Vol. 25 No. 8 

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22

56 

Q, TECH BRIEFS August 2001 • Vol. 25 No. 8 

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR DESIGN & MANUFACTURING

16 MEMS: Smaller is the Next Big Thing 

22 InReview 

64 Application Briefs 

28 Special Coverage: 

Computers & Peripherals 

28 The NASA Spacecraft Transponding Modem 

28 Analog VLSI Circuits for Hebbian Learning in 

Neural Networks 

30 Compact, Rugged Enclosure for PC-Based 

Electronic Circuits 

32 Design of a Highly Reliable Controller for an 

1 2C Bus 

33 Advances in Parallel Computing on Adaptive 

Grids 

qW 34 Electronic Components and Systems 

34 Full-Spectrum Arraying of Receiving 

Radio Antennas 

36 Array of Nanoklystrons for Frequency Agility and 

Redundancy 

39 Log-Ratio Circuit With Enhanced Temperature 

Stability 

40 Millimeter-Wave Dichroic Plates for High Angles 

of Incidence 

Akl IV 42 Software 

42 Computing Diffusion in High-Temperature 

Coating Layer 

42 Software for 3D Graphics With Time- and 

Cost-Saving Features 

lro 44 Materials 

44 Obtaining Consistent, Reliable Results in 

Elastomer Seal Testing 

45 Making Ion-Accelerator Grids From Ti Instead 

of Mo

46 Mechanics 

46 Quasi-Fractal Lenticular Booms 

46 Vacuum Pumping Station 

47 Nonintrusive Pressure Gauges 

48 PVP-MP Method for Wrinkling Analysis of Space 

Membrane Structures

•DEPARTMENTS I 

10 Commercial Technology Team 

12 UpFront 

14 Reader Forum 

15 Technologies of the Month 

24 Who's Who at NASA 

26 Commercialization Opportunities 

62 Advertisers Index 

54 Web Sites 

55 Software 

56 Products 

57 Literature

SPECIA L IuI J J :1 I 1 

Motion la-8a 

CONTROL Motion Control Tech Briefs 

Tech Briefs Follows page 48/n selected 

editions only. 

4 %ww.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2(X)1 
ALGOR 

SIMULATES MIRMS 

Visit simulatemems.algor.COm

and watch our free educational 

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popular CAD systems and includes a precision FEA model building tool. 

ALGOR'S MEMS SOLUTION INCLUDES: 

Multiphysiceanalysis software to simulate the real-world mechanical 

hehior for several physical factors acting simultaneously, such as: 

• Electrostatic analysis software that calculates forces due to 

surface chOrOes 

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events with linear and nonlinear material models that predicts 

electromechanical effects driven by electrostatic forces 

• Structural analysis software that predicts electromechanical 

effects driven by electrostatic forces 

• Piezoelectric material models for Mechanical Event Simulation 

and static stress analysis 

• Composite material models for Mechanical Event Simulation 

and static stress analysis 

• Thermal analysis for considering the effects of heat transfer 

• Fluid flow analysis for considering the effects of fluid dynamics 

• An easy-to-use graphical user interface that enables engineers to 

directly apply electrostatic forces to a structural model and provides 

right-click functionality for applying, modifying and removing loads, 

constraints and finite element properties 

• Built-in precision FEA model building capabilities with geometric 

scaling and structured meshing capabilities 

• InCAD technology for CAD/CAE interoperability within Autodesk 

Inventor, CADKEY, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER for 

Windows, Solid Edge and SolidWorks 

• Unstructured brick and tetrahedral meshing 

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Contents continued 

49 Manufacturing/Fabrication 

49 Digital Preassembly Process 

51 Physical Sciences 

51 Numerical Index for Quantifying Aircraft Icing 

Hazards 

52 DNS of Mixing of Supercritical Heptane and 

Nitrogen 

1053 Books and Reports 

53 Gas Generator for Inflating Structures in 

Outer Space 

53 Thermal Insulation Would Use CO2 in the 

Martian Environment 

53 Martian Landing Balls

This document was pirpai ed under dir sponsorship of the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. Neither Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd. nor the United States Govertsment nor an y person acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes an y liability resulting from Use use of the information contained in this document, or warrants that 

such use will be free from privately owned rights. The U.S. Government does not endorse any 

commercial product, process, or activity identified in this publication.

VX CAD/CAM Version 5 software - .. 

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12 

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German-based Fella-Werke GmbHA 

used Solid Edge CAD software from UGS 

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Edge features enhancements that focus 

on these types of large-assembly designs, 

scluding a drawing view tracker, pipe 

rhreading, and part/feature/assembly color 

)ptions. For more on the latest version of 

solid Edge, see New on Disk on page 55. 

mage courtesy of UGS) 

Permissions: Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal vise, or the internal or 

personal use of specific clients, is granted by Associated Business Publications, provided that 

the flat lee of $3.00 per copy be paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (222 Rose Wood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923). For those organiaations that have been granted a photocopy 

license by CCC, a separate systetn of payment has been arranged. The fee rode for users of the 

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www.nasatech.com T 

Published by Associated Business Publications 

Publisher Joseph T. Pramberger 

Editor/Associate Publisher ........................................ .............................. Linda L Bell 

Editor Market Focus Editions ......................................... .............. ..........Robert Clark 

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BRIEFS & SUPPORTING LITERATURE: Written and produced for NASA by 

Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc., Hauppauge, NY 11788 

Tech nical/Managtng Editor ......................................................... Ted Selinsky 

Sr. Technical Analyst ..................... ... .......... ................ ............. Dr. Larry Grunberger 

ArtManager ............................................................................. Eric Starstrom 

Staff Writers/Editors ..................................... ...... Dr. Theron Cole, George Watson 

Graphics................................................................................... Robert Simons 

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NASA: 

NASA Tech Briefs are provided by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration Technology Transfer Division, Washington DC. 

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—

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For Free Info Circle No. 523 or Enter No. 523 at www.nasatech.com/rs
Dr. William Gasko 

Center for Technology 

Commercialization 

Massachusetts 

Technology Park 

(508) 870-0042 

B. David Bridges 

Southeast Technology 

Transfer Center 

Georgia Institute of 

Technology 

(404) 894-6786

Gary Sera 

Mid-Continent Technology 

Transfer Center 

Texas A&M University 

(409) 845-8762 

Charles Blankenship 

Technology 

Commercialization Center 

Newport News, VA 

(757) 269-0025

Pierretle Woodford 

Great Lakes Industrial 

Technology Transfer 

Center 

Battelle Memorial 

Institute 

(216) 898-6400 

NASA-Sponsored Commercial Technology Organizations 

These organizations were established to provide rapid access to NASA and other federal 

R&D and foster collaboration between public and private sector organizations. They also 

can direct you to the appropriate point of contact within the Federal Laboratory Consortium. 

To reach the Regional Technology Transfer Center nearest you, call (800) 472-6785.

B. Greg Hinkebein 

Mississippi Enterprise for 

Technology 

Stennis Space 

Center, MS 

(800) 746-4699

NASA

NASA's R&D efforts produce a robust supply of promising technologies with applications in many 

industries. A key mechanism in identifying commercial applications for this technology is NASA's 

Commercial national network of commercial technology organizations. The network includes ten NASA field cenTechnology ters, six Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RITC5), the National Technology Transfer Center 

Team (NTTC), business support organizations, and a full tie-in with the Federal Laboratory Consortium 

(FLC) for Technology Transfer. Call (609) 667-7737 for the FLC coordinator in your area. 

NASA's Technology Sources 

If you need further information about new technologies presented in NASA Tech Briefs, 

request the Technical Support Package (TSP) indicated at the end of the brief. If a TSP is 

not available, the Commercial Technology Office at the NASA field center that sponsored 

the research can provide you with additional information and, if applicable, refer you to the 

innovator(s). These centers are the source of all NASA-developed technology.

NASA Program Offices 

At NASA Headquarters there are seven major 

program offices that develop and oversee 

technology projects of potential interest to 

industry. The street address for these strategic 

business units is: NASA Headquarters, 300 E 

St. SW, Washington, DC 20546. 

Ames Research 

Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Information 

Technology; 

Biotechnology; 

Nanotechnology; 

Aerospace 

Operations 

Systems; 

Rotorcraft; 

Thermal 

Protection 

Systems. 

Cam/ma Blake 

(650) 604-1754 

cblake@mail. 

arc.nasa.gov

Dryden Flight 

Research Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Aerodynamics; 

Aeronautics Flight 

Testing: 

Aeropropulsion; 

Flight Systems; 

Thermal Testing; 

Integrated 

Systems Test and 

Validation. 

Jenny BaerRiedhart 

(661) 276-3689 

jenny.baerriedhart@dfrc. 

nasa.gov

Joseph Allen 

National Technology 

Transfer Center 

(800) 678-6882 

Ken Dozier 

Far-West Technology 

Transfer Center 

University of Southern 

California 

(213) 743-2353

Goddard Space 

Flight Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Earth and 

Planetary Science 

Missions; LIDAR; 

Cryogenic 

Systems; 

Tracking; 

Telemetry; 

Remote Sensing; 

Command. 

George Alcorn 

(301) 286-5810 

galcom@gsfc. 

nasa.gov

Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory 

Selected tech nological strengths: 

Near/Deep-Space 

Mission 

Engineering; 

Microspacecraft; 

Space 

Communications; 

Information 

Systems; 

Remote Sensing; 

Robotics. 

Merle McKenzie 

(818) 354-2577 

mer/e.mckenzie@ 

jpl.nasa.gov

Johnson Space 

Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Artificial Intelligence and 

Human Computer 

Interface; 

Life Sciences; 

Human Space 

Flight Operations; 

Avionics; 

Sensors; 

Communications. 

Charlene E. Gilbert 

(281)483-0474 

chadeie.e.gimertla 

jsc.nasa.gov

Kennedy Space 

Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Fluids and Fluid 

Systems; Materials Evaluation; 

Process Engineering; Command, Control 

and Monitor 

Systems; Range 

Systems; Environmental Engineering and 

Management. 

Jim Aliberti 

(321) 867-6224 

Jim.Aliberti- 1@ 

ksc.nasa.gov

Langley Research 

Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Aerodynamics: 

Flight Systems: 

Materials: 

Structures; 

Sensors; 

Measurements; 

Information 

Sciences. 

Sam Morello

(757) 864-6005 

s.a.morel/o@ 

/arc.nasa.gov

John H. Glenn 

Research Center 

at Lewis Field 

Selected technological strengths: 

Aeropropulsion; 

Communications; 

Energy 

Technology; 

High Temperature 

Materials 

Research. 

Larry Vitema 

(216) 433-3484 

cto@grc. 

nasa.gov

Marshall Space 

Flight Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Materials; 

Manufacturing: 

Nondestructive 

Evaluation; 

Biotechnology; 

Space Propulsion; 

Controls and 

Dynamics: 

Structures; 

Microgravity 

Processing, 

Vemotto McMillan 

(256) 544-2615 

vemotto.mcmillan 

@msfc.nasa.gov

Stennis Space 

Center 

Selected technological strengths: 

Propulsion 

Systems; 

Test/Monitoring; 

Remote Sensing; 

Nonintrusive 

Instrumentation. 

Kirk Sharp 

(228) 688-1929 

kirk.sharp@ 

ssc.nasa.gov

Carl Ray 

Small Business Innovation 

Research Program (SBIA) 

& Small Business 

Technology Transfer 

Program (ST1R) 

(202) 358-4652 

cray@mail.hq.nasa.gov

Dr. Robert Norwood 

Office of Commercial 

Technology (Code RW) 

(202) 358-2320 

morwood@mail.hq. 

nasa.gov

John Manikins 

Office of Space Flight 

(Code MP) 

(202) 358-4659 

jmankins@mail. 

hq.nasa.gov

Wayne P. Zeman 

Lewis Incubator for 

Technology 

Cleveland, OH 

(216) 586-3888 

Julie Holland 

NASA Commercialization 

Center 

Pomona, CA 

(909) 869-4477 

Bndgette Smalley 

UH-NASA Technology 

Commercialization 

Incubator 

Houston, TX 

(713) 743-9155

Thomas G. Rainey 

NASA KSC Business 

Incubation Center 

Titusville, FL 

(407)383-5200 

Joanne W. Randolph 

BizTech 

Huntsville, AL 

(256) 704-6000 

Terry Hertz 

Office of Aero-Space 

Technology (Code RS) 

(202) 358-4636 

thertz@mail.hq.nasa.gov

Glen Mucklow 

Office of Space Sciences 

(Code SM) 

(202) 358-2235 

gmuckbow@mail. 

hq.nasa.gov

Roger Crouch 

Office of Microgravity 

Science Applications 

(Code U) 

(202) 358-0689 

rcrouch@hq.nass.gov

Granville Paules 

Office of Mission to Planet 

Earth (Code Y) 

(202) 358-0706 

gpaules@rntpe.hq.nasagov 

NASA's Business Facilitators 

NASA has established several organizations 

whose objectives are to establish joint sponsored research agreements and incubate 

small start-up companies with significant 

business promise.

Joe Becker 

Ames Technology 

Commercialization Center 

San Jose, CA 

(408) 557-6700 

Marty Kaszubowski 

Hampton Roads 

Technology Incubator 

(Langley Research Center) 

Hampton, VA 

(757) 865-2140 

John Fini 

NASA ON-LINE: Go to NASA's Commercial Technology Network (CTN) on the World Wide Web at Goddard Space Flight 

http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov to search NASA technology resources, find commercialization opportunities, Center Incubator

and learn about NASA's national network of programs, organizations, and services dedicated to tech- Baltimore, MD 

nology transfer and commercialization. (410) 327-9150 x1034

If you are interested in information, applications, and services relating to satellite and aerial data for Earth resources, contact: Dr. Stan Morain, Earth Analysis 

Center, (505) 277-3622.

www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 
I 

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You do outstanding 

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ww w a wales. cam
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L PROD L1CTh FTHE MOH 

V

X Corp., Palm Bay.

-- 1 FL, has released r

- ...._.... -

_.

Version 5 of VX 

CAD/CAM, a 

design-through-manufacturing software package

that features new function.

and enhancements. - 

Included are manual and

automatic healing of - 

imported solid models: 

direct import/translation I, 

of Pro/E, CATIA, and 

Parasolid files; unified 

filleting with a single 

command; lofting for 

complex shapes; and 

advanced mold and sheet metal design and manufacturing. New surface creation 

tools allow users to decide how much attraction or gravity to apply to problem 

curves, eliminating deformities. The user interface for the new version has been 

enhanced to comply with Windows standards. The software was designed to 

integrate product design and manufacturing to eliminate the gap between CAD 

and CAM packages. Manufacturing planning and CXC machining routines are 

an integral part of the VX modeling engine. 

For Free Info Circle No. 735 or Enter No. 735 at www.nasatech.com/rs

NASA Licenses Mapping Software 

mapping services to both military and 

commercial customers. 

The system uses interferometric radar 

remote sensing and combines X-band 

and P-band (UHF) radar 

waves. The shorter wavelength X-band radar 

measures near the tops 

of trees, and the longer 

wavelength P-band 

penetrates the foliage. 

The system can produce 

elevation models with 

vertical accuracies to 1 to 

5 meters. Federal, state, 

and local government 

agencies, as well as other 

organizations, may use 

GeoSAR data to understand seismic changes in 

forests, assess forest fire 

damage, measure timber 

volume, and help in environmental 

protection and flood plain management. 

For more information visit http://southport. 

jpl. nasa.gov/html/projects/geosar/geosa,ç

html 

What's New On-line 

What's new is what's next: the 

X Internet. The "Executable 

Internet" adopts the XML 

standard, and will become the 

dominant way we interact with 

the Net by 2005, according to 

Forrester Research. The X 

Internet will replace browsers 

and static Web pages with a 

much richer, interactive 

xperience. And speaking of 

I i teractive experiences, you can 

(cess the full story on the X 

iiternet by visiting the NASA 

I'rh Briefs Web site at www. 

nasatech.com/features. There, 

Mull find out about the first 

,tnd second stages of the X 

Internet, how it will affect all 

aspects of business, which types 

of vendors will be the biggest 

winners in developing 

applications, and what your 

company can do to prepare 

for the X Internet. 

If you enjoyed this month's 

feature story on MEMS and 

nanotechnology, you'll want to 

visit www.nasatech.com/features

for more information on this 

subject. Each month, we include 

an on-line feature story that picks 

up where the print feature leaves 

off. Additional comments from 

industry leaders, hot links to 

related companies, and other 

supporting information not 

included in the print piece 

are highlighted in the on-line 

feature. You can even access 

archived on-line stories based on 

feature articles that appeared earlier this year in NASA Tech Briefs. 

Don't forget to visit wwnasatech. 

com/25letters and enter our 

25th Anniversary Reader 

Contest. Simply fill out the brief 

profile and tell us in 200 words 

or less how NASA Tech Briefs has 

helped you in your business or 

daily life during the past 25 

years. If your letter is selected, 

we'll publish it in our December 

commemorative anniversary 

issue and you'll be eligible for 

some great prizes. 

mapping system uses 

radar to operate both 

day and night, under 

almost any weather condition. JPL 

designed and constructed the radar 

systems and the processing software. 

After the system is fully tested, 

EarthData plans to provide GeoSAR 

A

new radar mapping technology 

designed to generate high-resolution 3D maps of Earth beneath foliage 

and other vegetation has been licensed 

by NASA's Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory (JPL) in 

Pasadena, CA, to 

EarthData International 

of Fresno, CA. This is the 

first system that will be 

able to map above, 

through, and below the 

vegetation canopy to 

provide information on 

landslides that are overgrown with vegetation. 

