NASA Tech Briefs’ Electronics & Computers Web page spotlights design innovations in electronic components, semiconductors and integrated circuits (ICs), board-level electronics, power electronics, and computer hardware, as published in NASA Tech Briefs magazine. Many of the Tech Briefs below are correlated to a Technical Support Package (TSP) or White Paper that can be downloaded free of charge.
Virtualizing Physical Measurements Using Wireless Sensor Technology
Benefits include the elimination of wired connections and having advanced signal processing capabilities within each sensor.
Virtualizing physical measurements using wireless sensor technology enables a host of new solution choices. Wireless sensors are smart devices that realize measurements without using external data acquisition (DAQ) equipment or external power sources. The hardware needed to directly digitize low-level ...
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Unlike prior such systems, this system could be operated in daylight.
The Wildfire Airborne Sensing Program (WASP) is engaged in a continuing effort to develop an improved airborne instrumentation system for sensing wildfires. The system could also be used for other aerial-imaging applications, including mapping and ...
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An optoelectronic metrology system is used for determining the attitude and flexing of a large spaceborne radar antenna or similar structure. The measurements are needed for accurate pointing of the antenna and correction and control of the phase of the radar signal wavefront. The system includes a dual-field-of-view star tracker; ...
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A dual-stacked-patch design incorporates several improvements over a basic design.
The figure depicts selected aspects of a very-high-frequency (VHF) microstrip-patch antenna designed and built to satisfy requirements specific to an airborne synthetic-aperture radar system for measuring the thickness of sea ice. One of the requirements is ...
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Performance would approach within ≈ 0.2 dB of that of perfect timing.
A method of utilizing information available in the constraints imposed by a low-density parity-check (LDPC) code has been proposed as a means of aiding the recovery of symbol timing in the reception of a binary-phase- ...
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Formation estimation couples estimation algorithms, sensing topology, and communication topology.
An architecture has been designed that integrates formation estimation methodologies, precision formation sensing, and high- bandwidth formation communication into a robust, strap-on system that meets knowledge and communication requirements for the majority of planned, precision formation ...
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A document describes the Inter - planetary Overlay Networking Protocol Accelerator (IONAC) — an electronic apparatus, now under development, for relaying data at high rates in spacecraft and interplanetary radio-communication systems utilizing a delay-tolerant networking protocol. The protocol includes provisions for transmission and reception of data in bundles (essentially, messages), ...
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Group-III Nitride Field Emitters
Magic-T Junction Using Microstrip/Slotline Transitions
Hand-Held Ultrasonic Instrument for Reading Matrix Symbols
Customizable Digital Receivers for Radar
Broadband Microstrip-to-Coplanar Strip Double-Y Balun
A Topographical Lidar System for Terrain-Relative Navigation
Electronic Switch Arrays for Managing Microbattery Arrays
Programmable Low-Voltage Circuit Breaker and Tester
Support for Diagnosis of Custom Computer Hardware
Shaft-Angle Sensor Based on Tunnel-Diode Oscillator
Impact-Locator Sensor Panels
Making a Back-Illuminated Imager With Back-Side Contact and Alignment Markers
Low-Loss Waveguides for Terahertz Frequencies
Spaceborne Processor Array
