InGaAs absorber/n-type InP heterointerface. This
package. Advanced safety features include current limits, slow
enables minimization of the field beneath the grid lines while
start, and ESD protection. Ideal for applications where stabil-
the emitting surface and heterointerface fields are balanced
ity is critical and space is tight.
such that the onset of high escape probability and turn-on
PLD available up to 6.5 A.
completion of the heterointerface occur at the same reduced
PTC available up to 10 A.
device bias. The resulting effect is that dark current compo-
www.teamwavelength.com/ptb1
nents are minimized, including those due to undue extension
Photonics West Booth #2103 of the depletion region into the low bandgap absorber and
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-616
premature emitting surface field development with bias, while
maintaining high QE and minimal grid line leakage.
World’s Most Configurable The innovation features an InP:Zn emitting surface layer
MicroSpectrometer doped below the onset of Zn diffusion (thus minimizing epi-
Avantes will present our taxy and process variability), absence of an undoped InP drift
latest spectrometer inno- layer (along with the avalanche-current-inducing voltage drop
vation; AvaSpec spectrom- across it), and an InGaAsP step grade layer introduced at the
eters now available with InGaAs absorber/InP:Si layer heterointerface (further reduc-
the new Avabench-75-ULS ing dark current components associated with the depleted low
Mark II ultra-low stray light bandgap absorber). Employment of a SiON dielectric beneath
optical bench which features the superior stray light rejection the grid line promotes device stability and the absence of fixed
of its predecessor combined with the ability for end users to mobile charge in the metal/dielectric/InP stack.
change slits and connectors, choice of 13 gratings, 10 detector This work was done by Michael Jurkovic of Intevac Photonics
options and more. for Goddard Space Flight Center. For more information, download
www.Avantes.com the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.
Photonics West Booth # 2031 techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical Sciences category.
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/40429-617 GSC-16044-1

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