The Geographic 

Synthetic Aperture 

Radar (GeoSAR)

This digital elevation model of 

Los Angeles County. CA, is typical 

of the data that will be produced 

with the Ge0SAR system. This 

model is used to identify 

potential earthquake hazards. 

1 2www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
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Arbitrary Waveform Generator, but not many. Not when, at such low cost, 

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waveforms, arbitrary waveforms and pulses. That has sweep, burst, modulation and external clock reference. And comes from Agilent Technologies. 

Now in one instrument, you have all the flexibility you need to complete 

your design. Along with an easy-to-use graphical color display/interface 

and built-in help system. Should you ever require it, you also have the 

help of another engineer, just by calling our toll-free number. For more 

information on the Agilent 33250A, you can call for a data sheet, or visit 

our web site for an interactive overview. With nearly double the performance and the same price as its nearest competitor, it's one decision you 

shouldn't have to think twice about. Dreams made real. 

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For Free Info Circle No. 513 or Enter No. 513 at www.nasatech.com/rs
Reader Forum 

Reader Forum is dedicated to the thoughts, concerns, questions, and comments of our readers. If you have a comment, a question 

regarding a technical problem, or an answer to a previously published question, post your letter to Reader Forum on-line 

at www.nasatech.com, or send to: Editor, NASA Tech Briefs, 317 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017; Fax: 212-986-7864. Please 

include your name, company (if applicable), address, and e-mail address or phone number. 

T

he February issue of NASA Tech Briefs 

included a tech brief on page 52 entitled "High-Performance FOSS-Modified 

Polymeric Composites." One of the authors, Joseph Lichtenhan, has been working closely with my company on the development of conformal coatings for use 

in the electronics industry. The article 

concludes with the fact that the concept 

has not been reduced to practice. However, recent tests have been conducted of 

a POSS-Epoxide reinforced conformal 

coating applied on electronic controls as 

a means of protection from streaming 

moisture environments. The POSS reinforcement of coatings and encapsulants 

has been proven by these tests to provide 

a substantial increase in protection of 

electronic equipment subjected to hostile 

temperature and moisture environments. 

Francis E. Isaman, President 

Tech noMerix 

celind©gte.net

(Editor's Note: Francis, thanks for your 

follow-up comments on this technology, which 

was developed for NASA's Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory. More information is available at 

www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Materials 

categor-v.) 

(Editor's Note: Dennis Tito's recent voyage 

to the International Space Station, courtesy of 

the Russian Space Agency, has generated both 

admiration and ire from our readers, including these comments from Gregory N. S/suet.) 

I was the Air Force Director of Security Engineering at NASA's Johnson 

Space Center during the Challenger 

shuttle disaster. The sentiment among 

the Air Force at the time was that 

NASA's penchant for grandstanding by 

sending non-astronauts tip was a dangerous risk that was not merely a publicity stunt to generate more funding 

support. The net result was that Christa 

McAuliffe - the "tourist" - seemed to

get all the public sympathy when there 

were other just as important people 

who died that day. 

There is a time and place for everything. Putting a tourist on-hoard when 

the Space Station is built and valuable 

manpower is not as necessary would he 

a more prudent approach. The Russians have an amazingly juvenile mentality when it comes to dealing with the 

rest of the world. I worked with them 

following the collapse of the Soviet 

Union and, at the same time, tried to 

get America to fund projects, buy into 

Russian projects and business interests, 

and buy its engineers and its technology. Few people would listen to me. 

Now we're seeing the results of America's failure to become inserted into the 

Russian system. 

Gregory N. Shuey 

LA. Col., USAF (Ret) 

ghuicv@ worldnet.att.net

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14 For Free Info Circle No. 403 or Enter No. 403 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
Technologies of the Month 

Sponsored by ye tcom 

For more information on these and other new, licensable inventions, visit

www.nasatech.com/techsearch

New Ceramic Coating Improves Gas 

Turbine Performance 

Robert Sherman, EPRI 

jL it When attempting to 

-. l)oost gas turbine effiI(Il('\, operators have traditionally iail increased firing 

the resulting component S

tcIlIr)ei attires. However, 

it ultimately leads to a 

g&s turbine's failure. In 

an effort to prevent this, 

I- l'Rl has &N, clopcd a iiiiili -lasci ed. laminated, nanostructurud ceramic coating designed In create a protective barrier against heat, oxidation, and corrosion on gas turbine 

blades. 

The coating is applied by an electron-beam physical vapor deposition process or by sputter coating at temperatures above 

1020°C. The coating's thinness reduces stress and weight, and 

improves the blade's aerodynamic efficiency. The laminated Ceramic coaling also improves turbine performance by insulating 

the cooling channels cast into turbine blades and vanes, reducing the requirements for cooling air and the corresponding performance penalty. 

Get the complete report on this technology at: 

wurw. nasatech.com/techsearch/tow/ep ri. html 

Bayer Develops Superabsorbent Polymers 

Günter Sac*mann, Bayer AG 

Consumer personal care prod- -. 

ucts such as baby diapers and fernmine hygiene products are coinposed of liquid-absorbing materials 

called superabsorbeit I polymer 

(SAPs). Bayer's new SAPs are cle- - 

ated through the process of lisdrolysis, in which aqueous emulsions of ultra-high molecular weight jiIa& I I 11111 IIC at 

converted into poly(acrylic acid) with sodium h ydroxide. This 

process enables the hydrolysis to he controlled closely, producing a wider range of properties. 

Through a chemical surface treatment in which they are 

dried, ground, and sieved to powders, SAPs can he improved 

even further, resulting in extremely rapid uptake of liquids 

while producing a "rlrv" feeling from the liquid-swollen particles. The new SAP powders provide a much greater surface 

area and have passed toxicological testing for biological side 

effects, including skin and eye irritation. 

Get the complete report on this technologs at:

www.nasatech.com/techsearch/tow/bayer.html

Instrument Landing System Promotes 

Safer Aircraft Landings in Poor Visibility 

Steve Toner, TRW 

Landing an aircraft in bad weather has always been challenging for pilots. Instrument landing systems (ILS) have been used 

to guide pilots in determining the location and size of runways. 

TRW has developed an ILS that uses a single, fixed, onboard 

multi-bean antenna system and several low-cost RF beacons on 

the ground to create an image of the runway as viewed from the 

aircraft. The antenna system is comprised of a lens, RF processing modules, signal conversion circuitry, and a power supply, all 

mounted securely in a cylindrical housing in the aircraft. 

The ILS requires six ground emitters - four to outline the runway and 

two more widely spaced apart to provide a more accurate indication of 

range. The system does not produce a 

"camera-like" picture, but by using 

overlapping RF beams, a very accurate 

image is created of the runway relative 

to the aircraft. Because this system requires relatively little 

equipment, its lower cost is ideal for smaller airports. It also enables pilots to fix their position on the ground for taxiing. 

Get the complete report on this tech nologv at: 

urww.nasatech.com/techsearch/tow/trw.html

Polymer Blending Technique Reduces Cost 

and Improves Product 

Bill Heise, Eastman Chemical 

Dozens of natural and synthetic polymers - such as nylon, 

((lIon, wool, rubber, plastics, and Teflon® - are a part of our 

(lailv lives. Polymers are materials consisting of many small molI uk's, called monomers, linked together to form long chains 

taIled macromolecules. Polymeric compounds are materials 

titatle from a blend of polymers created in a generally expensive process called impact modification. 

Eastman Chemical's new polymer blending technolog y called 

()ptiloy enables manufacturers to use emulsions in standard 

PET polytnenzauon reactors to create blends without expensive 

impact modification This technology enables a wider range of 

blends to he created in a polymerization reactor, including Condensation-type polymers and a broader category of additiontype polymers that traditionally have been created using extruder blending. Unlike conventional impact polymerization, 

Optiloy enables the manufacture of a wider range of polymer 

blends with a simpler manufacturing process, and without large 

capital outlays for additional equipment, reducing overall cost. 

(;et the complete report on this technology at: 

www.nasatech.com/techsearch/tow/eastman . html 

NASA Tech Biiefs, August 2001 www.nasatech.com 15
The FOP-M in-vivo blood pressure transducer from Fiso Technologies (Sainte Foy, Quebec, 

Canada) is a fiber-optic MEMS sensor located at the tip of a catheter, internal to the body, 

for high-accuracy measurements even in the presence of EM or RF fields. 

MEMS: Smaller is the 

Next B19Thing 

T

he basic idea has been ar( 11 

since the 1960s - micron-si, 

devices that measure typicall 

few millimeters across. But iL 

been only in the last decade that Mk 

electromechanical Systems (MEMS) and 

nanotechnology have become important parts of most areas of science and 

technology. 

MEMS devices are similar in most ways 

to conventional devices such as sensors 

and accelerometers, but at a much 

smaller size. Nanotechnologv refers to 

devices ranging in size from a nanometer to a micron. Made using semiconductor fabrication techniques, micro 

injection molding, or other more specialized processes, MEMS devices are 

frequently combined with integrated circuits on a single chip. 

The benefits of using MEMS technology are many, including the obvious benefit of size. And while you may think the 

smaller a device, the higher the cost, 

think again. Thanks to integrated circuit 

processing methods, thousands of MEMS 

can be mass-produced on a single six-inch 

silicon wafer, making MEMS less expensive to produce than conventional parts. 

MEMS also enables new functionality, 

according to Andrew Swiecki, vice president of sales and marketing for IntelliSense, a subsidiary of Corning that designs, develops, and manufactures 

MEMS devices, as well as sells MEMSspecific CAD software called IntelliSuite'. "There are many things that can 

be done with MEMS devices that can't 

be done with other devices." For example, he added, MEMS devices are very 

low in mass and are very reliable structures, so they can be used in all-optical 

switching. 

New applications for these miniature 

wonders are popping up every day. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates that the total MEMS market, now

at $1.4 billion, will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent 

through the year 2004, when the market 

is expected to exceed $3 billion. Automotive applications such as airbag sensors comprise one-third of the total market, while the medical market is the 

second largest industry using MEMS in 

products like disposable blood pressure 

sensors. 

Smart munitions that can alter their 

paths after firing, robotic grippers, metering nozzles for inkjet printers, drug 

delivery systems, accelerometers used in 

antilock braking systems, and automotive sensors for measuring fuel level, tire 

inflation, and oil pressure are just some 

of the many applications for MEMS. The 

telecommunications industry has been 

invaded by the MEMS wave, primarily 

for reliable optical switches.

According to Tom Connolly, engineering manager of silicon products for 

Endevco Corp. - a supplier of sensors, 

accelerometers, and transducers - the 

medical and automotive fields hold the 

greatest promise for commercial success 

of MEMS. "We're getting into the health 

field in pacemakers," he said. "Basically, 

we're using an accelerometer to determine the activity level of the person with 

the pacemaker. The accelerometer can 

tell the computer inside the pacemaker 

whether to increase the heart rate or decrease it, depending on how much 

movement is involved." 

Endevco's other big focus is on the military. "During Desert Storm, the military 

dropped bombs onto bunkers in Iraq, 

sometimes exploding on the wrong floor 

of the bunker. We're designing an accelerometer that can penetrate and count 

16 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
• .e

iuUd, q,JL-PL0i1UW Li, 

.••.. 

: •:• •::. The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 

Wt(Tir DC. 

MEMS, microsystems and nanotechnologies are devices smaller than a grain of sand that are taking the place of larger, 

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Welcome reception and registration 

Exhibits open 

Big Applications in Small Tech 

Explore the next five years of small tech solutions 

and applications. 

Keynote: Mr. Jeffrey Hilbert, Coventor 

Panelists: Mr. Barry Alexia, John Deere Worldwide 

Dr. Albert Pisano, University of California at Berkeley 

Mr. Erik Puik, TNO Industries, the Netherlands 

Mr. Jim Walker, Tetlium, Inc. 

Lunch with Mr. Daniel Burrus, Leading technology forecaster 

2020 Vision 

Presenters focus on the next 20 years of potential small tech 

applications and their impact. 

Keynote: Dr. Kristofer Pister, University of California at Berkeley 

Panelists: Dr. Wayne Knox, University of Rochester

Dr. Marc Madou, Nanogen, Inc. 

Dr. At Romig, Sandia National Laboratories 

Dr. Clark Nguyen, University of Michigan 

Exhibits open 

The Public Initiatives 

National organizations address how and why they are using 

small technologies. 

Dr. William Tang, Defense Advanced Research 

Projects Agency (DARPA) 

Dr. Filbert Bartoli, National Science Foundation ( NSF) 

Dr. Caro[ Dahl, National Cancer Institute (NCI) 

Dr. Michael Gaitan, National Institute of Standards 

and Technology ( NIST)

Reality Checks 

Open forum for attendee questions and solutions.

Moderator: Mr. John Callaway, 

host of W1TA(-lVs Chicago Stories 

Experts include: 

Dr. Roger Howe, University of California at Berkeley 

Dr. Marc Waelti, IntetliSense, Corp. 

Closing Remarks: Mr. Rick Snyder, Ardesta LLC 

Dinner with Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator and 

presidential candidate. 

Small Tech Workshops 

Venture Capital Opportunities 

Moderator: Mr. James Koshland, 

Gray Cary Ware Friedenrich, LLP 

Packaging Solutions 

Panelists include: 

Mr. Joe Giachino, University of Michigan 

Mr. Erik Puik, TNO Industries, the Netherlands 

Dr. Marc Waetti, InteltiSense Corp. 

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the number of StOneS it goes through in 

these bunkers, and explode it on a panicWar floor. It's able to distinguish timber, 

concrete, and open spaces, and even the 

angle of impact. It's very exciting stuff." 

Exciting stuff, indeed. But for all the 

gee-whiz attraction of these devices, the 

MEMS industry has been slow to mature. According to a report from Roger 

Grace Associates, it's the R&D and university activities that continue to be wellfunded and robust, rather than the 

commercial arena. 

Swiecki agrees that MEMS is defifliOI\ I'T I 111atlllc 111,111,cl \l. li 

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continuing to grow \er, rapidl y. IntelliSense has been working in the MEMS 

area for 10 years, which makes it one of 

the more experienced companies. 

We've been able to see the industry 

change over the years in all areas," 

Swiecki said. "Ten years ago. MEMS was 

used extensively in the sensing industries. Today, the big areas for MEMS 

are in optics and telecommunications, 

as well as in life sciences." 

The MEMS market is rather fragmented, said Connolly. "There are a 

number of big players, like Analog De-

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ket, where they have the big volume. On 

the other hand, Endevco is a smaller 

player. We go for niche markets and applications like inertial measurement 

units for guided missiles. The volumes 

aren't very high, but we're able to work 

with specific application requirements," 

he added. 

Connolly sees the MEMS market on 

the verge of an explosion. "They're talking about it becoming a $2 billion market. From our little world, we're seeing 

increased demand as applications open 

tip." As the market expands, explained 

Connolly, applications are growing in 

the health and entertainment fields. "As 

acceptance increases and the costs keep 

coming down, it really is becoming quite 

a flood." 

Design Challenges 

So when these flood gates open and 

more MEMS devices pour out into commercial industries, who will make them, 

and how small will they get? MEMSbased designs can produce systems on a 

chip, in which a transceiver, batteries, 

sensors, and microprocessor are all on a 

single component not much larger than 

a postage stamp. The trick is designing 

each miniature piece of the system, and 

making sure they are manufacturable 

and durable enough to operate. 

MEMS devices are surprisingly rugged 

and can operate for long periods of time 

on little power. They must he able to en-

(lure damaging internal heat build-up, 

and withstand excessive structural loads, 

ambient temperature swings, and severe 

shock and vibration. 

"MEMS is a unique technology, so 

there will always he unique design challenges," said Swiecki. "For every commercial MEMS device that's developed, 

both the device itself and the process to 

make it need to be developed." Another 

challenge, explained Swiecki, is that 

MEMS requires a lot of engineering disciplines. In order to create a new MEMS 

device, he said, it company needs "chemical engineers, process engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, 

potentially fluidic engineers - a great 

deal of diverse expertise." 

That expertise includes the ability to 

simulate and analyze how these devices 

will perform. Software vendors have even 

begun to specifically address MEMS development as a capability of their products. 

ALGOR, a supplier of Finite Element 

Analysis (FEA)-based simulation software, 

has incorporated tools for simulating 

MEMS. The company's solution links electrostatic analysis to structural analysis with 

a graphical user interface that works 

Global technical support & distribution • Facilities in the US. Germany and Asia 

18 For Free Info Circle No. 406 or Visit www.nasatech.com/406 NA.SA Tech Briefs, August 2001
This wafer contains bulk-micromachined microfluidic components made for laboratory analytic equipment. The 

wafer is shown post-processing, but prior to dicing and 

packaging. (Photo courtesy of IntelliSense) 

within many CAD sYstems, and includes a 

FEA model-building tool. "ALGOR's 

MEMS solution will enable engineers to 

design the devices that promise to make 

the next generation of electronic products 

smarter and cheaper," said Michael Bussh-j \l ()R I m . ,i(IcIll !u1( l()

Another simulation software vendor, 

ANSYS, offers the ANSYS MEMS Initiative Web site (www.ansvs.com/

action/MEMSinitiative/index.htm) 

that features MEMS simulation applications using the company's ANSYS/ 

\hthiph\ ics package, technical papers, 

and a MEMS database. 

