Project Title:

Low Power Spectrum Analysis and Real Time Data Compression

07.06-1000
Low Power Spectrum Analysis and Real Time Data Compression
Defense Systems Inc.
7903 Westpark Drive
Mclean
VA
22102
Starkey
Donald L.
NAS5-29432
Amount:   
Center:  GSFC
NAS5-28624

Abstract:

   For deep space probes where the distance of the probe from the Earthlimits the communication bandwidth, there is a need to develop an on-board, low power,
spectrum analyzer signal processor with flexible and programmable post processor
capabilities to analyze three axis magnetometer data.  Defense Systems, Inc. (DSI)
on Phase I designed and built such a "brassboard" Fourier transform programmable
spectrum analyzer that has the potential to meet all stated NASA requirements.  While,
with the software supplied on Phase I, it handles only one channel inputs, it can
be remotely programmed according to an uplinked schedule through an RS-232 interface,
it has programmable resolution from 0.025 to 1.6Hz, 512 arbitrarily distributed frequency
bins, it can detect spectral clusters, track their peak frequencies and display the
spectral history on an IBM PC computer, CRT display and printer.  With additional
effort the analyzer can be expanded to handle 3-
channel inputs, logarithmic spectral resolution, keep the I and Q components separate,
perform spectrum energy change detection,
 spectral peak detection and tracking and other time and spectrum averaging statistical
operations NASA requires.  It is proposed in Phase II to develop flight hardware
signal processor of approximately 1 watt power consumption, packaged to the required
configuration.  The design maturity of the DSI processor enables the accomplishment
of these objectives in Phase II.