Patents Assigned to Space Admi
  • Publication number: 20130141721
    Abstract: A system that simultaneously measures the translational temperature, bulk velocity, and density in gases by collecting, referencing, and analyzing nanosecond time-scale Rayleigh scattered light from molecules is described. A narrow-band pulsed laser source is used to probe two largely separated measurement locations, one of which is used for reference. The elastically scattered photons containing information from both measurement locations are collected at the same time and analyzed spectrally using a planar Fabry-Perot interferometer. A practical means of referencing the measurement of velocity using the laser frequency, and the density and temperature using the information from the reference measurement location maintained at constant properties is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicants: USA as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi, The George Washington University
    Inventors: The George Washington University, United State of America as represented by the Ad- ministrator of the National Aeronnaitics and Space
  • Publication number: 20130109594
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-organ device includes printing a micro-organ on a microchip using a cell suspension in a syringe controlled by a computer-aided tissue engineering system, wherein the cell suspension comprises cells suspended in a solution containing a material that functions as a scaffold, and wherein the printing is performed with the computer-aided tissue engineering system according to a predetermined pattern. A micro-organ device includes at least one micro-chamber each housing a micro-organ; and at least one microfluidic channel connected to the micro-chamber, wherein the micro-organ comprises cells arranged in a configuration that includes spacing between portions of the cells to facilitate diffusion exchange between the cells and a medium supplied from the at least one microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventor: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi
  • Publication number: 20130050048
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an antenna feed design for transmitting or receiving a circularly polarized microwave signal, and a communication device using that antenna feed design. Resonating disks are bowl-shaped to balance E-plane and H-plane magnetic field patterns, decreasing cross-polarization, and providing mechanical rigidity. A non-planar circuit replaces planar microstrip transmission lines for transmitting the signal, with 90° phase shifts, from an input point to excitation points. This non-planar circuit overcomes some of the layout problems encountered in planar circuits. It maintains impedance matching from the input point to the excitation points by progressively tapering down the characteristic transmission line impedance of each successive section. The non-planar circuit has sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to allow it to be supported at only two anchor points. Similarly, the non-planar disks are also of sufficient strength to require only a single anchor point each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventors: David Green, Cornelis Frederik Du Toit
  • Publication number: 20120199755
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for making a quantitative measurement of an electric field. A plurality of antennas separated from one another by known distances are arrayed in a region that extends in at least one dimension. A voltage difference between at least one selected pair of antennas is measured. Each voltage difference is divided by the known distance associated with the selected pair of antennas corresponding thereto to generate a resulting quantity. The plurality of resulting quantities defined over the region quantitatively describe an electric field therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicants: Space Admi.
    Inventor: Edward R. Generazio
  • Publication number: 20120147379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for characterizing optical materials, using steps and equipment for generating a coherent laser light, filtering the light to remove high order spatial components, collecting the filtered light and forming a parallel light beam, splitting the parallel beam into a first direction and a second direction wherein the parallel beam travelling in the second direction travels toward the material sample so that the parallel beam passes through the sample, applying various physical quantities to the sample, reflecting the beam travelling in the first direction to produce a first reflected beam, reflecting the beam that passes through the sample to produce a second reflected beam that travels back through the sample, combining the second reflected beam after it travels back though the sample with the first reflected beam, sensing the light beam produced by combining the first and second reflected beams, and processing the sensed beam to determine sample characteristics and properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventors: Sang Hyouk Choi, Yeonjoon Park
  • Publication number: 20110292969
    Abstract: A wireless temperature sensor includes an electrical conductor and a dielectric material on the conductor. The conductor is electrically unconnected and is shaped for storage of an electric field and a magnetic field. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the conductor resonates to generate harmonic electric and magnetic field responses, each of which has a frequency associated therewith. The material is selected such that it experiences changes in either dielectric or magnetic permeability attributes in the presence of a temperature change. Shifts from the sensor's baseline frequency response indicate that the material has experienced a temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventor: Marie Woodard
  • Publication number: 20110238373
    Abstract: A GPS-based pitol-static calibration system uses global output-error optimization. High data rate measurements of static and total pressure, ambient air conditions, and GPS-based ground speed measurements are used to compute pitot-static pressure errors over a range of airspeed. System identification methods rapidly compute optimal pressure error models with defined confidence intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventors: John V. Foster, Kevin Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20110192319
    Abstract: Conventional toughening agents are typically rubbery materials or small molecular weight molecules, which mostly sacrifice the intrinsic properties of a matrix such as modulus, strength, and thermal stability as side effects. On the other hand, high modulus inclusions tend to reinforce elastic modulus very efficiently, but not the strength very well. For example, mechanical reinforcement with inorganic inclusions often degrades the composite toughness, encountering a frequent catastrophic brittle failure triggered by minute chips and cracks. Thus, toughening generally conflicts with mechanical reinforcement. Carbon nanotubes have been used as efficient reinforcing agents in various applications due to their combination of extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi
    Inventors: Cheol Park, Dennis C. Working, Emilie J. Siochi, Joycelyn S. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20110054693
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method is provided for determining aberration data for an optical system. The method comprises collecting a data signal, and generating a pre-transformation algorithm. The data is pre-transformed by multiplying the data with the pre-transformation algorithm. A discrete Fourier transform of the pre-transformed data is performed in an iterative loop. The method further comprises back-transforming the data to generate aberration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventor: BRUCE H. DEAN
  • Publication number: 20100208245
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light direction sensor for determining the direction of a light source. The system includes an image sensor; a spacer attached to the image sensor, and a pattern mask attached to said spacer. The pattern mask has a slit pattern that as light passes through the slit pattern it casts a diffraction pattern onto the image sensor. The method operates by receiving a beam of light onto a patterned mask, wherein the patterned mask as a plurality of a slit segments. Then, diffusing the beam of light onto an image sensor and determining the direction of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Admin. of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi.