With all of this engineering expertise, how small 

can MEMS devices get? 

Theoretically, said Connolly, there isn't a size limit, 

but there are practical limitations. "The inertial mass 

is essentially what gravity 

or acceleration is acting 

t1Ofl when it comes in contact with an accelerometer. 

If you're concerned about 

size, you can always make 

them smaller. But the 

larger the mass, the more 

sensitive the device. On the 

other hand, we're being 

pushed to make these 

things smaller." 

Physics is ultimately what 

will define the smallest size 

possible, and the capahililit's of he tiiaiciials used,

according to Swiecki. "On a more practical level, the applications will define how 

small devices need to be for each application." 

Where MEMS is Going 

Perhaps the most innovative and exciting applications for MEMS technology are coming not from commercial 

industry, but from university, government, and independent research labs. 

NASA has been a leader in the development of MEMS technology for missions requiring lower cost, smaller size, 

lower weight, and less power consumption. Nanotechnology development 

has been underway at a number of 

NASA centers, including The Center 

for Space Microelectronics Technologv's Microdevices Laboratory at 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in 

Pasadena, CA. The Center focuses on 

sensors, microelectronics, environmental and biomedical technologies, and 

high-performance computing devices 

that use micro- and nano-sized devices. 

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center 

in Hampton, VA, and (;knn Research 

Center in Cleveland. 011, also have 

hciu fl illilialixcs t( ) ( kVCl( p and oitiNAAIecIi !liits. August 2001 For Free Info Circle No. 404 or Enter No. 404 at www.nasatech.com/rs
W. ID1placemcnt 

I 13.947 

11.158

Actual Size 

of Switch 

D,cE*Rs .0 .l39tfl 

— I 

ALLiUK Soitware was used to calculate the displacement of this MEMS telecom switch due 

to electrostatic forces. The inset shows the size of the Switch compared to a penny. 

mercialize microsystems. High-temperature pressure sensors, chemical sensors, bio-MEMS, and silicon-carbide microdevices are under development. 

Nanotechnology also is opening doors 

to new materials such as carbon nanotubes, a new form of carbon that measures a few nanometers in diameter and 

several microns long. Carbon nanotubes 

have exceptional mechanical properties. 

Researchers at NASA's Marshall Space 

Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, are 

working on carbon nanotube material 

that is 100 times stronger than steel. Researchers at IBM in Yorktown Heights, 

N'i already have fabricated arrays of 

transistors from carbon nanotuhes, 

paving the way for electronic circuitry 

smaller and faster than anything silicon 

could support. 

IBM's work is just one example of 

commercial companies taking advantage of MEMS and nanotechnology. 

Said Swiecki, "The larger companies 

with more developed manufacturing 

systems and a more flexible infrastructure are beginning to take a lead role 

in applying MEMS technology to commercial products." The future of 

\IEMS, he added, is in the applications. "If you asked me ten years ago 

where the market would be today, I 

would have been wrong. We'll see 

more commercial applications, and 

we'll see the technology maturing. 

There is a lot of potential for MEMS 

technology. We don't always know 

what will come out of that potential, 

but we do believe it's one of those enabling technologies that will continue 

to grow."

Get Connected to the 

Companies Featured 

in this Article: 

ALGOR, Inc.....................www.algor.com

ANSYS ..........................www.ansys.com

Endevco Corp...........www.endevco.com

Fiso Technologies ...........www.fiso.com

Frost & Sullivan .............www.frost.com

IBM .................................www.ibm.com

IntelliSense ..........www.inteiisense.com

NASA JPL's Microdevices 

Laboratory ......http:!/csmt.jpl.nasa.gov/

csmtpages/index, html 

Roger Grace 

Associates ...............www.rgrace.com

Recommended Reading 

Handbook of Nanostructured 

Materials and Nanotechnology 

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Getting ready to run the debugger. The code has some 

variables that are undefined. 

inreview 

Compaq Visual Fortran 6.5 

Steven S. Ross 

Array visualizer, available in the Professional and Ei 

prise versions. The graph (of the data in the upper 

dow) can be rotated and repositioned. 

My first computer languages were the 

IBM 1620 assembly language, followed 

by Fortran II, then Fortran IV running 

on an IBM System 360. As late as 1988, I 

was still writing short programs in Fortran more or less from scratch. But I wasn't liking it. The real break with the tribe 

came when I had to rebuild a Fortran 

sparsc lltati1\ '(il\ti for a 10-niiIlioii-cell 

data set, to run on a 16-MHz 80386 IBM 

PS2 Model 80 with a cushy 9 MB of RAM 

and a Microway co-processor. I had used 

too many bad programming tricks to 

port the code easily - not checking a,- 

ray bounds, for instance, so that a 

lot of stuff got reset to zero without 

any extra code. I ended up modifying a sparse matrix program written by someone else, in Microsoft 

Assembler (MASM). 

If I had had Compaq Computer 

Corp.'s Visual Fortran 6.5 (www. 

compaq.com/fortran) back then, I 

might have stuck with my original 

plan. It handled the little things 

well - easily checking (with a runtime module) and then compiling 

and building a hunch of routines 

from my old Mathlih disks, complete with snazzy new Windows interfaces. And the Professional Edition comes with an array visualizer, so if 

I had transformed my matrix into something digestihly smaller, I could have 

viewed the data graphically. 

Why would you use Fortran today? You 

probably wouldn't, unless you had old 

code to port. It's not that Fortran is obsolete. It's just that organizations find it

easier to settle on one or two languages for development. It is not as

modular as the newer object-onented languages. For another, C is

continually being upgraded - C+,

C++, and now C#. Nevertheless, because Fortran 90 and 95 build on

earlier versions and only rarely let

ain functionality go, and because

most Ftrtrn erdp is r,tt, 

tran for the back end of an application). 

With Visual Fortran, you also can link 

code written in C++ or other languages 

to your Fortran routines, and vice versa. 

You will have to get used to the idea that 

the Windows interface typically is much 

bigger than the hack-end code that does 

the calculations.

In the Visual Fortran environment, 

you specify the type of project you want 

to start, mainly by defining the interface. 

For instance, if you specify a project as a 

full-blown "Windows application," you 

can build a program that takes full advantage of the full Windows interface, 

with multiple windows and full graphics. 

But you'll probably need to know a lot of 

details about the W1n32 API. At the 

other end of complexity, you can tell the 

system your project will be a simple command-line "console" application. In between, you can choose to create a "standard graphics" application with one window, or "QuickWin" application (multiple windows, but with basic menus, 

charts, and icons). 

After yost write or import the code, 

you can debug, link, and compile from 

the same interface. It recognizes and accepts code originally written in Fortran 

90 and 77, even when the constructs are 

obsolete. The Standard edition includes 

Compaq's math library and an array 

viewer. The Professional edition adds a 

wizard to turn programs into COM 

servers, a sophisticated array visualizer, 

and the IMSL math and stats libraries. 

The Enterprise edition adds a toolkit 

and extensions for server applications. 

Steve Ross is a visiting professor at Boston University this 

year, co-directing a new Institute 

for Analytic Journalism. He's 

written 18 books and was president of CCM, an educational 

software vendor and C graphics 

shop, in the mid-1 980s. 

-r' n""'i l 

compact, old code is easy to 

use. The Compaq support 

forum even had a message 

from a team using Compaq Adding a fancy dialog box with lots of interface options. 

Visual Fortran to port 

350,000 lines of code (with 2,000 

routines) to a PC environment. 

Whew! 

Why Visual Fortran in place of 

your old standard? After all, I still 

have a decade-old Fortran compiler front Microsoft, and it 

works. Well, there is a lot of new 

,terfunctionality in the language itwin- self. But most users probably will 

care more about the visual programming environment. It's provided by Microsoft and basically is the 

same one you'd use with Visual J++, 

MASM, or Visual C++ (the interface for 

Visual Basic is slightly different, but you 

(an use Basic for ilic interface atid For22 www.na.satech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
Shown are AT! six-axis transducers from 17mm dia. to 330 mm dia.

nis rurcei iuruue aunst 

Strong Transducers With Low-Noise Outputs Measuring Fx, Fy, Fz, Tx, Ty, Ti. 

7 highly recommend AT! s force/torque transducers to anyone 

who needs a reliable, pre-calibrated, easily programmable 

transducer. It is a truly versatile plug-and-play system." 

Prof. Francisco Valero-Cuevas 

Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory 

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 

Cornell University 

"Because of their off-the-shelf solutions for miniature force and 

torque sensing, we were able to go from concept to working 

prototype in months instead of years." 

Patrick Jensen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology 

Johns Hopkins University 

'The force/torque systems from AT! are ideal in our study of 

human grip force coordination and production. They are as 

close to a turn-key system that we have found." 

Professor Jay L. Alberts, Ph.D. 

Dept. of Health and Performance Sciences 

Georgia Institute of Technology 

All manufactures a variety of extremely robust six-axis Force/Torque (F/I) sensors that provide low-noise, high-resolution signals with 

output speeds of up to 1 0kHz and factors of safety up to 27 times measurement range. Since 1983, All has provided thousands of customers 

with F/Is ranging from the smallest six-axis sensor in the world (17 mm diameter) to sensors measuring thousands of pounds. The FA can 

provide data via voltage outputs, RS-232 serial or interface with either ISA, PCI, PCMCIA or cPCI buses. All is developing interfaces to Firewire, 

VXI, IJSB, DeviceNet and Ethernet. The F/I can also interface with analog data acquisition systems (seven channels required). 

For more information, contact Milton Gore at mgore@ati-ia.com or extension 132. 

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Dr. Ayanna Howard, Task Manager, 

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Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

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leads the Telerobotics Research and Applications Group at 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena. 

CA. The team is developing an intelligent 

software tool for terrain-based analysis of 

Mars. She also is the principal investigator 

on a project to develop a real-time software package for autonomous rover navigation on hazardous terrain. 

NASA Tech Briefs: What are neural networks and how are you using them in your 

projects? 

Dr. Ayanna Howard: Neural networks 

are one of the methods we use to give a 

robot the ability to learn from an experience. It allows you to associate one type of 

input with another. For instance, we can 

program a robot to know that if it encounters a four-legged animal that barks, 

it's a dog. Or, if the four-legged animal 

meows, it's a cat. Based on the input, we 

can give the robot parameters on how to 

deal with what it encounters. 

One of the nice things about artificial 

intelligence is that the applications may 

change, but you can use a lot of the same 

techniques. Neural networks are a type of 

learning tool, so anything that you can 

learn, you can apply a neural network to. 

If you have the infrastructure, you may 

have to tweak things here and there, but 

the background is so solid that you don't 

have to re-engineer the entire process. 

NTB: You also use a lot of fuzzy logic in 

your projects. What is fuzzy logic? 

Dr. Howard: Everything in the real 

world is not exact nothing is 100 perCent. We, as people, deal with this all the 

time. If we're walking and the ground is 

suddenly uneven, we don't fall - we compensate. Yet, if a robot is walking on flat 

terrain and suddenly there's a hill, it will 

fall down because it won't know how to 

deal with it. The example I like to use is 

babies. A baby will learn how to walk. But 

if something drastic happens, and say, it 

loses a toe, the baby will adapt. Humans 

use approximation. We don't see a cat

and think about the measured physical dimensions of the cat. We say that the cat is 

bi. or small, or fuzzy. 

Fuzzy logic takes what humans use - 

ipproximatlon, language, and linguisticl)thed representation - and applies it in 

terms of an engineering technology. 

NTB: Could any of these artificial 

intelligence techniques be applied for 

commercial use in the near future? 

Dr. Howard: Manufacturing would definitely be a field where these types of programs could be used. Japan actually uses a 

lot of fuzzy logic in their plants, so that's 

definitely a possibility for further use. In 

fact, right now you have companies trying 

to do pallet operations where they want the 

automated forklift to go into a warehouse, 

find the pallet it needs, lift it up, and take 

it out to the truck for shipment. That's the 

type of thing for which you could use 

neural networks and fuzzy logic, because it 

is basically the same problem. It actually 

would be easier because you would know 

what the warehouse looks like. It would be 

easier to apply these techniques to known 

elements and manmade structures than it 

is to apply it to an unknown environment 

like the surface of Mars. 

NTh:How has the response to this sort 

of technology changed as it has grown? 

Dr. Howard: Interest has grown. People 

now see the validity of this technology, especially if you want to send an intelligent 

device into a place where you don't want 

humans to go. Anywhere that human life 

might be endangered, you can send something powered by artificial intelligence. 

Underwater robotics is a good example. 

We like to send probes down to the bottom 

of the sea. Due to things like severe pressure, you don't want to send people. You'd 

send a robot with the same characteristics. 

Only this time, you have a 3D world instead 

of a flat plane. That's where fuzzy logic 

comes in. In terms of the neural networks, 

because we don't know exactly what it 

looks like down there, we give the robot 

the abilityto adapt to the situation even if 

our initial data was incorrect. 

A full transcript of this interview appears 

on-line at www.nasatech.com/whoswho. Dr. 

Howard can be reached at howard@mbotech. 

jpi. na.sa.gm

uvww. nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs. August 2001
New image processing tools. 

Treat your image 

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See how much better image processing can be with the MATLAB solution. 

Go directly to application examples, demos, tutorials, MATLA " OL IL JL B 

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0 Commercialization Opportunities 

Analog VLSI Circuits for 

Hebbian Learning in Neural 

Networks 

These circuits were designed and built 

to implement Hebbian synapses with an 

improved method of modifying and storing synaptic weights for use in neuralnetwork circuits. The circuits are intended for neural networks that operate 

with spiking input and output signals. 

(See page 28.) 

Design of a Highly Reliable

Controller for an I C Bus 

The original design lacks fault-tolerant features that could protect against

bit errors, shorting of output drives, or 

babbling nodes. The present design 

adds such features. 

(See page 32.) 

Array of Nanoklystrons 

for Frequency Agility or 

Redundancy 

Multiple, individually selectable klystrons would be contained in a single, 

compact unit. Each nanoklystron would 

resemble a conventional klystron but 

would be many times smaller, with resonant cavities formed by micromachining 

in silicon. 

(See page 36.) 

Millimeter-Wave Dichroic Plates 

for High Angles of Incidence 

A plate of this type is used to separate higher- and lower-frequency 

components of incident electromagnetic radiation linearly polarized 

along a specified axis. The plate is designed to reflect most of the radiation 

below its cutoff frequency while allowing radiation at higher frequency 

to pass through. 

(See page 40.) 

Making Ion-Accelerator Grids 

From Ti Instead of Mo 

Titaniuin offers several advantages 

over molybdenum as material for 

thrusters for spacecraft. These advantages could also be expected to extend 

to the manufacture of grids for ion accelerators used in scientific research and 

fabrication of semiconductors. 

(See page 45.) 

Quasi-Fractal Lenticular Booms 

According to the proposal, the traditional design would be replaced by an 

improved one to resist buckling more 

strongly. 

(See page 46.) 

Numerical Index for 

Quantifying Aircraft Icing 

Hazards 

Hazard severity and meteorology are 

related by measuring ice accumulation 

rates observed on a standard airfoil 

under prescribed conditions. This system has greater fidelity than existing 

ones and is applicable to all types of air 

vehicles. 

(See page 51.) 

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26 For Free Info Circle No. 410 or Enter No. 410 at www.nasatech.comlrs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2(X)!
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Special Coverage: Computers & Peripherals 

The NASA Spacecraft Transponding Modem 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CalJbrnia 

A report describes the NASA Spacecraft 

Transponding Modem (STM) - a spacecraft transponder now under development for planned use on deep-space missions scheduled for launch in the year 

2003. In comparison with a traditional 

deep-space transponder, the STM will be 

smaller and less power hungry; the reductions in size and power demand will be effected by use of custom application-specific integrated circuits. The STM will 

perform all of the traditional deep-spacetransponder functions, plus some coding, 

decoding, and time-tagging functions: 

The STM will track an X-hand uplink signal and transmit both X- and Ka-band 

downlinks. A command detector, a codeblock processor, and hardware command 

decoder will be integral parts of the STM.

Coding functions will include ReedSolomon coding, convolutional coding, 

and turbo coding for downlink telemetry. 

Downlink symbol rates could be ramped 

linearly to match the expected gain/noise 

temperature of a receiving station. Data 

could be transmitted by any of three different phase-modulation schemes at rates 

from 5 h/s to 24 Mb/s. Other functions 

will include standard turnaround ranging, regenerative pseudonoise ranging, 

and differential one-way ranging. 

This work was done by Brian Cook, Charles 

Kriacou, Constantine Andricos, Gary Burke, 

James Kowalski, James Layland, Jeff Berner, 

Jonathan Perret, Narayan Mysoor Selahattin 

Kayalar, Amy Hoist, Bryan Bell, Vatche Vorpenan, and William Whitaker of Caltech for 

NASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory. To obtain a co/it of the report, "The NASA Spacecraft Transponding Modem, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free an-line at 

www.nasatecli.com under the Electronic Components and Systems category. 

In accordance with Public Law 96-517, the 

contractor has elected to retain title to this invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its 

commercial use should be addressed to 

Intellectual Property group 

JPL 

Mail Stop 202-233 

4800 Oak Grove Drive 

Pasadena, CA 91109 

(818) 354-2240 

Refer to NPO-21004, volume and number 

of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page 

number. 

C Analog VLSI Circuits for Hebbian Learning in Neural Networks 

An unconventional design extends synaptic-weight-storage time and enforces Hebbian learning. 

