An asynchronous instruction length decoder

Journal ArticleThis paper describes an investigation of potential advantages and pitfalls of applying an asynchronous design methodology to an advanced microprocessor architecture. A prototype complex instruction set length decoding and steering unit was implemented using self-timed circuits. [The Revolving Asynchronous Pentium® Processor Instruction Decoder (RAPPID) design implemented the complete Pentium II® 32-bit MMX instruction set.] The prototype chip was fabricated on a 0.25-CMOS process and tested successfully. Results show significant advantages-in particular, performance of 2.5-4.5 instructions per nanosecond-with manageable risks using this design technology. The prototype achieves three times the throughput and half the latency, dissipating only half the power and requiring about the same area as the fastest commercial 400-MHz clocked circuit fabricated on the same process

An asynchronous instruction length decoder

Journal ArticleAbstract-This paper describes an investigation of potential advantages and pitfalls of applying an asynchronous design methodology to an advanced microprocessor architecture. A prototype complex instruction set length decoding and steering unit was implemented using self-timed circuits. [The Revolving Asynchronous Pentium® Processor Instruction Decoder (RAPPID) design implemented the complete Pentium II® 32-bit MMX instruction set.] The prototype chip was fabricated on a 0.25-CMOS process and tested successfully. Results show significant advantages-in particular, performance of 2.5-4.5 instructions per nanosecond-with manageable risks using this design technology. The prototype achieves three times the throughput and half the latency, dissipating only half the power and requiring about the same area as the fastest commercial 400-MHz clocked circuit fabricated on the same process

A development study for a short range, low capacity digital microwave link

Includes bibliographical references.A specific request for development of a short-range, low capacity digital microwave transmission system has been received from the South African Dept. Posts and Telecommunications. The aim of this project is to initiate development work by determining the optimum system configuration and modulation technique to meet the design specifications. In addition, it is proposed to develop and construct an I.F. modulator/demodulator module using which simulation tests chosen modulation application may be performed in order to assess the scheme's feasibi1ity in this specific application

Configurable pseudo noise radar imaging system enabling synchronous MIMO channel extension

In this article, we propose an evolved system design approach to ultra-wideband (UWB) radar based on pseudo-random noise (PRN) sequences, the key features of which are its user-adaptability to meet the demands provided by desired microwave imaging applications and its multichannel scalability. In light of providing a fully synchronized multichannel radar imaging system for short-range imaging as mine detection, non-destructive testing (NDT) or medical imaging, the advanced system architecture is presented with a special focus put on the implemented synchronization mechanism and clocking scheme. The core of the targeted adaptivity is provided by means of hardware, such as variable clock generators and dividers as well as programmable PRN generators. In addition to adaptive hardware, the customization of signal processing is feasible within an extensive open-source framework using the Red Pitaya ® data acquisition platform. A system benchmark in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), jitter, and synchronization stability is conducted to determine the achievable performance of the prototype system put into practice. Furthermore, an outlook on the planned future development and performance improvement is provided

Science and Applications Space Platform (SASP) End-to-End Data System Study

The capability of present technology and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) to accommodate Science and Applications Space Platforms (SASP) payload user's requirements, maximum service to the user through optimization of the SASP Onboard Command and Data Management System, and the ability and availability of new technology to accommodate the evolution of SASP payloads were assessed. Key technology items identified to accommodate payloads on a SASP were onboard storage devices, multiplexers, and onboard data processors. The primary driver is the limited access to TDRSS for single access channels due to sharing with all the low Earth orbit spacecraft plus shuttle. Advantages of onboard data processing include long term storage of processed data until TRDSS is accessible, thus reducing the loss of data, eliminating large data processing tasks at the ground stations, and providing a more timely access to the data

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ALL-COTS DIGITAL BACK-END FOR A PULSE-DOPPLER SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

Radar imaging techniques employing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) are ubiquitous in applications such as defense, remote sensing, space exploration, terrain mapping, and many others. However, to obtain fine image resolution, radar systems must be capable of utilizing large signal bandwidths. By the sampling theorem, a large signal bandwidth equates to a high sampling frequency, resulting in more expensive and complex digital electronics required to digitize and process the waveform. Using linear frequency modulated (LFM) pulses and stretch processing techniques, systems such as frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radars reduce the required sampling rate at the expense of longer pulses, higher transmit duty cycle, and decreased pulse repetition frequency. While these tradeoffs are often acceptable, in many situations they are not, and a pulse-Doppler radar system is required. These systems can utilize LFM pulses with nearly any desired pulse length and pulse repetition frequency to perform imaging, but they must have an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and back-end processing capable of handling the full waveform bandwidth, leading to increased cost, size, or both. At the University of Oklahoma’s Advanced Radar Research Center, a pulse-Doppler radar system for use in a SAR application is designed and built using only commercially available components to decrease the size and cost of the radar, specifically the digital back-end. A minimum size and weight is targeted for this system because it is desired to eventually fly the radar and form images on a lightweight airborne platform, such as a quad- or octo-copter. The challenge with using commercial parts for a custom digital pulse-Doppler radar is that it is difficult to meet the strict timing requirements inherent to pulse-Doppler radar while simultaneously meeting the high-bandwidth requirements imposed by SAR. In this thesis, the design and implementation of the digital back-end for the custom SAR system is presented. The focus is placed on designing a control system and clock distribution scheme in the digital back-end to ensure pulse to pulse coherence while maintaining ideal LFM spectral quality. Additionally, a calibration method is devised to provide accurate range measurements each time the radar is turned on even if the latency between the digital transmitter and receiver changes. At the conclusion of this work, it is shown that the radar system is capable of performing accurate pulse-Doppler radar through the generation of range-Doppler maps from data captured by the radar. The results of these tests indicate that the system is suitable for eventual use in SAR imaging applications

In-flight calibration and verification of the Planck-LFI instrument

In this paper we discuss the Planck-LFI in-flight calibration campaign. After a brief overview of the ground test campaigns, we describe in detail the calibration and performance verification (CPV) phase, carried out in space during and just after the cool-down of LFI. We discuss in detail the functionality verification, the tuning of the front-end and warm electronics, the preliminary performance assessment and the thermal susceptibility tests. The logic, sequence, goals and results of the in-flight tests are discussed. All the calibration activities were successfully carried out and the instrument response was comparable to the one observed on ground. For some channels the in-flight tuning activity allowed us to improve significantly the noise performance.Comment: Long technical paper on Planck LFI in flight calibration campaign: 109 pages in this (not final) version, 100 page in the final JINST versio