    Inventor: Douglas B. Leviton
  • Publication number: 20100053635
    Abstract: A method of aligning an array of mirrors and computer program product therefor. The method may be used to align mirrors in a sparse aperture telescope system, e.g., a spaced based imaging interferometer. An image projected onto mirrors in an array of mirrors is reflected onto a sensor, where a point spread function (PSF) is collected from a pair of mirrors. A spatial image is extracted from PSF sidebands and a difference (e.g., piston difference) is determined for the pair of mirrors from the spatial image. Tip and tilt are determined for the pair of mirrors from spatial image characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi
    Inventor: RICHARD G. LYON
  • Publication number: 20100038491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Host Transfer Vehicle methods and computer-readable medium for enabling the capture and berthing of passive cargo containers in space with an orbiting system, such as the International Space Station. A method embodiment positions a Host Transfer Vehicle (HTV) in proximity to an orbiting system, captures a passive cargo container launched from a ground by a grappling arm of the HTV, couples the passive cargo container to the HTV to form an HTV/cargo container stack, propels the HTV/cargo container stack within proximity of an orbiting system, and through the use of a grappling arm of the orbiting system berths the HTV/cargo container stack via a coupling structure on the cargo container to the orbiting system. The cargo container can then receive cargo from the orbiting system and either return to the ground or the cargo container can be burned up in the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: U.S.A. as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Admi
    Inventors: Fank J. Cepollina, Mark D. Brumfield, Jason Budinoff, James L. Cooper, Ralph D. Green
  • Publication number: 20090223302
    Abstract: A micro sized multi-axis semiconductor skin friction/wall shear stress induced by fluid flow. The sensor design includes a shear/strain transduction gimble connected to a force collecting plate located at the flow boundary surface. The shear force collecting plate is interconnected by an arm to offset the tortional hinges from the fluid flow. The arm is connected to the shear force collecting plate through dual axis torsional hinges with piezoresistive torsional strain gauges. These gauges are disposed on the tortional hinges and provide a voltage output indicative of applied shear stress acting on the force collection plate proximate the flow boundary surface. Offsetting the torsional hinges creates a force concentration and resolution structure that enables the generation of a large stress on the strain gauge from small shear stress, or small displacement of the collecting plate. The design also isolates the torsional sensors from exposure to the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: Space Admi
    Inventors: Sateesh Bajikar, Michael A. Scott, Edward Adcock
  • Publication number: 20090102577
    Abstract: The design of a compact low-loss Magic-T is described. The planar Magic-T incorporates a compact microstrip-slotline tee junction and small microstrip-slotline transition area to reduce slotline radiation. The Magic-T produces broadband in-phase and out-of-phase power combiner/divider responses, has low in-band insertion loss, and small in-band phase and amplitude imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: U.S.A as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi
    Inventors: Kongpop U-Yen, Edward J. Wollack, Terence Doiron, Samuel H. Moseley
  • Publication number: 20090083201
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining stability of a neural system. The method includes tracking a function world line of an N element neural system within at least one behavioral space, determining whether the tracking function world line is approaching a psychological stability surface, and implementing a quantitative solution that corrects instability if the tracked function world line is approaching the psychological stability surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi.
    Inventor: Steven A. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20080231529
    Abstract: A signal conditioning module provides a polarimeter capability in a photometric system. The module may include multiple variable delay polarization modulators. Each modulator may include an input port, and a first arm formed to include a first reflector and first rooftop mirror arranged in opposed relationship. The first reflector may direct an input radiation signal to the first rooftop mirror. Each modulator also may include an output port and a second arm formed to include a second reflector and second rooftop mirror arranged in opposed relationship. The second reflector can guide a signal from the second rooftop mirror towards the output port to provide an output radiation signal. A beamsplitting grid may be placed between the first reflector and the first rooftop mirror, and also between the second reflector and the second rooftop mirror. A translation apparatus can provide adjustment relative to optical path length vis-à-vis the first arm, the second arm and the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi
    Inventors: Edward J. Wollack, Samuel H. Moseley, Giles A. Novak, David T. Chuss
  • Publication number: 20080147935
    Abstract: A digital memory storage hub includes a USB mass storage controller having a daisy chain component, a male USB interface connected to the USB mass storage controller, and a plurality of interfaces for digital memory devices, each of the plurality of interfaces being connected to the USB mass storage controller. One or more of the plurality of interfaces includes an on/off switch for selectively accessing a digital memory device. The memories of the selected digital memory devices are viewed as a single, combined memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: U.S of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi.
    Inventor: Michael G. Hinchey