NASA'sJel Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 

An analog very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit was designed and 

built to implement Hebbian synapses 

with an improved method of modifying and storing the synaptic weights, 

for use in neural-network circuits. (In 

Hebbian synapses, the synaptic weights 

are modified through Hebbian learning, which is a local unsupervised adjustment of the weight depending on 

the correlation of activity between preand post-synaptic neurons.) These circuits are intended, more specifically, 

for use with neural networks of the 

type that operate with spiking (as distinguished from steady) input and output signals. 

The development of these circuits was 

prompted by a need to store and adjust 

on-chip synaptic weights using local Hebbian learning rules. The synaptic weights 

must be stored in the form of analog voltages (charges on capacitive nodes). Such 

storage is problematic because the 

charges tend to decay by leakage 

through reverse-biased active/well/substrate junctions. The designs of the present circuits reduce the leakage currents to about one-sixth of those 

conventional synaptic-weight-storage 

circuits, thereby making it possible to 

store the synaptic weights for correspondingly longer times. 

Pre-synaptic

Spikes >

TA2

Post-synaptic 1 

Neuron 

Post-synaptic + TA1 

Spikes

biasi Floating Well 

Vreti 

A Hebbian Synapse for spiking neurons is illustrated. 

28 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
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rigure I. P Lompact, Kuggea Lomputer Enclosure is built to protect a PC in a harsh environment. 

Computers 

A circuit of the present type includes 

an analog-weight-storage subcircuit (as 

depicted within the gray box in the figure) in which the transistor that passes 

charge on to the capacitive charge-storage node resides in a floating well. The 

floating well is driven by a voltage follower (VF in the figure) from the storage node, thereby shielding the storage 

node by reducing the leakage current 

to the well and enabling the node to 

hold the charge longer than an ordinary switched capacitor could. The voltage across the active/well junction is 

held to within the offset of the follower; 

this typically results in a substantial decrease in leakage current from a normal well that is held at the supply voltage of the well transistor.

The charge-storage subcircuit is incorporated within a larger circuit that acts 

as a Hebbian synapse; that is, it takes 

pre- and post-synaptic spike signals as inputs, and increases the synaptic weight if 

the spikes occur simultaneously. The 

Hebbian-synapse circuit (see figure) 

contains two additional transconductance amplifiers (TAs): TAI controls the 

learning rate by adjusting the current injected into the storage node, and TA2 

converts the stored analog voltage value 

to a current value. The output of amplifier TA2 is gated by the pre-synaptic 

input spikes, and hence the final output 

consists of current pulses that are proportional to the stored voltage and injected into a post-synaptic neuron whenever the pre-synaptic neuron fires a

spike. These output current pulses can 

be summed and integrated with the currents from other synapses in parallel and 

used to drive the spiking of the postsynaptic neuron. Hebbian learning is 

achieved by gating charge onto or off 

the storage node when the pre- and postsynaptic spikes are simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, respectively. 

This work was done 6y Christopher Assad 

and David Kewley of Caltech for NASA's Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory. For further inforination, access the fl'chnical Support Package 

(TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com

under the Electronic Components and Systems 

cat ego?). 

NPO-20965 

CCompact, Rugged Enclosure for PC-Based Electronic Circuits 

The enclosure helps to protect PC boards against vibrations. 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Centey, Houston, Texas 

Figure 1 depicts a compact enclosure 

enabling the operation of personal-computer (PC)-based electronic circuits in 

harsh environments. The electronic circuits in question are commercial off-theshelf Industry Standard Architecture 

(ISA) and Extended Industry Standard 

Architecture (EISA) printed-circuit 

hoards. The enclosure provides electrical connections and mechanical shielding of the boards. The enclosure serves 

as a shield against radiated electromagnetic interference (EM!) between the 

enclosed boards and an y exterior equipment. The enclosure also provides mechanical restraint (with some compression) to enable the boards to withstand 

shock and vibration.

The enclosure consists of two main 

parts: the housing and the housing 

cover. The housing includes a baseplate isolator, lower support, lower 

guide insulator, power supply with EMI 

filter, passive back plane for the circuit 

cards (not shown), and connector 

bracket. The housing cover includes 

an upper support and an upper guide 

insulator. 

The PC boards are installed in the 

back plane. The lower guide insulator 

lower support, and isolator provide 

support to those parts of the cards 

that extend beyond bus connectors. 

The isolator Sevis as a standoff as 

V -

t 

Figure 2. This Enclosure was designed for a 

voice-command-system experiment on the space 

shuttle. The design is readily adaptable to other 

(e.g., industrial) applications. 

30 www.nasarech.com NASA Tech Brief, August 2001
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Computers 

well as a vibration damper. The upper 

guide insulator and support acts in 

conjunction with the lower support, 

lower guide insulator, and back plane 

to slightly compress the cards. The 

lower and upper supports are designed and fabricated to match the 

heights of the cards: This approach 

enables the enclosure to accommodate cards of different sizes; it also 

minimizes the size of the enclosure by 

making it only large enough to house 

the tallest card.

The connectors provide electrical connectivity among the enclosed boards, the 

power supply, and external equipment. 

DC power, microphone signals, and computer communications and other discrete 

signals flow through the connectors. Vent 

holes on the housing make it possible to 

cool the enclosed boards by use of a fan. 

The vent holes are small enough not to 

appreciably degrade shielding against 

electromagnetic interference. 

Figure 2 shows a photograph of the 

prototype version of the flight unit that is

part of the voice command system. The 

unit successfully flew on STS-78. The enclosure with boards passed environmental tests including vibration to 6.1 g(rms). 

This work was done by George Salazar and 

Dena Haynes of Johnson Space Center 

and Marc Sommers, Hector Dc Leon, and Eric 

Kuehnel of Lockheed-Martin. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com

under the Electronic Components and Systems 

category. 

MSC-22702 

Design of a Highly 

Reliable Controller 

for an 12C Bus 

Fault-tolerant features have 

been added to the basic 12C 

design. 

NA SA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 

Pasadena, California 

The design of a highly reliable controller for a digital data bus incorporates improvements, in both hardware 

and software, over the basic design of 

a low-speed, low-power, serial bus 

known in the industry as "12C." ("12C" 

signifies "inter integrated circuit bus" 

- a bus developed by Philips Semiconductors in the early 1980s.) The 

original design of the 1 2C bus lacks 

fault-tolerant features that could protect against bit errors, shorting of output drives, or babbling nodes (nodes 

that misbehave or disrupt normal 

communication). The present design 

adds such features: It augments the 

standard 12C bus protocol with lowoverhead error-detection features and 

a fail-silent messaging system, and it 

adds hardware features that automatically isolate babbling nodes. These 

fault-tolerant features can be disabled 

through software (for example, to aid 

testing), but the design makes it difficult to do this accidentally. 

The principal advantaes of the present design over prior 1C-bus designs 

are the following: 

• Cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) is 

used to obtain partial immunity to erlots in messages on the bus. 

• l)cvices on the bus are inhibited from 

monopolizing the bus, even when 

hardware or software faults occur. 

• Special commands have been added to 

enable direct control of one node by 

another.

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
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• Asynchronous logic in the basic design 

has been replaced with synchronous 

logic. 

In addition, the bus is compatible with 

devices that have been designed to function on previously designed, standard 

versions of the 12C bus. 

The overall function of a controller 

according to the present design is that of 

an interface between a peripheral component interface (PCI) bus and an 12C 

bus. The design calls for some basic 12C 

bus-controller components anti associated logic circuitry for a (PCI) port, plus 

application-specific integrated circuits 

(ASICs) that implement logic functions 

to manage the flow of messages and to 

exert digital input/output (DIO) control. Additional logic circuits are used as 

watchdog timers and to effect CRC. On 

each DIO ASIC, there are two 12C bus 

controllers that drive separate system 

and subsystem busses. Within each 12C 

bus controller, there are two LC commercial-off-the-shelf 1 2C cores. A transmitting line and a clock line between the

cores are ANDed together to make them 

share a common clock and a data-transmission driver with a separate mixed-signal ASIC. 

This work was done by Ryan Fukuhara, 

Huy I,uait Robert Rasmussen, Savio Chau, 

and Leonard Da y of Caltech for NASA's Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory. For further in/ortoo/ion, arcers the Tech a zeal Support Package 

(TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com

under the Fleet ran a- Components and S stems 

category. 

In accordance with Public Law 96-517, 

the contractor has elected to retain title to this 

invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its 

commercial use should be addressed to 

Intellectual Property group 

jPL 

Mail Stop 202-233 

4800 Oak Grove Drive 

Pasadena, GA 91109 

(818) 354-2240 

Rejer to NP0-208 76, volume and number 

of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the 

page number CompuScope 82G - 

jAdvances in Parallel Computing on 

Adaptive Grids 

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calfornia

2 GS/s Sampling Rate 

• 500 MHz Bandwidth 

16 MB Acquisition Memory 

Programmable Input Gain 

PCI Form Factor 

Five papers address interrelated topics 

in parallel computing and the use of 

adaptive, unstructured computational 

grids. The titles of the papers and their 

general subject matters are the following: 

• "Parallelization of a Dynamic Unstructured Application using Three Leading 

Paradigms" compares the parallelizalion of a dynamic unstructured-meshadaptation algorithm by use of it message-passing, a shared-memory, and it 

multithreading implementation on 

three supercomputers. It is concluded 

that multithreaded systems offer 

tremendous potential for quickly and 

efficiently solving some of the most 

challenging real-life problems on parallel computers. 

• "Self-Avoiding Walks Over Two-Dimensional Adaptive Unstructured Grids" 

presents an approach, based on a special class of self-avoiding walks, for partitioning computational loads among 

parallel processors in cases of adaptive 

unstructured grids. 

• "A Dynamic load Balancing Framework for Unstructured Adaptive Computations on Distributed-Memory Multiprocessors" describes the JOVE 

computer program, which balances 

loads among parallel processors according to a global view each time an 

unstructured computational grid is 

adapted. 

• "Efficient Load Balancing and Data 

Remapping for Adaptive Grid Calculations" presents an implementation and 

integration of all major components of 

a load-balancing strategy, including 

the interface between a parallel meshadaption code and a data-remapping 

ITIOCIUIC. 

• "Dynamic Load Balancing for Adaptive 

Meshes using Symmetric Broadcast 

Networks" demonstrates that the performance of a novel load-balancing algorithm that utilizes symmetric broadcast networks is comparable to that of 

a previousl y dlevelopedl global load-balancing algorithm. 

This work was (lone by 1?u/ask Biswas and 

Leonard Oliker of Ames Research Center, 

Gerd Heber and Guang R. Gao of the University of Delaware, Andrew Sohn of New]erset Institute of 'Technology, Horst D. Simon of 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and 

Sajal K. Da.s and Daniel]. Harvey of the 

University of North Texas. lb obtain copies of 

the papers, access the Technical Support Parkage (INP)free on-line at www.nasatech.com

under the Information Sciences category. 

ARC-14106

For Free Info Circle No. 412 or 

NASA Tech Briefs. August 2001 www.nasatech.com Enter No. 412 at www.nasatech.comtrs
• - - •. 

Electronic Components and Systems 

Full-Spectrum Arraying of Receiving Radio Antennas 

Detectability is increased and both Doppler and ranging data can be extracted. 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calfiwnia 

A method of arraying of receiving 

radio antennas involves utilization of all 

of the signal information available across 

a broad spectral band that includes any 

signal(s) of interest. As used here, "arraying" signifies combining the signals 

received by multiple antennas at different locations in such a way as to improve 

reception, as though one had a single 

larger antenna. Going beyond synthesis 

of a larger antenna, the present method 

also provides for extraction of Doppler 

frequency shifts and differential delays of 

signals, thereby enabling the generation 

of information on the ranges and velocities of signal sources. The method was 

devised to enhance spacecraft-tracking 

and -telemetry operations in NASA's 

Deep Space Network (DSN); the method 

could also be useful in such other applications as radio astronomy, commercial 

satellite communications, and radio (including television) broadcasting. 

In this method, the signals from the 

multiple antennas in an array are combined in real time by use of correlation 

processing, among other techniques, implemented by a combination of analog 

and digital electronic hardware and software. The signal received at each antenna is characterized b a delay and a 

Doppler shift that depend on the relative 

position and motion of the antenna and 

the spacecraft or other signal source. In 

order to achieve full-spectrum arraying, 

it is necessary to alter the signal received 

by each antenna to make its delay and 

Doppler shift equal to the delays and 

Doppler shifts of the similarly altered signals received by the other antennas. The 

altered signals are then combined coherently to obtain an improved detection of 

telemetry and navigation data. 

In the original DSN application (see 

figure), the signals received by as many 

Antenna (One of Eight) 

------------------------------------

FSR 

300-MHz IF 16-Ms/s, 8-Bit 

Analog I and 0 Data 

Signal ND and 16-Ms/s, 8-Bit 

] Down Converter Delay Lines 01 Phase Rotator and 0 Data 

Streams to FSC 

Signal 

Monitor 

Feedback _ Data Real-Time 

From FSC Processor Processor 

I

I -----------

--------------------------------

FSC 

Up to Eight I I I

I 

I

I 

I 

16-Ms/s. 8-Bit ________________________ I Weight 300-MHz 

I and 0 Data Streams I and Sum i Converter H__.*. Analog Signal to 

From FSR5

Jr I

IF Distribution 

'Ir 

I

j

ns__

Signal 

Monitor 

Feedback

_

ta Real-Time

to FSR

:Da

Prssor H 

I 

I

_______ ______________ 

Processor

I 

-------------------------------

I 

in mis impiementation or 1-ull-Spectrum Lombining, as many as eight signals in a 16-MHz-wide IF band centered at 300 MHz are processed by digital and analog means to generate an enhanced IF signal, allowing for improvement of telemetry and navigation data. 

34 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 
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Electronics 

as eight geographically diverse antennas 

are processed by full-spectrum receivers 

(FSRs) followed by a full-spectrum combiner (FSC). The analog signal from 

each antenna is first down-converted to 

an intermediate-frequency (IF) band 

centered at 300 MHz. Then in an FSR, 

the IF signal is subjected to a combination of analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion and frequency down-conversion 

that yields an in-phase (I) and a quadrature-phase (Q) data stream, each consisting of 8-bit samples at a rate of 16 

megasamples per second. The delay and 

phase of the I and Q streams from each

antenna are altered by use of a delay line 

and a phase rotator. Adjustment is made 

first by using delay prediction, followed 

by a feedback measurement of residual 

delay and phase by the FSC. 

In the FSC, cross-correlations of upper 

and lower sidehands from different antennas (e.g., of the upper sideband received by antenna I with the upper sidehand received by antenna 2) are 

computed. The correlations contain information on frequency-dependent and 

frequency-independent phase offsets related in known ways to differential delays 

and Doppler shifts. The correlations are

processed to generate phase and a delay 

offset for feedback to each FSR. The I 

and Q data streams from the FSRs are 

weighted and summed; the sum signal is 

then subjected to digital-to-analog (D/A) 

conversion and frequency up-conversion 

to obtain the desired enhanced IF signal. 

This work was done by Andre Jongeling, 

Timothy Phain, and David Rogstad of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the 

Technical Support Package (TSP)free on-line 

at www.nasatech.com under the Electronic 

Components and Systems category. 

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Array of 

Nanoklystrons for 

M

 ^

I Frequency Agility or 

Redundancy 

Multiple, individually 

selectable klystrons would be 

contained in a single, compact 

unit. 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 

Pasadena, California 

An array of monolithically fabricated 

nanoklystrons has been proposed as a 

frequency-agile and/or redundant 

source of electromagnetic radiation at 

frequencies ranging from about 0.3 to 

about 3 THz. Each nanoklystron 

would, as its name suggests, be a very 

small klystron. Like other klystrons, a 

nanoklystron would operate at a frequency determined primarily by the dimensions of its resonant cavity and the 

spacing of its electron-bunching grids, 

with some dependence on applied voltages. An individual nanoklystron could 

he fabricated in top and bottom halves 

from silicon wafers and would contain 

an integral output waveguide and feed 

horn (see Figure 1). In typical operation, a nanoklystron without a mechanical tuner would generate power only 

at a fixed frequency. Thus, frequency 

agility and/or redundancy could be obtained by incorporating into the array 

multiple nanoklystrons that are pretuned to generate signals at all required frequencies. 

The array of nanoklystrons would he 

fabricated in substantially the same 

manner as that of a single nanoklvstron, 

except that the nanoklystrons would be 

spaced at angular intervals near the peripherv of the wafer. The output port of 

For automated installation, our line of 

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36 For Free Info Circle No. 413 or Enter No. 413 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
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each nanoklystron would then be oriented along the edge of 

the wafer (see Figure 2). Each nanoklvstron would be fabricated to oscillate at a different predetermined frequency 

within the desired output band. A particular frequency would 

be selected by indexing the wafer. 

The dimensions of silicon wafers [the present industr y standard diameter is 8 in. (=20 cm)] and the horn dimensions required for operation in the intended submillimeter wavelength 

range are compatible with making thousands of nanoklystrons 

on a single wafer in a single production run. Contact pads for 

supplying power to individual klystrons could be formed on the 

top and bottom of the disk, and registration notches could be 

I1!rAI

Figure 1. A Nanoklystron would resemble a conventional klystron but 

would be many times smaller, with resonant cavities formed by micromachining in silicon.

:cN Y 

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Figure 2. An Array of Nanoklystrons with integral output waveguides and 

feed horns would be fabricated in top and bottom halves of a disk made 

from silicon wafers. A desired nanoklystron would be selected by rotating 

the disk to register the top and bottom power contact pads of that 

nanoklystron with fixed top and bottom contacts. 

For Free Info Circle No. 414 or 

35 Enter No. 414 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 
formed at corresponding angular locations on the top or bottom of the disk; 

this would make it possible to simply rotate the disk to a detent at a designated 

angular position in order to obtain radiation at the frequency of the nanoklystron 

at that position. The contacts and detents 

would be arranged so that the feed horn 

of the selected nanoklystron would be in 

the proper position for output coupling.

This work was done 1) 

'

N Siegel of Caltech fin NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the 

Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line 

at www.nasatech.com under the Electronic 

Components and Systems category. 

In accordance with Public Law 96-517, 

the contractor has elected to retain title to this 

invention. Inquiries concerning rights for its 

commercial use should be addressed to

Intellectual Propert' group 

JPL 

Mail Stop 202-233 

4800 Oak Grove Drive 

Pasadena, CA 91109 

(818) 354-2240 

Refer to NPO-21033, volume and number 

of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the 

page number. 

Log-Ratio Circuit With Enhanced Temperature Stability 

Effects of changes in temperature would be canceled at the output. 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, lexas 

The figure illustrates a proposed analog amplifier circuit that would put out a 

voltage proportional to the logarithm of 

the ratio between two input signal currents, I and L. In comparison with prior 

log-ratio amplifiers, this one would be relatively insensitive to variations of temperattire over a wide range. An additional advantage of the proposed circuit is that the 

base of the logarithms could he varied. 

In this circuit, as in other log-ratio amplifier circuits, the log function would

be provided by transistors, the inputs 

and outputs of which are related in a 

highly temperature-dependent manner. 

In designing prior log-ratio amplifiers, 

attempts have been made to suppress 

the effects of temperature dependence 

by use of (a) thermostatically controlled 

heaters to maintain the transistors at 

constant temperatures or (h) adjusting 

the outputs by use of feedback from 

thermistors in close contact with the 

transistors. These attempts at temperature stabilization are subject to several 

limitations, one being that they are ineffective outside the temperature range of 

about 0 to 70 °C. 

Unlike in prior log-ratio amplifier circuits, no attempt would he made to control temperature or compensate for 

changes in temperature in the proposed 

circuit. The proposed circuit would include two matched conventional logratio amplifiers, both mounted on the 

same die so that they could he assured of 

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being at the same temperature. The 

input signal currents would be fed to 

one of the log-ratio amplifiers, which 

would respond by putting out a voltage 

(GkT/q)ln(11 /I2 ), where C is a constant 

that depends on the design, k is Boltzmann's constant, Tis the absolute temperature, and q is the fundamental unit 

of electric charge. 

Known control currents 43 and 14 

would be fed as inputs to the other logratio amplifier, which would respond by 

putting out a voltage (CkT/q)ln(I/I4). 

The outputs of the log-ratio amplifiers 

would he fed to a divider circuit: the 

temperature and the other equal 

terms in the numerator and denominator would cancel each other in the 

division, so that the output of the divider circuit would be proportional to 

ln(1i /I,)/ln(J5/14 ), which is the same as 

log(11 /12 ) to the base 1/I4 . Thus the base 

of the logarithms could be selected by 

setting the control currents to obtain the 

desired value of I/I4. 

This work was done by Richard Steinke of 

Honeywell, Inc., for Johnson Space Center. For further information, access the 'Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at 

www.nasateeh.com under the Electronic 

Components and Systems category. 

MSC-22413 

Electronics

Divider II, 

(a Circuit 12 

Output Proportional to log ,/-) 

.[/4 Amplifier 

0 

This Log-Ratio Circuit would eliminate the effect of the temperature dependence in the outputs of 

the log-ratio amplifiers. It would also provide a convenient way to adjust the base of the logarithms. 

C Millimeter-Wave Dichroic Plates for High 

Angles of Incidence 

= .- These plates can be fabricated by numerically controlled I. milling.

NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 

Dichroic plates for cutoff wavelengths 

down to about a millimeter and high angles of incidence can be fabricated by 

numerically controlled milling of rectangular arrays of waveguide slots in 

half-wavelength-thick metal plates. A 

plate of this type is used to separate 

higher- and lower-frequency components of incident electromagnetic radiation linearly polarized along a specified 

axis; the plate is designed to reflect most 

of the incident electromagnetic radiation at frequencies below its cutoff frequency while allowing most of the radiation at higher frequencies to pass 

through. 

Thick metal plates containing regular 

arrays of holes have been used before as 

dichroic reflectors. In the case of a plate 

containing circular holes in a rectangular or a triangular array, performance 

deteriorates substantially (sharpness of 

cutoff decreases and insertion loss increases) as the angle of incidence increases beyond 200. Experience at submillimeter wavelengths has shown that 

the loss of performance at increasing 

angle of incidence can be mitigated by 

use of rectangular holes or slots instead 

of circular holes. 

It is not practical to make arrays of 

precisely rectangular slots at the plate 

thicknesses needed for wavelengths in 

the millimeter range because (I) the 

preferred fabrication technique in this 

thickness range is numerically controlled milling and (2) the diameters of 

the end mills that must be used in this 

size range are such that the corner or 

end radii of the slots cannot be much 

less than the thicknesses of the plates. 

However, slots with rounded ends or 

corners can be used, as long as the effects of rounding are taken into account in design computations and acceptable frequency responses can still 

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Enter No. 438 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
be obtained; this is the basis of the present development. 

The frequency response of a dichroic 

plate containing a rectangular array of 

slots depends on the thickness of the 

plate and the shape and spacing of the 

slots. Typically, for a half-wavelengththick dichroic plate, the half-power 

transmission frequency is close to the 

nominal cutoff frequency of the dominant waveguide mode. For a rectangular slot with sharp corners regarded as a 

waveguide, the cutoff frequency for the 

dominant mode is well known and is 

simply the frequency for which the 

width of the slot is a half wavelength. 

For a slot with semicircular ends and an 

aspect ratio (length - width) of 2.5, the 

cutoff frequency is about 8.5 percent 

higher. The figure depicts a dichroic 

plate containing slots of this shape, 

along with its frequency response. 

This work was done by Peter Siegel and 

Hamid Javadi of Caltech for NASA's Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package 

(TSP) free on-line at ururw.nasatech.com

under the Electronic Components and Systems 

category. 

NPO-20826 

C 100 

10

/ 

co

-20 - / -

- 60 EL 

dB /

Percent 

/

-500 

E

/

-4°f 

/

-30 

-40 -

//

- 20 

-10 

-50 0 

100 125 150 175 200 225 250 

Frequency, GHz 

This Dichroic Plate was designed to reflect at a frequency of 118 GHz and transmit at a frequency of 

240 GHz at an angle of incidence of 40. The slots, each 0.036 in. (0.91 mm) long and 0.0145 in. (0.37 

mm) wide, were end-milled in a 0.030-in. (0.76-mm)-thick plate at length-axis intervals of 0.038 in. (0.97 

mm) and width-axis intervals of 0.185 in. (4.7 mm). The area containing the slots is an ellipse with axes 

of 2.78 and 1.18 in, (70.6 and 30.0 mm).

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NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 For Free Info Circle No. 419 or Enter No. 419 at www.nasatech.com/rs 41
01 Software 

0 Computing Diffusion in 

High-Temperature Coating 

Layer 

COSIM is a computer program that 

numerically simulates oxidation and 

diffusion in a metallic coating layer on 

substrates made of nickel-base alloys. 

COSIM is primarily useful for analyzing the gradual deterioration and predicting the lifetimes of the protective 

coating on turbine blades and vanes. 

At typical high operating temperatures, such deterioration involves oxidation and interdiffusion characterized by times of the order of tens to 

thousands of hours. 

COSIM implements a finite-difference mathematical model to simulate 

(I) the diffusion of chemical species 

within the coating including the solute 

needed to support the growth of a protective oxide scale, (2) diffusion between the coating and the substrate, 

and (3) oxidation. The program predicts concentration profiles for up to 

three elements in the coating and substrate after various oxidation exposures. 

Ternary cross terms and concentrationdependent diffusion coefficients are 

taken into account. Recession of the 

surface because of loss of solute is also 

predicted. 

The program incorporates a previously developed mathematical model 

of growth and spalling of oxide, for use 

in simulation of either isothermal or 

cyclic oxidation exposures. The oxidespalling submodel accounts for consumption of solute at higher rates in 

cases of cyclic oxidation accompanied 

by total or partial loss of the oxide 

scale. The program can predict the life 

of the coating layer(s) on the basis of a 

concentration-dependent or other failure criterion (e.g., the concentration 

of the solute at the surface falls to 2 

percent). Hence, the program facilitates parametric studies for evaluation 

of tradeoffs among coating and substrate parameters (e.g., coating thickness, solute concentration) to obtain 

the same coating life or for identifying 

parameters that exert the greatest effect on coating life. 

Written in an extension of FORTRAN 

77, COSIM contains numerous subroutines that render it easily modifiable for 

application to different coating-oxidation problems.

This program was written by James A. 

Nesbitt of Glenn Research Center. For 

further information, access the Technical 

Support Package (TSP) free on-line at 

www.nasatech.com under the Software 

category. 

Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of this invention should be addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center, 

Commercial Technology Office, Attn: Steve 

Fedor, Mail Stop 4-8, 21000 Brookpark 

Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Refer to 

LEW-1 6754. 

Software for 3D Graphics 

With Time- and Cost-Saving 

Features 

Enigma version 4.4 is an integrated 

three-dimensional (3D)-graphics application program that includes multiple 

cost- and time-saving features. Enigma 

provides capabilities for building geometric models, key-frame animation, 

and video recording, and provides 

graphical front ends for use by simulation application programs. Enigma can 

add textual and graphical overlays and 

can incorporate such visual effects as 

fades and dissolves - features unavailable in many other 313-animation software packages. What is most remarkable 

about Enigma is that additional expensive editing hardware is not necessary for 

taking advantage of all of these features. 

Cost and time savings have already 

accrued at Johnson Space Center, 

where major simulation application 

programs are being ported to 

Enigma, and at other NASA centers, 

at the facilities of U.S. government 

contractors, and at the Canadian 

Space Agency. There is no doubt that 

Enigma can prove useful to other 

government agencies and to private 

industries. Within months of its introduction in April 1995, Enigma was already in use at approximately 100 

sites. Although several commercial 

products could offer competition to 

Enigma, none offers the full capabilities inherent in Enigma - especially 

in terms of rendering speeds and 

flexibility. 

Enigma was originally developed for 

the U.S. space program. It was needed 

because several Space Shuttle and 

Space Station engineering and mission operations activities have related 

but divergent 313-visualization requirements. The space program has unique 

software requirements pertaining to 

(1) generating 3D solid models for 

various uses, (2) defining the hierarchical relationships between models 

and other elements (e.g., cameras and 

light sources) common to 3D environments, (3) generating graphical displays that reflect the outputs of simulations, and (4) producing animation 

sequences for documentation and 

training. 

Prior to the advent of Enigma, these 

requirements were addressed individually, primarily by developing dedicated 

software or purchasing commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) software. However, COTS software offered as many 

disadvantages as advantages. It was 

costly to purchase or develop COTS 

software that had to he converted in 

order to render it useful for multiple 

products. It was also costly to lose time 

waiting for procurement, development, and execution of products. 

Moreover, cooperative efforts were 

hindered by data-conversion requiremerits and by the unfamiliarity of engineering personnel with software tools 

procured or developed by other 

groups. Enigma overcame these disadvantages. 

Enigma version 4.4 affords capabilities to build 3D solid models, define 

hierarchical relationships between 

models and other elements in the 3D 

environment, define and record animation on a video or computer disk, 

and generate graphical displays for 

simulation software. The program also 

features an on-line hypermedia documentation system. Enigma can be used 

as a stand-alone model-building, animation, and non-dynamic simulation 

software tool, and as a display driver to 

provide graphical support for other 

simulation software tools. The only 

support Enigma cannot supply is audio 

support. 

This program was written by Sharon 

Goza and Michael Gaza of Johnson 

Space Center and Thomas Field, Mark 

Manning, Kurt McMullen, David Shores, 

Mike Gaboury, Sheila Haun, Sephanie 

Grizzle, and Cheyenne McKeegan of 

Muniz Engineering, Inc. For further information contact the Johnson Space Center 

Commercial Technology Office at (281) 

483-0474. 

MSC-22680 

42 www.nasatcch.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
0

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robust indexing and search 

capabilities 

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and associated FEA data 

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constraint capabilities 

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screens for all loads, 

constraints and FEA data 

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When Engineering Has to be Right 

US Phone: 1.412.967,2700 

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easyinterface.algor.com

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150 Beta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238-2932 USA

111 19 Ill

Includes right-click application. 

modification and removal of loads, 

constraints and finite element 

properties for linear and nonlinear 

stress, thermal, fluid flow and 

electric field analysis as well as 

dynamic mechanical simulation. 

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model version 

Right-click application, 

modification and removal of 

loads, constraints and finite 

element properties through 

context-sensitive menus that 

adapt to the active selection 

and analysis type 

Seamlessly works with 

(sits inside): 

• Autodesk Inventor 

• CADKEY 

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• Pro/ENGINEER for 

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Figure 1: Compression Stress Relaxation samples and test jigs. 

NPA. Materials 

U Obtaining Consistent, Reliable Results in Elastomer 

Seal Testing 

Compression stress relaxation results help predict long-term sealing performance. 

Dyneon, Oakdale, Minnesota 

Figure 2: Loading Jig and Pin Indentor: Dyneon test configurations. 

Compression Stress Relaxation (CSR) is an important factor in evaluating 

elastomer materials and seal 

configurations for their 

ability to provide sealing 

force retention under a variety of conditions. Increasing emphasis on the performance and longevity of 

elastomer seals, used most 

often in aerospace and automotive applications, is 

strengthening the need for 

more accurate CSR testing 

procedures. 

CSR data is only valuable 

if different samples and 

test jigs provide consistent 

results. Obtaining reproducible, scaleable CSR results is now the primary 

emphasis for predicting 

long-term sealing performance. 

In the past, compression 

set resistance was relied 

upon to judge the performance of different materials, as a means of quality 

control, and for specification purposes. CSR and 

compression set resistance 

can be used to estimate 

sealing capability; however, 

problems arise when different materials can be shown 

to have the same compression set resistance but different percentage of retained sealing force as measured with 

CSR. When using CSR methods, the 

sealing force will provide a direct correlation to sealing capability. 

CSR testing equipment and methods 

can have advantages, as well as limitations, that can include cost, ease of use, 

jig size, test capability, and reproducibility. Since variables in each test 

method and differences in equipment 

can determine how accurate CSR test 

results are, it is important to differentiate among equipment, procedures, 

and responses seen with each test configuration. 

Equipment used to help collect sealing force retention data can provide 

benefits and challenges, depending on 

how each piece functions. A modified 

tensometer can provide the most information about sealing force, but 

only when a precise test configuration 

is used. Similarly, the success with a 

Shawbury Wallace tester that uses a 

contact break point method is also dependent upon a specific test configuration because certain fluids or environmental conditions affect the electrical 

contact conductivity during 

testing and can introduce 

erroneous test results. 

A third method of testing

utilizing the Elastocon Relaxation tester is most useful for measuring sealing

force at elevated tempera-

________ tures, but does not reflect

where the sealing force is

lost first, which is at lower 

temperatures. 

Test results indicate the 

most effective way to collect 

data is with smaller samples 

and jigs. Smaller samples 

generally are more representative of gasketing profiles or 

cross sections. Smaller test 

jigs also allow more samples 

to be evaluated in a smaller 

volume of liquid, making 

them easier to handle, drain 

fluid from, and cool. 

Dyneon LLC, a 3M company, has designed a small 

CSR testjig that offers easier 

handling for CSR testing. 

Dyneon also has developed a 

centering jig and pin indentor to help limit the rocking 

effects of shims. This equipment yields better-defined 

load deflection curves for 

the determination of sealing force. 

Test results show how frictional effects on jigs and samples can affect the 

variability of initial sealing force measurements. The use of lubricants and 

polished test surfaces will provide the 

best results. The advantage of the Dyneon jigs and others that use removable shims is that uniform frictional 

properties can be obtained by either 

repolishing or replacing the shims for 

a minimal cost. 

Shape factor effects also are important to control during testing. Samples 

44 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
with high shape factors show more variability due to the large change in sealing force with small changes in deflection. Also, their high compressive 

modulus makes it difficult to define the 

sealing force from changes in the slope 

of the load deflection curve. Using samples with lower shape factors appears to 

provide more consistent data. Samples 

with higher shape factors also appear to 

experience increased sealing force loss. 

Sealing force is affected, in part, by 

changes in temperature - decreasing 

at lower temperatures and increasing 

at higher ones. Because of this, it is important to measure and control both 

the sample and jig temperatures when 

measuring sealing force. I)yneon's test 

jig provides a thermocouple well to 

allow for this measurement. 

It is important to differentiate the 

sealing force responses that occur durTitanium has been found to offer several advantages over molybdenum as the 

material used to construct electrostaticaccelerator and -screen grids for ion 

thrusters for spacecraft. These advantages could also be expected to extend 

to the manufacture of grids for ion accelerators used in scientific research and 

the fabrication of semiconductors. 

Titanium was chosen as the result of 

a search for a grid material that is less 

vulnerable to sputter erosion and from 

which grids could be fabricated at acceptably low cost. At a given current 

density, the volumetric rate of sputter 

erosion of titanium is about half that of 

molybdenum. Hence, in comparison 

with a thruster containing molybdenum grids operating at a given beam 

current density, a thruster of the same 

size containing titanium grids can last 

about twice as long; alternatively, the 

thruster containing titanium grids can 

last about the same amount of time 

when operated at twice the beam current density. Similarly, accelerators 

containing titanium grids could he opcrated at higher voltages. 

The strength-to-weight ratio of titanium exceeds that of molybdenum, 

making it possible to reduce the 

weights of ion accelerators. The substiing testing. Initial stress decay takes 

place when the compressed sample 

reaches an equilibrium-relaxed value at 

room temperature. Relaxation occurs 

when the sample is heated to a temperature above that at which it was compressed. This response is a result of 

thermal expansion, increased stress, 

and higher molecular motion that 

forces the polymer to relieve stress 

through molecular rearrangement. 

Aging effects, which are time-dependent, result from molecular bonds 

being formed or broken. This response 

is of most concern for predicting longterm durability or service life. 

For more information, contact Doug 

Chirhart at Dyneon, a 3M Company; Tel: 

651-736-9241; or visit the Web site at: 

www. dyneon. corn. 

tution of titanium for molybdenum 

does not entail any increase in the 

complexity of ion-accelerator design. 

Titanium grids can be fabricated by 

use of photochemical-etching and hydroform processes heretofore used to 

make molybdenum grids for Glenn Research Center. Previousl y, attempts at 

photochemical etching of titanium 

were thwarted by the corrosion-resistant nature of titanium, but recent advances in photochemical etching have 

overcome this obstacle. 

Finally, titanium offers the advantage 

of lower cost: at the time of reporting 

the information for this article, the cost 

per unit weight of titanium was 43 percent less than that of molybdenum. 

This work was (lone by Vincent K. 

Rau'lin of Glenn Research Center and 

George C. Soulas of Dynac.s Engineering Co. 

For further infrnnation, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at 

www.nasatech.com under the Materials 

category. 

Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use of this invention should be addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center,

Commercial Technology Office, Attn: Steve 

Fedor, Mail Stop 4-8, 21000 Brookpark 

Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Refer to 

LEW-1 6893.

I HAND-HELD CCD 

SPECTROMETERS 

NIR (2.9pm) Array 

SPECTROMETERS 

S Making Ion-Accelerator Grids From Ti 

Instead of Mo 

Titanium grids last longer, cost less, and have greater 

strength/weight ratios. 

John H. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio

For Free Info Circle No. 421 or 

NASA Tech Briet, August 2001 www.nasatech.com Enter No. 421 at www.nasatech.com/rs
PARTIALLY FLATTENED LENTICULAR BOOM

OF TRADITIONAL CONFIGURATION

ot

PROPOSED QUASI-FRACTAL LENTICULAR BOOM 

_C:> a 

PARTIALLY FLATTENED FLATTENED LENTICULAR BOOM 

QUASI-FRACTAL LENTICULAR BOOM BEING ROLLED FOR STORAGE 

EXPANDED LENTICULAR BOOM

OF TRADITIONAL CONFIGURATION 

BENDING LOAD CAUSING BUCKLING IN

A TRADITIONAL LENTICULAR BOOM 

0 Mechanics 

Quasi-Fractal Lenticular Booms 

Resistance to buckling would be increased. 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 

An improved configuration for large, 

thin-walled lenticular booms has been 

proposed to reduce their susceptibility 

to buckling. Lenticular booms have 

been used on spacecraft because they 

can he flattened and rolled onto drums 

for compact storage during transport, 

then deployed by unrolling them from 

the drums. Lenticular booms could 

also be useful on Earth in special applications in which there are requirements for lightweight, deployable 

structures that can withstand small mechanical loads. 

Even when large lenticular booms 

have very thin walls, they can be made 

fairly resistant to bending, but because 

the walls are very thin and only slightly 

curved, they are not highly resistant to 

buckling. The figure depicts some 

lenticular booms in traditional and 

proposed configurations. According to 

the proposal, the thin, slightly curved 

wall of a traditional large lenticule 

would be replaced by a wall comprising 

multiple smaller lenticules that would 

have greater curvatures and would 

therefore resist buckling more strongly. 

This work was done b

-

Donald Bickler of 

Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For fur/her information, access the 

Technical Support Package (TSP) free online at www.nasatech.com under the Mechanics category. 

NPO-20815

Larger Lentucules Would Be Subdivided into smaller ones with larger curvatures to strengthen structures against buckling. 

Vacuum Pumping Station 

John F Kennedy Space Genie,; Florida 

A proposed valve unit called a "vacuum pumping station" would be incorporated into a plumbing system that 

supplies a vacuum for vacuum insulated cryogenic equipment. The vacuum pumping station is intended to 

perform functions now performed by, 

and to be a simpler and more reliable 

alternative to, an assembly of components that include a vacuum-pump-out 

valve and a separate vacuum-isolation

valve (with a separate actuator) used to 

monitor vacuum levels. The present assembly includes a leak-prone threaded 

connection between the pump-out and 

isolation valve, and leaks can also occur 

at other locations. The vacuum pumping station would include a vacuumpump-out port, a thermocouple port, a 

thermocouple-isolation valve, a pressure-relief valve, a pressure-relief port, 

and a single mechanism for actuating

the pump-out, isolation, and pressurerelief functions of the valve. The number ofjoints where leaks could develop 

would be only half that of the present 

assembly. 

This work was done by Robert L. Smithson of United Space Alliance for Kennedy 

Space Center. For further information, 

contact the Kennedy Space Center Commercial Technology Office at (321) 867-6224. 

KSC-12038 

46 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Brief's, August 2001
Ing 

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the brightest idea you ever had.They can be 

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still images and moving graphics. They can also 

be programmed with switch-to-switch animation 

sequences that guide users through an error-free succession 

of even the most complex actuations. Regardless of your 

industry, don't launch another application without looking 

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Nonintrusive Pressure Gauges 

Fluid pressure can be measured without interfering with measurement of mass flow. 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Gen ter Houston, Texas 

The state of the art of pressure gauging has been advanced by the development of a new technique, and of a nonintrusive gauge based on the technique, 

for measuring the pressure of a fluid in 

the same segment of pipe in which the 

mass-flow rate of the fluid is also nieasured. NASA anticipates the first use of 

the technique in support of the High 

Flow Test Facility at White Sands Test Facility. and Kennedy Space Center has expressed interest in appl ying the technique on the X-33 aerospace launch 

vehicle. Nonintnisive pressure and flow 

gauges based oil the present technique 

could also supplant older pressure and 

flow gauges in a variety of commercial 

processes and pressure systems in which 

the intrusion of gauges is known to affect 

local fluid dynamics. 

Prior flownieters and pressure gauges 

are subject to some limitations: 

• Frequently, pressure gauges of prior 

design are attached to the outside 

walls of straight pipe segments, but intrusive wall taps are needed to couple 

fluid pressure to the transducers in the 

gauges. A wall tap can disturb the local 

flow profile and introduce fluid-entrapment zones and fluid-containment 

volumes. 

• Straight-tube mass-flow meters of prior 

design do not measure pressures along 

with mass-flow, rates. 

Gauges for simultaneous measurement of pressure and flow rate would he 

useful on NASA's space shuttle. An important consideration in the design of 

such gauges as retrofit items is that they 

are not allowed to intrude into the 

plumbing carrying the fluid to be 

gauged. Therefore, the present technique for measurement by an externally 

mounted, nonintrusive gauge was conceived. The technique offers the advantage of eliminating not onl y flow-disturbing intrusions into the plumbing but also 

the complications associated with implementation of pressure taps. 

The present technique involves the 

use of a piezoelectric transmitting 

transducer, mounted on the outside of 

a fluid-filled pipe, to excite vibrations in 

the pipe. The transducer is driven by a 

voltage-tunable electronic power oscillator. A receiving transducer, also attached to the exterior surface of the 

pipe, is used to measure the frequency 

and phase of the vibrations. An external phase-locked-loop control circuit

ensures that the frequency of the power 

oscillator automaticall y tracks the resonance frequency of the selected vibrational mode of the pipe. The frequency 

output of the gauge can be coupled to 

external readout equipment by use of 

an optical fiber. The pressure of the 

fluid is then computed by use of the 

rrel at ion I e I wee ii the 11111(1 pressule

and the resonance frequency (the pressure varies approximatel y linearly with 

the frequency). 

Because the only part of the gauge 

that comes in contact with the fluid is 

the pipe segment, which is already part 

of the plumbing, the nonintrusive pressure gauge can coexist with a mass-flow 

gauge tli,it utihies or is ITioulited in or 

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 47
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Mechanics 

on the same pipe segment. Although 

the sensitivity of the present nonintrusive pressure gauge is lower than that of 

a typical intrusive gauge, the very fact of 

its nonintrusiveness enhances its potential utility. Once the issue of sensitivity

is addressed, the gauges based on the 

present technique could be expected to 

become tools of choice in commercial 

as well as aerospace applications. 

This work was done by W C. Smith of HonywellforJohnson Space Center.

This invention is owned by NASA, and a 

patent application has been filed. Inquiries 

concerning nonexclusive or exclusive license 

for its commercial development should be addressed to the Patent Counsel, Johnson Space 

Center, (281) 483-0837 Refer to MSC-22 738. 

PVP-MP Method for Wrinkling Analysis of Space 

Membrane Structures 

Distributions of stress can be predicted for taut, slack, and wrinkled areas. 

NASA 'S Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California 

Parameter-Variation-Principle (PVP) 

based Mathematical Programming (MP) 

is the basis of a computational method 

of analyzing wrinkles in membranes. Devised for original application to lightweight membrane structures in outer 

space, the method can also be applied 

on Earth to similar structures, to diverse 

industrial products that include paper 

and textiles, and to structures made 

from these products. 

PVP is a variational principle, for 

which some of membrane strain components, unlike in a traditional variational 

principle, do not participate in functional variation. PVP is suitable for analyzing wrinkled membranes because it is 

valid for all three general membrane 

conditions - taut, slack, and wrinkled. 

With PVP, the traditional problem of 

membrane wrinkling is transformed to a 

mathematical programming problem, 

which can be efficiently solved by numerical methods. A.s a result, the present 

PVP-MP method guarantees numerical 

convergence for all three conditions. In 

this method, one uses an optimization 

technique instead of traditional iteration to search for the minimum of this 

principle. This search guarantees convergent numerical solutions with finite 

steps in computation.

A membrane by itself usually has very 

little resistance to in-plane compression 

and very little stiffness against out-of-plane 

bending. Out-of-plane stiffness is usually 

imparted to a membrane through pretensioning. Therefore, out-of-plane stiffness is a function of the distribution of inplane stress. Wrinkles appear when some 

areas of a membrane are subjected to inplane compression to a certain level; indeed, the formation of wrinkles is a membrane local-buckling phenomenon. 

Ordinarystress analysis procedures 

are limited in predicting wrinkles. Numerical iteration methods for wrinkling 

analysis used heretofore to analyze wrinkles apply different values of membrane 

material properties, depending on 

whether it is taut, slack, or wrinkled. 

These methods often present difficulties 

that prevent or impede convergence or 

that lead to incorrect solutions. 

The present PVP-MP method guarantees accurate results with much less (relative to prior methods) computational 

effort. The method involves two main 

steps. In the first step, one develops a 

PVP principle, including a controlling 

parameter vector. With the help of the 

controlling parameter vector, taut, slack, 

and wrinkled states of the membrane 

can he represented by one variational 

principle. In the second step, one 

searches for the minimum of the variational principle by use of the applicable 

optimization technique. Because the 

search can reach the minimum of the 

variational principle at the exact solution, this method can predict the distribution of stress throughout the membrane, including any taut, slack, and/or 

wrinkled areas. 

This work was done by Houfei Fang, 

Michael Lou, and Bingen Yang of (altech 

for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

For furt her information, access the Technical 

Support Package (TSP) free on-line at wwu 

nasafech.com under the Mechanics category. 

APO-21133 

For Free Info Circle No. 424 or 

48 Enter No. 424 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
Steps 

(J Model each El in CAD Format. 

Mate "as designed' models in CAD 

environment. 

• Measure Eli by photogrammetry. 

• Using measurements of Eli. create 

"as built" model of surface of Eli. 

Transpose 'as built" model of E12 to 

model of Eli 

Measure E12 and assess variances.

Flight Hardware 

Computational Model 

i. 

Manufacturing/Fabrication 

Digital Preassembly Process 

Assembly of major elements of large structures is simulated in a CAD environment. 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 

Because the International Space Station is being assembled in orbit, there 

was a need to verify in advance that it 

could, indeed, be assembled there and 

that the various assembled parts would 

function as intended. A digital preassembly process was devised to satisfy 

this need for verification, without having to perform assembly on Earth. The 

process enables designers to simulate 

the assembly of major elements of 

large structures by use of a computeraided design (CAD) system. The 

process could also be applied in any 

type of manufacturing and in many 

types of construction. 

The verification problem arises because Space Station components are 

lwiiic 1 iced hv tticoisl acir ',c iiInterface 

Ell

O (E® I Located in

Moscow, Russia cIIL

2 

Located in ® 

Huntington Beach, CA

Computational Models of mating end items (Els) are refined by use of photogrammetry and used to 

simulate mating, in order to detect potential obstacles to final assembly. 

.. . 

IL!!i! - 77 -

/ILf TJ
Manufacturing 

tered across the United States and by 

international partners. Costs and 

schedule restrictions prohibit either 

building a full scale, high-fidelity 

mockup or shipping Station components to different locations for design 

verification. Components being built 

in Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada 

will not be available for pre-launch interface tests with those components 

built in the United States. 

In the digital preassembly process, 

two-dimensional hardware-production 

drawings are used to create three-dimensional computational models of the

structural elements or other end items 

(Els) that mate at a given interface (see 

figure). The process includes modeling 

of the mating surfaces and hardware as 

well as all external components installed 

near a stay-out zone (a region in the 

vicinity of the interface that must he 

kept clear of any potential obstruction). 

The process includes identification of 

any off-nominal variances of mating surfaces, alignment and latching components, externally mounted components, 

fluid lines, or cables that could potentially encroach on the stay-out zone and 

interfere with mating.

Once the Els on both sides of the interface have been modeled as designed, mating is simulated in the CAD 

environment. Portable digital photogrammetric equipment is then used 

to measure the real Els. These measurements are mapped back into the 

computational model, creating an asbuilt computational model of the mating Els. The revised computational 

model of the first-measured El (say, 

Eli) is loaded into the computer of 

the portable digital photogramnietric 

equipment, which is moved to the location of the other El (E12) when that 

El becomes available. The revised 

computational model is then used to 

perform a digital mating, which helps 

to identify variances between mating 

elements and potential interferences 

that could create problems during 

mating. Thus, the digital preassembly 

process provides early indications of 

potential problems in mating and assembly. The data gathered in the digital preassembly process could also be 

mapped into flight-element parametric models (when available) to extend 

the assessment to more dynamic thermnal and pressure conditions. 

This work was done kv Vincent E. Hworth and William, F ill Cl/ton of Boeing 

/or Johnson Space Center. For further 

information, contact the Johnson Space 

Center Commercial Technology Office at 

(281) 483-0474. 1SC-22756 

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN'T SEAL IT,

YOU HAVEN'T TRIED P14EUMArSEAL 

Pneuma-Se 

inflatable gasket that is 

pressurized with air. It 

fills the gaps between 

surfaces, even hard-to-seal 

uneven surfaces. When deflated, Pneuma-Seal quickly retracts preventing 

interference when opening and closing a door or 

cover. 

Use Pneuma-Seal as an 

effective barrier against pressure 

differentials and to seal out water, 

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Typical applications include: 

Processing equipment: chemical, food, textile, pharmaceuticals, dryers, ovens and where rapid sealing and 

unsealing are required. 

Pollution control: sound attenuation, hopper seals. 

Laboratory facilities: test equipment, clean rooms. 

Transportation: military vehicles, aircraft, shipboard, mass transit doors and 

hatches. 

Construction: special purpose doors, flood protection. 

Pneuma-Seal is particularly suitable for: 

Large enclosures where it is uneconomical to machine the entire sealing surface. 

Uneven fabrications where traditional compression gaskets or latches are 

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Horizontal or vertical sliding doors or covers that would tend to drag on and 

abrade conventional seals. 

Hinged doors where flush thresholds are required. 

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Mechanical 

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companion for 

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With over 1,000 pages, 550 

illustrations, and 26 tables, the 

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Hardcover • 1,100 pages 

Introductory price: $67.95 

Order online:

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50 For Free Info Circle No. 426 or Enter No. 426 at www.nasatech.comirs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
A new method for assessing and communicating aviation in-flight icing hazards has been proposed. This methodology creates a simple numerical index for 

quantifying hazard severity. The index is 

traceable to flight-level meteorology and 

aircraft-specific, icing-induced reductions in aircraft performance. It also 

provides a connection to a statistical 

data base of icing meteorology. This system will clarify the terminology used to 

describe the degree of danger posed by 

specific meteorological conditions. The 

relationship between hazard severity 

and meteorology is related by measured 

ice accumulation rates observed on a 

standard airfoil under prescribed conditions. This system has greater fidelity 

than the existing system and is applicable to all types of air vehicles. 

The proposed numerical index is 

based on a multidimensional matrix representation of meteorological parameters that pertain to icing. For example 

(see Figure 1), suppose that ice-accretion rates for a given aircraft could he 

determined from three parameters; the 

outside air temperature, the fraction of 

cloud water droplets with diameters 

>100 pm, and the liquid density (the volFigure 1. A Meteorological Matrix would be 

used to characterize the range of meteorological conditions that pose in-flight icing hazards. 

The shaded region is a fictitious example of a 

boundary defining the region for safe operation 

of a specific aircraft.

time of water per unit \olumc DI an) 

The three-dimensional space for these 

three parameters would be segmented 

into cells, each representing a unique 

meteorological state. Each cell could be 

assigned a probability of occurrence estimated from meteorological data bases. 

Aircraft manufacturers would then he 

able to specify surfaces in the three-dimensional parameter space that bouiicl 

safe operating conditions for each of 

their aircraft for various ranges of exposure times. Thus, the meteorological matrix concept would provide traceability 

among meteorological conditions, aircraft performance, and cumulative 

probabilities of occurrence of icing. 

To reference each level of the proposed index to the degree of hazard, the 

index would he related to measured rates 

of ice accumulation on a standard wing 

cross section. The rates would he measured over a wide range of meteorological conditions for a standard set of flight 

conditions (such as airspeed and angle of 

attack). Aerodynamic modeling software 

could then be used to translate the observed icing phenomena to commercial 

airfoil shapes with some confidence. 

The proposed index would feature 

some number of levels - possibly 12 - 

Percentage of Droplets 

With Diameters> 100- m 

25b00w0i4K 

Temperature, Liquid 

tC Density, g/m3 

Figure 2. Hazard Indices ranging from 3 to 9 

have been placed in the cells in one plane of a 

meteorological matrix. The hazard indices 

shown here constitute a fictitious example.

SPACE 2001: 

The Must-Attend Space 

Conference of the Year 

This is your chance to define our 

future in space. Participate in SPACE 

2001 and join the decision-makers of 

the space community as they investigate the new government organization and plan, new opportunities for 

space business, and new challenges 

for space exploration. 

Program highlights include plenary 

panel discussions that will engage 

leaders from the highest levels of the 

space and military community in 

decision-driving debates. And, an 

impressive technical program will offer 

a review of the most cutting-edge 

developments in space technology. 

For program details or to register 

go to www.aiaa.org/calendar

Or, contact A/AA at 

phone: 800/639-2422 

fax: 703/264-7657 

e-mail: custserv@aiaa.org

dAIAA. 

SPAEVES '7^

0 Physical Sciences 

V. Numerical Index for Quantifying 

Aircraft Icing Hazards 

This index would offer several advantages over the present 

four-level index. 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Californ w 

For Free Info Circle No. 427 or 

NASA Tech Ri-iefs, August 2001 www.nasatech.com Enter No. 427 at www.nasatech.comlrs 
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Physical Sciences 

chosen to increase the fidelity of reporting beyond that of the current four-level 

system, without making the levels so narrow that the differences between them 

could not be reasonably measured. The 

levels would he assigned to cells in meteorological matrices (see Figure 2). 

The twelve-level scale would be related 

to the present four-level system in the 

following way: Zero would represent meteorological conditions that do not induce icing; three through six would correspond to the "light" level; seven 

through nine would correspond to the 

present "moderate" level; and 10 to 12 

would correspond to the present "severe" level. The correlations between 

measured icing rates, the present four 

levels, and the proposed index would be 

established in a consensus process that 

would involve airlines, pilot organizations, government, and aircraft manufacturers. 

This work was done by Steven .1 Walter of 

GaltechJorNASA'sJetPropujsionLabora 

and custom configuration! tory. ForJurther information, access the i?'chnical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at 

www.nosatech.com under the Physical SriInnovative

805.520.3300 phone www.innovative-dsp.com

For Free Info Circle No. 428 or Enter No. 428 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Quality, Precision + Reliability

Heptane 

and Nitrogen 

NASA 'SJet Propulsion Laboratory, 

Pasadena, Ga1fornia 

A report discusses direct numerical 

simulations (DNS) of a developing mixing layer between nitrogen and heptane 

initially at different temperatures and 

initially flowing at different velocities 

tinder supercritical conditions. The 

usual conservation equations for a binary fluid, along with the Peng-Robinson 

equation of state for the heptane/nitrogen mixture, were solved numerically 

and the solutions analyzed. Departures 

from perfect-gas and ideal-mixture conditions were quantified by compression 

factors and mass-diffusion factors, both 

of which exhibited decreases from unity. 

'I'hxs work wa.c done by jose/ti' Bellan, Kenneth Hors/ad, and Richard Miller of (2altech 

for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To 

obtain a cop's of the report, "Direct Numerical 

Simulations f Supercritical Fluid Mixing 

Layers Applied to Heptane - Nitrogen, access 

the Technical Support Package (TSJ')free online at wurw.nasatech.com under the Physical 

Sciences category. NI'O-20 790 

ences categoly. APO-20465 

52 For Free Info Circle No. 430 or Enter No. 430 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
lnductosyn transducers provide 

absolute or incremental --------_ 

position data to ±O5 irr . 

second (Rotary) oi ' 

±40microinches 

(Linear). 

Resolution 

to 26 bits. 

Iro

- Books & Reports 

* Gas Generator for Inflating

Structures in Outer Space 

A report proposes a system that would 

supply gas for inflating one or more inflatable structure(s) in outer space. The 

system would include a small tank of helium for initial inflation, plus a catalytic 

hydrazine gas generator that would supply makeup gas over the long term. 

After initial inflation, when makeup gas 

was needed, liquid hydrazine from a 

tank would be made to pass through a 

catalytic bed, where it would become 

decomposed into a mixture of N9, H2, 

and a small amount of NH3- This 

gaseous mixture would constitute the 

makeup gas and would be stored in the 

tank that previously contained the helium. The makeup gas would be released from the tank to the structure(s) 

as needed. In comparison with an inflation system based only on compressed 

gas stored in tanks, the proposed inflation system would offer the advantage of 

lower mass: About 25 percent of the 

masses of representative previously contemplated large inflatable outer-space 

structures would have been contained 

in their inflation systems. In contrast, 

the mass of the proposed inflation system has been estimated to he only about 

13 percent of the total mass of a representative structure. 

This work was done i'v Larry Roe of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 7 o obtain a cops' of the report, "System 

For Initial Inflation and Replacement Gas 

For Inflatable Space Structures," access the 

Technical Support Package (TSP) free onine 

at wuruuiasatech.com under the Machinery 

Automation category. 

NPO-20539 

$ Thermal Insulation Would 

Use CO2 in the 

Martian Environment 

A report describes the development of 

a lightweight thermal insulation system 

for Martian surface applications. The 

ambient Martian atmosphere, which is 

predominantly carbon dioxide at a pressure of 10 tori-, is used as the insulation 

medium with a modest multiple radiation shield enclosure. The carbon dioxide has a thermal conductivity that is 

very close to traditional insulation, and

the carbon dioxide is naturally available 

on the Martian surface. Preformed 

Mylar spacers that are affixed to the 

hardware create the necessary standoff 

distance from the enclosure. 

This work was done by Gajanana Birur 

Glenn Tcuyuki, and James Stultz of Caltech 

for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

lo obtain a copy of the report, Novel light 

weight Thermal Insulation for Martian Environment using Carbon Dioxide gas, "access 

the Technical Support Package (TSP) free online at wwzzunasatech.com under the Materials categor)'. 

NPO-20978 

Martian Landing Balls 

A report describes Martian landing 

balls, which are under development for 

use in delivering scientific payloads to 

Mars. Martian landing balls are related 

to other soft-landing devices that resemble beach balls and that have been 

described in several previous NASA 

Tech Briefs articles. They are also related 

to the Zorb (or equivalent) - a commercial recreational device that looks 

like a large, transparent beach-ball/tire 

hybrid with a central volume that is 

open to the atmosphere and that accommodates a human rider. In a Martian landing ball, the central volume 

contains a rigid cylinder that carries 

the payload. The cylinder is surrounded (except for small openings) 

by an approximatel y spherical airbag. 

In the intended use, Martian landing 

balls would he dropped from slowly descending solar-heated balloons. It has 

been estimated that a Martian landing 

ball with a mass of 2 kg could deliver a 

10-kg payload with a landing acceleration of less than 50x normal Earth 

gravitation (less than about 490 in /S2) 

Once on the Martian surface, the 

airbag could be deflated; alternatively, 

the airbag could be kept inflated to 

take advantage of the wind to blow the 

payload to it desired location. 

This work was done by Jack Jones, Andre 

Yavrouian, and Tim (]nnnors of Galtech for 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To 

obtain a copy of the report, "\lartean Landing Ball, "access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at wwmnasatech.com

under the Mechanics category. 

NPO-20977

The First NEMA 4X 

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• Polycarbonate case 15'x6.5"x1.5 CD 

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• CE, UL, FCC, and NEMA 4X rated 3 • Plug and play capabilities 

• Priced at $495.00

Texas Industrial Peripherals • 

2621 Ridgepoint Drive, 9 Suite 235, Austin, TX 78754 

For Free Info Circle No. 440

or Enter No. 440 at www.nasatech.com/rs

V

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Bladders 

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• BLADDER TANKS & AIR CELLS 

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• BELLOWS & FUEL CELLS \

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AERO TEC LABORATORIES INC 

RAMSEY, NJ 07446-1251 USA 

TEL: 201 .825-1400 . FAX: 201-825.1962 a-Mail aerotec@cybernex 

Lhttp://www.atilinc.com

.,4

For Free Info Circle No. 441

or Enter No. 441 at www.nasatech.com/rs

I For brochure, 

call 914/761.2600' :'"

- 

or tax 9141761-0405. 

I iIUi FARRAND CONTROLS 

DIVISION OF RUHLE COMPANIES, INC. 

99 Wall Street, Valhalla. NY 10595 

www.runle.com

For Free Info Circle No. 

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 www.nasatcch.com 442 at www.nasatech.com/rs
Newthe on

WEB 

Hydraulic Flanges 

Main Manufacturing, Grand 

Blanc. MI, has instituted a ne 

Web site with information on hsdraulic flanges. The interactive 

site allows the user to build a 

flange, obtain the specifications 

and model code, and submit an 

RFQ. Technical support and 

printed literature also arc olFe red. www.mainmfg.com

. 

Fans and Blowers 

A redesigned site by NMB Technologies Corp., Chatsworth, CA, 

provides information on axial fans, 

blowers, power supplies, speakers, 

and keyboards. Included are 

datasheets, on-line model locators, 

and real-time inventory checking 

of fan products, which allows customers to locate and purchase fans 

from participating distributors. www.nmbtech.com

For Free Info Circle No. 431 or

Enter No. 431 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Seal Materials 

ExpresSeal', Lancaster, - -. - - N't has launched a new

Web site on the compu- EXPASEA . 

terized manufacturing 

technology used to produce seals such as U-cups. 

wipers, piston rings, bush- e, 

0 ings, bearings, packings. 

0-rings, prototypes, and 

customs seals and shapes. 

Available seal materials 

also are described. www.expresseal.com

Heating and Control 

Chromalox, Pittsburgh, 

PA, offers installation guides, 

instruction sheets, free downV4 4

loadable software and a Dc- 

......... 

' ....sign Wizard for users seeking 

information on electric heat 

-

and control products such as 

heaters, cables, and sensors 

______ The KnowledgeBase feature 

includes archived material, commercial issues, research data, and 

product information. www.mychromalox.com

For Free Info Circle No. 432 or 

54 Enter No. 432 at www.nasatech.com/rs NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
A

Serious FEA 

Structural failure is simply unacceptable when 

you're pulling 8G's at 600 mph. Or Depending on a 

spinal implant. Or an automotive fuel tank. Or the 

mast of an America's Cup contender. This is why 

developers of the most critical structures depend on 

NE/Nastran for FEA analysis. 

Along with uncompromising accuracy, 

NE/Nastran is one of the most complete, easiestto-learn-and-use FEA packages available. And it's 

yours for 1/3 to 1/10 the price of comparable software.

Free Demo. We're so sure that you'll see the 

value in NE/Nastran that we want you to use a 

demo version for free. 

It runs on Windows 95/98/NT4.0/2000 with 

Unix and Linux versions available soon. Visit our 

web site to learn more about this serious FEA, and 

download your free evaluation copy. 

- 

•O_ Upgraded F-SE 

fighter avionics 

- bay, radar support 

structure, and 

wing analyzed 

using 

NE/Nastran. 

Noran Engineering, Inc. 

www.NENastran.com

Toll Free: 877-NENastran 

2001r heron fngimroeni,rqInc. sr sr and NU logo are registered t,ad,,,,,rko of No,n

Enqirreeeng, lee. NASIRAN , a eqintered tradee,a,k of the National Ae,onautirr and Spare

Administration. Wiedeoo me a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 

Newon 

DISK. 

CAD/CAM 

SURFUAM 2001 CAD: CAM 

software from Surfware, Westlake - 

Village, CA, features high-speed 

machining for machine motion -, 

and plunge roughing, an updated 

NC editor with hack-plotting. 

right-click menu, and live update 

technology. Parameter associativity allows toolpath parameters such as tool numbers, offset registers, 

and feed rates to change without repeating the steps required to create the toolpath. The software also features enhanced design and solid 

modeling features. For Free Info Circle No. 717 or Enter No. 717 at 

www.nasatech.comlrs 

Drawing and Diagramming 

Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, has released Microsoft' Visio° 2002 

drawing and diagramming software that features Web integration and 

publishing capabilities for collaboration via the Internet. It also 

includes Extensible Markup Language (XMl.) capabilities, support for Component Object Model (C()M) add-ins, and adoption of 

industry standards. The two primary products are Visio Standard for 

creating flowcharts, organizational (harts, and timelines; and Visio 

Professional for IT professionals and software developers. For Free Info 

Circle No. 718 or Enter No. 718 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Mechanical CAD 

l.'(;S, Cypress, CA, has announced Solid Edge Version 10 mechanical CAl) ,fwaro' dial I atises on large-assembly design and drafting. 

lirhancements include tools that streamhit' modeling of families of assemblies 

md alternate position assemblies, a drawmg view tracker, part/feature/assembly 

br options, translator enhancements, 

mrve and surface modeling, pipe threadand a new collaboration Web portal 

rvice called Edge eXchange. Users can 

rate subassemblies, disperse suhasseinlv components, anti change the order of 

,,.tits while maintaining all positioning 

relationships. The software provides a 

built-in Parasolid to ACIS hi-directional 

it ,mril,ti, 1,,I j ml il t( r pot ,rhilirs with CAD tools based on the ACIS solid 

modeling kernel. A healing technology automatically finds and c rC(ts faults in imported 31) CAl) data. For Free Info Circle No. 719 or 

Enter No. 719 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Numerical/Visual Analysis 

JWAVE 3.5 from Visual Numerics, Boulder, CO. is a client/server 

solution that utif i/es Java components to develop and deploy applications across an enterprise via the Internet or an intranet. jWAVE lets 

users who are developing applications using ,lava or 1-ITM1, to perform 

numerical analysis and visual interpretation of cotisplex datasets. Users 

can zoom in or out of it chart, profile a row or column across an image, 

select it poittt nit it chart, and interact ivel q rotate it 31) chart. For Free 

Info Circle No. 721 or Enter No. 721 at www.nasatech.com/rs

For Free Info Circle No. 434 or 

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 Enter No. 434 at www.nasatech.com/rs 55
UV CURABLE SYSTEM 

OFFERS HIGH FLEXIBILITY 

AND EXCEPTIONAL 

ABRASION RESISTANCE 

Meets USP Class VI Requirements

MASTER BOND UVI 5X-6 

• One part, no mix system U Fast UV cure in 

presence of air • Cures up to 1/8' or more 

• Outstanding flexibility and superior abrasion 

resistance U Durable even upon exposure to 

adverse environmental conditions • High bond 

strength U Chemical inertness U Optical clarity 

• Easy application U Convenient packaging 

www.masterbond.com

Master Bond Inc. 

Adhesives, Sealants & Coatings 

154 Hobart St., Hackensack, NJ 07601 

TEL: 201-343-8983 FAX: 201-343-2132 

For Free Info Circle No. 436 or

Enter No. 436 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Nevv on the 

MARKET,. 0. 1. 0. 0. 1. 1- 01 0. b. 

Shaft Gearmotor 

RAE Corp., McHenry, IL, offers 

the G209 series permanent magnet, brush-type, DC parallel shaft 

gearmotor for pumps, conveyors, 

medical equipment, and small 

vehicles. The gearmotor features 

long gear life, reduced noise, 

balanced armature, high-energy 

ceramic magnets, externally replaceable 

brushes, and class "F" insulation, Other features include gear ratios from 10:1 to 2328:1, ratings up to 50 inch-pounds, 12 

to 90 V (DC), and speeds of up to 350 rpm. For Free Info Circle No. 

725 or Enter No. 725 at www.nasatech.com/rs

Circular Chart Recorder 

OMEGA Engineering, Stamford, CT, has 

released the CT1901 programmable circular chart recorder for up to four process sigls. Pen ranges are individually set for 

each signal. Users can see the status of a 

process at a glance. Six-digit displays proNow vide an indication of up to four process values simultaneously, as well as active alarm 

flashing LEDs. Features include thermocouple, Eli), voltage, current inputs, and a user's choice of one to four 

pens. User-configurable math functions, mass flow calculations, and 

RH tables are supported. For Free Info Circle No. 726 or Enter 

No. 726 at www.nasatech.coniJrs 

Pressure Sensor 

The P4000 pressure sensor from Kavlico. 

Moorpark, CA, incorporates MEMS technolog

y

 into an all-welded, stainless steel 

package. The transducer is suited for H's\( 

R, off-highway vehicles, pressurized took, 

adaptive suspension systems, material testing, hydraulic press monitoring, and other 

hydraulic applications. The sensors are 

available in pressure ranges of 0-100 

through 0-8000 PSI absolute or sealed gage. 

The sensor has a total error band of ±1 

over the operating temperature range of 

-20°C to 100°C. For Free Info Circle No. 728 or Enter No. 728 at 

www.nasatech.com/rs

Coated Wire 

California Fine Wire, Grover Beach, CA, offers custom wire fabrication with PTFE (polyteti-afluoroethylene) coatings that can be enameled to 1,000 metals and alloys. The PTFE-coated wire is put inside tubing and is drawn to a small diameter, creating a coaxial cable. 

Liquefied PTFE is applied to fine wires in continuous lengths of up to 

10,000 feet. PTFE-coated wire is appropriate in environments whenwire-related products. including microprocessor-controlled equipbent, is exposed to corrosive chemicals. For Free Info Circle No. 730 

or Enter No. 730 at www.nasatech.com/rs

"Four decades of the most exciting 

explorations in human history in one 

hook! Up-to-the-minute details by the 

best writers to explore the solar 

system are wonderfull y organized for 

both looking up quick facts and for 

in-depth study. This one pulls it all 

together. Any citizen of the solar 

system from age 8 to 80 should owi 

this encyclopedia." 

- l)r.Jay Apt, Director, Carnegie ,%luseu,n ,/ .\(tu,a/ Ili,1, 

four-time Space Shuttle Astronaut 

Superbly illustrated with images from the Hubble

Telescope and other observatories. 

Hardcover 992 Pages Discount price: $96.95 

Order online:

www.nasatech-com/store

56 NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
New 

LITE RATU RE. . . . . 

Metals and Coatings 

General Magnaplate Corp., Linden, NJ, offers a friction data guide 

on CD that aids engineers in selecting combinations of metals and 

coatings that improve the service life of mating components. The 

guide shows comparisons of the coefficients of friction between combinations of treated and untreated surfaces. For Free Info Circle No. 

710 or Enter No. 710 at www.nasatech.com/rs

EhermoeleCtric Coolers 

A four-page brochure from Melcoi. 

Irenton, NJ, describes thermoelectrk 

(a)lers for telecom applications. The 

(unlers feature operating temperajutes from 93°C to 232°C, and Pb-free 

)nstruction solders up to 271 C. 

Other features include custom sizes. 

power densities, and ceramic patterlis; and wire bondable posts, metallized pads, and wires. For Free Info 

Circle No. 711 or Enter No. 711 at 

www.nasatech.com/rs

Rail Assembly Guide 

WAGO, Germantown, WI, has released /S19A PT 

ProServe Software Version 2.5 for custom 

rail assembly that allows customers to 

design, mark, document, and test their J 

own rail-mounted terminal block assemblies. The CD includes a product locator, j i, Z 

allowing users to search a database of 

over 9,000 parts according to product groups, 

part numbers. key words, and technical data. For Free Info Circle No. 

712 or Enter No. 712 at www.nasatech.com/rs I -NJ (J < rsors/Accelerometers 

c ii ii i Crossbow Technology, San Jose, CA, has 

iJUULUItJ (leased a 95-page catalog highlighting 

a celerometers, sensors, magnetometers, 

inertial systems, and wireless products. The 

- catalog features various products utilizing 

the Bluetooth wireless technology, and 

analysis and evaluation software. For Free 

Info Circle No. 715 or Enter No. 715 at 

I www.nasatech.com/rs

Crossbw 

f

hat's why you've chosen Photron FASTCAM systems 

as the industry standard high-speed imaging products. 

Now, we bring you more of what you've come to 

expect from Photron! 

Photron announces direct product distribution and 

support in the United States and Europe. Contact us - 

image@d photron.com, by telephone at 1-800-585-2129 

or face-to-face at your facility. Photron's experienced 

personnel understand your applications and are always 

ready with the answers to all your questions. 

Here's what we mean! Up-to-date and up-to-speed! 

Launched in early 2001, the FASTCAM-Ultima 1024, 

developed around the latest C-310S imaging sensor 

using cutting-edge technologies, provides the world's 

first megapixel resolution high-speed digital imaging 

system with 500 fps full frame operation and frame 

rates up to 16,000 fps with reduced resolution 

The FASTCAM-PCI provides an economical PCI 

card-based, high-speed camera solution. The system 

offers flexible operation at frame rates from 250 to 

10,000 fps as an image-capturing peripheral device for 

the PC. 

There's more like this at— 11 0' El El 

www.photron.com. Photron USA 

Phone: 1-800-585-2129 

image@photron.com

Photron Europe 

Phone: +44 (0) 1628-89-4353 

IL 

FASTCAM-PCI 

FASTCAM-ultima 1024 

NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 For Free Info Circle No. 437 or Enter No. 437 at www.nasatech.com/rs 57
*

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NA,SA Tech Briefs. Atigttst 2001 wwwriasaiech.corn 59
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NEW MATERIALS 

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LEAKPROOF VALVES & 

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-- ' CAPACITOR 

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Advertisers Index 

Advertisers listed in bold-face type also have banner ads on the NASA Tech Biiefi web site this month. Visit wwwnasatech.com

Circle 

Company Web Site Number Page 

Aero Tech Labor-atones Inc .....www.atlinc.com ........................441 ................ 53 

Agilent Technologies ............ www.agilent.comfind/waveforin 

513 ................ 13 

Algor, Inc . .............................. wwcsimu1atemems.a1gor.com, 

wweasyinterface.a1gor.com, 

www.eTecbLearning.com, sww.algor.com, 

www.mems6.algor.com

595,594,607,608 ...... 5,43, 59 

American Institute of Aeronautics & 

Astronautics .......................... www.aiaa.org ............................ 427 ................ 51 

ARCSystems, Inc.....................www.arcsvstemsinc.com ..........614 ................ 60 

Asiro-Med, Inc .......................ssastro-med.com/de18 .... 525 ...... COY IV 

AT! Industrial Automation ....ssww.ati-ia.com ........................ 540 ................ 23 

Belden Incorporated .............. www.BeldenUniversal.com .430 ................52 

Cargille Laboratories Inc . ........................................................ 438 ................ 40 

Celerity Digital Broadband Test, an L3 

Communications Co. ..........wssw.celeritvdbt,com .............. 571 .................. 7 

Come!! Dubilier ......................www.cornell-dubilier,com ...... 487 ................ 38 

CosmosTM .............................. http://nasa.cosmosm.com ....545 ..............63 

CPV Manufacturing, Inc.........www.cpvmfg.com ....................615 ................ 60 

CVI Spectral Products ............www.cvispectral.com................ 421 ................ 45 

DATAQlnstniments ..............ssssidataq.com/n1it .......................................59 

Digi-Key Corporation..............www.digi-key.com .....................516 .................. 3 

Emhart, a Black & 

Decker Company..................www.emhart.com .................... 405, 567.20, 21 

Endevco.................................... www.endevco.com/4c2t ........401 .................. 6 

Far rand Controls .................... www.ruhle.com ........................ 442 ................ 53 

Gage Applied, Inc................... www.gage-applied.com/ad/nasa7ol him 

412 ................. 

Goodfellow .............................. www.goodfellow.com ..............617 ................ 60 

Inecom, Inc.............................www.1nventorsInsider.com .609 ................ 59 

Innovative Integration ............www.innovative-dsp.com ........428 ................52 

Integrated 

Engineering Software .......... www.integratedsoft.com ..........574 ................ 29 

Inter-Technical Group. Inc . ...................................................... 618 ................ 60 

lOtech, Inc...............................www.iotech.com ......................604 ................ 59 

Kaman Instrumentation 

Operations ............................www.stablecable.com ..............409 ................ 24 

Kavlico ......................................www.kavlico.com ...................... 611,612 ........ 64) 

Keithley Instruments, Inc ......wwkeithIey.com ..................553 ..............35 

Master Bond Inc . ..................wmasterbond.com ............ 418,436 ..40, 56 

MathSoft, Inc........................... www.mathcad.com ...................566 .................. 2 

The MathWorks, Inc .............wmathworks.com/nti ......564 .............. 25 

Mercotac Inc . ..........................wwww.mercotac.com .............. 605 ................ 59 

Micro-Drives ............................ www.micro.drises.com .................................... 6a 

Micro Mo Electronics ............www.micromo.com ................651, 652....... .6a 

Minalex...................................................................................... 601 ................59

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Company

Circle 

Web Site Number Page 

Minco Products, Inc...............www.nsinco.com ......................414 ................ 38 

MSCSoftware ......................... mscsoftware.com/yn .... 550 ...... covEll 

National Instruments 

Corporation ......................www.ni.com/info/instruments,

www.ni.com/info ................511, 603, 653 

COY H, 59, 3a 

Netzer Precision 

Motion Sensors Ltd.............www.netzerprecision.com ......654 ................6a 

Newark Electronics ................www.newark.com ....................590 ................ 37 

NKK Switches .......................... www.lcdswitch.com ........................................ 47 

Noran Engineering, Inc.........www.NENastran.com ..............434 ................ 55 

Omega Engineering, Inc.......www.omega.com ......................501-507,613

1,60 

Parker Hannifin Corp., 

Daedal Division ....................www.phdaedal.com/tblf ........616 ................ 60 

PEM Fastening Systems, a Penn Engineering 

Company................................wwwpemnet.com .................... 413 ................ 36 

Photron USA ..........................www.photron.com ..................437 ................ 57 

Presray Corporation................www.presray.com .................... 426 .................50 

Quatech, Inc........................... www.quatech.com....................415 ................ 39 

Research Systems, Inc.........www.researchsystems.com/tgaero

411 ................32 

RGBSpectrum ....................sw.rgb.com ........................402 ................8 

Sensors Expo 2001 ..................www.sensorsexpo.com .................................... 5a 

Silicon Recognition, Inc......... www.silirec.com ......................404 ................ 19 

Small Tech Conference 

and Trade Show....................www.smalltimes.com/smalltech2001............ 17 

Smalley Steel Ring Co............. www.smalley.com ....................610, 656.60, 7a 

Solid Edge, UGS...................... www.solid.edge.com ................527 ................ 31 

StereoGraphics 

Corporation .......................... www.stereographics.com/info/

410 ................ 26 

StorCase Technology, Inc., a Kingston 

Technology Company ..........www.storcase.com ..................523, 602 .... 9, 59 

Swales Aerospace ....................www.swales.com ......................532 ................ 11 

Synrad, Inc............................... www.svniad.com ...................... 425 ................ 49 

Tesconi Corporation .............. www.tescom.com .................... 406 ................ 18 

Texas Industrial Peripherals www.ikey.com ..........................440 ................ 53 

Trim-Lok Inc...........................www.trimlok.com ....................432 ................ 54 

TrueTime ................................www.truetime.com ..................431 ................ 54 

United Electronic 

Industries ..............................www.PowerDAQ.com ..............424 ................ 48 

Universal Switching 

Corporation .......................... wxw.uswi.com ..........................419 ................41 

Visual Numerics, Inc............... www.vni.com/more ................403 ................ 14 

yet2.com ................................ss'wwyet2.com, w'wsnasatech.com/tetheaj'd 

15,27

Retitit by check, draft, postal, express orders or VISA, MasterCard, and American 

Express. Other remittances at sender's risk. Address all communications for subscrip_ 

ttons or circulation to NASA Tech Bii4c, 317 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017.5391. 

Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices. 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NASA Tech Briefs, P0 Box 10523, Riverton, NI 

(18(176-9023. 

62 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001 
h _ 

4Dr: 

Will it overheat? Will the stresses be too 

high? Will it break? If you are designing 

your models without using analysis, you 

could be risking a potential part failure - 

without even realizing it. 

Don't take unnecessary chances with your 

design. Use COSMOS/TM throughout the 

design cycle to help identify potential 

problems before it's too late.

Are you Sure 

You have A 

Good Design.? 

With COSMOS!, engineers are building 

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taking weeks, even months off of the 

design cycle. 

COSMOS/ tackles even the most complex 

design tasks, while being intuitive enough 

for any engineer to quickly learn and use, 

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For information on how COSMOS/ can help 

COSMOS/WORKS FREE

you work smarter instead of harder and a 

 15-day trial, call us today at 

COSMOS/DESIGNSTAR 1-800-469-7287 or visit us online at 

http:/!nasa.cosmosm.com. 

Copyright 2001 Structural Research S Analysis Corp Trademarks at e ire property of their respective owners 

For Free Info Circle No. 545 or Enter No. 545 at www.nasat.ch.com/rs
&J4L4±Ji 

;obotic Arm Designed with 

FEA & CAD Software 

COSMOS/Works finite element analysis software 

Structural Research & Analysis Corp. (SRAC) 

Los Angeles, CA 

310-207-2800 

wwwcosmosm.com

Under contract to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, Alliance 

Spacesvstems Inc. (AS!) of Pasadena, CA (www.asi-space.com) 

is designing the robotic arm for the Mars Exploration Rover 

(MER) project, which will send twin rovers to Mars in 2003. 

The five-degrees-of-freedom arm is one meter long with scientific instruments at the end. It has live actuators, moving joints, 

and conductor wires, and must meet requirements for stiffness 

and mass. AS! used COSMOS/Works software for stress analsis and mass minimization during the design process. 

Jim Staats, ASI's chief engineer, noted that mass is the crucial component of any space mission. "You just can't get there 

from here if you can't get the mass within the envelope," he 

said. Because its protective aeroshell can hold onl y so much 

mass, the MER lander must be within limits. Other crucial factors are the extreme temperatures on Mars, ranging from 

-184°F to ±176°F, and the 50 to 60 mph impact of landing. 

Each of the two rovers will drive to its likely location, extend 

its mechanical arm, and hold its instruments near a rock. The

arm will rotate so each instrument can scan a specific spot in 

turn. The AS! team thought the integration of CAD and FEA 

would save them time and effort. The team used SolidWorks 

For design (CAL)) and COSMOS/Works for FEA. With the integration of the two, ASI engineers (lid not have to manipulate 

CAD data to get it into a form suitable for FEA. Data transfer 

is automatic and does not require a file export and import. 

The result is iterations that take hours rather than clays. 

For Free Info Circle No. 751 or

Enter No. 751 at www.nasatech.com/rs

cirinding Tool to Reveal 

Martian Rock 

Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) 

Honeybee Robotics, Ltd. 

New York, NY 

212-966-0661 

www.Hbrobotics.com

Honeybee Robotics is designing and building a robotic precision grinding tool for the twin rovers slated for launch as 

part of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project in 2003. 

The instrument is being created to bore into hard rock surfaces on the Martian landscape. By boring into the rock, the 

RAT will reveal fresh rock that will be analyzed by instruments 

on the rover. This assists scientists studying Mars by allowing 

them to go beyond the weathered surface of the planet and 

examine the contents of Martian rocks. 

The RAT will he mounted on the rover's robotic arm, which 

will position the RAT against a rock to let it operate. The RAT 

will use low force and high speed to comply with the limited 

power supply available during the mission. The tool will he 

equipped with two diamond matrix wheels that it will use to 

scrape the rock surfaces. 

In order to comply with NASA's regulations, the RAT will 

weigh less than 750 grams (roughly 1.7 pounds), be 7 cm (2.7 

inches) in diameter, and only 10 cm long (less than 4 inches).

By using three small motors, the RAT will only use 30 watts of 

electricity. NASA'sJet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena, CA is 

managing the twin rover mission. 

For Free Info Circle No. 750 or

Enter No. 750 at www.nasatech.com/rs

64 www.nasatech.com NASA Tech Briefs, August 2001
MSC.Software 

saves 

2 man-years 

in development of 

new Alligator 

JuIz1_ 

Ph ar. Ak 

•:;._'::::::. :&. .......,........

f ii 

MSC.Software slashes 3500 man-hours from new design 

Using MSC.visualNastran 4D, All 

American Racing was able to save 

3500 man-hours in developing a 

production version of their new 

Alligator superbike. Its direct 

connection with SolidWorks models 

allowed them to quickly test the 

exact solid geometry that they were

using without rebuilding. The result? 

Over 76 virtual revisions alone to the 

rear fork and over two man-years of 

engineering time cut from the project. 

To discover how MSC.visualNastran 

4D can slash development time, visit 

www.mscsoftware.com/vn today.

MSSoFTwARE 

ULA1IGRELtlY 

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—I 

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Pt, - 

Optional Printer 

For real-time recording or playback

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Call, E-mail, Fax, or write to us today for all the detâ

'A'A'A'A'A'A i ri. i1i,f.f1T] 

@Asttv-Medj(rD1rww AsIro1hdjsiriq lPqr Ws'qiick, Rhode Island 02893 

Phone: (01) 828-4000 • Toll Free: 1-877-867-9783 • Fox: (401) 822-2430 

TEST & MEASUREMENT PRODUCT GROUP In Canada Telephone 1-800-565-2216 • E-mail: mlgroup@oslromed.com

For Free Info Circle No. 525 or Enter No. 525 at www.nasatech.comjrs