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ISA Division Newsletter
Summer 2002
The Odyssey
Gary Whitworth, Editor
Aerospace Industries Division
Director’s Message
IN THIS ISSUE:
Director’s Message 1 By Bill Stange
Director-elect’s 2
Message
Hello Again:
Another Successful 2
Symposium 48th International Instrumentation Symposium
As most of you know, the Aerospace Industries Division and the Test Measurement Division
48th IIS Vendor & 3-4 jointly sponsor the annual International Instrumentation Symposium. We have just completed
Exhibits our 48th International Instrumentation Symposium, held this year 6-9 May at the Catamaran
Network With 4 Resort Hotel in San Diego. In spite of the poor economy and the reluctance to travel brought on
Your Peers Online by the events of September 11th, we had approximately the same number of technical papers
and attendees as last year. As you can imagine, many people do a tremendous amount of hard
New Educational 5 work to make the symposium the high quality technical event that it is. Special thanks go out to
Product the General Chair, Steve Allison, and to the many volunteers, authors, session developers, ven-
50th Anniversary 5 dors and attendees who made this symposium a great success!
Celebration
Congratulations
Editor’s Message 6 Congratulations to Michael J. Hayduk, Rebecca J. Bussjager, Steven T. Johns and Cheryl
Gerhardstein of the Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY and co-
Message from the 7
author Eric Donkor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of
49th IIS General Chair
Connecticut, Storrs, CT on their winning of the Major Charles Bassett III Award. Their paper
Welcome New Members 7 entitled “Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion Using Optoelectronic Techniques” was judged
best paper at the 47th International Instrumentation Symposium held in Denver, CO last May.
ISA 2002 Joint 7 The Major Charles Bassett III Award carries with it the opportunity to name a college or univer-
A&T/I&S Luncheon sity to receive a $1000.00 scholarship for a deserving student in the instrumentation, systems, or
ISA 2002 Technical 8-9 automation field. Congratulations also to Dr. Jeffery Jordan on his winning the Dr. Charles
Conference for ASD Stark Draper Award. Jeff’s tutorial on Pressure Sensitive Paint Technology was judged the best
tutorial at last year’s IIS.
ASD Board Members 10
Flight Testing With Toys 11 ISA 2002
The Aerospace Industries Division is developing two technical sessions for ISA 2002, which is
PDTIBWKHWH 12 being held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago IL, 21-24 October. This
annual event is sponsored by ISA, and is North America’s largest and most comprehensive con-
49th IIS Call For 13
ference and exhibition dedicated to instrumentation, systems and automation technologies. ISA
Papers
2002 will provide you with a hands-on comparison of the latest products in the expansive exhi-
Analog-to-Digital 14 bition, including specialty pavilions for sensors, motion control, temperature control, and more;
Signal Conversion Using comprehensive Applications Conference and the Second Annual ISA Emerging Technologies
Optoelectronic Techniques Conference; thought-provoking keynote and plenary talks; and networking with colleagues at
North America’s largest meeting of instrumentation, systems, and automation professionals. If
Snapshots from the 22
you are interested in presenting a paper or developing a session at the ISA 2002 Conference in
48th IIS
Chicago please contact me. In addition, I further encourage you to attend the Joint A&T/I&S
ISA 2002 24 Department Awards Luncheon at ISA 2002. The Luncheon will take place on Monday, 21
October in the McCormick Center at 11:30 a.m. This is a great place to meet and talk with
Division officers and get a good idea of how Divisions operate. ASD will have at least one
table, and we invite you to come and join us. This is also a good time to volunteer your servic-
es as a Committee member or Chairman, or express your interest in becoming an Officer of a
Division. We have some big plans for our Division, so we can always use volunteers. For more
continued on page 23
Page 2 Summer 2002
Director-Elect’s Message
Greetings Everyone, contact the 49th IIS General Chairman, years. Call or e-mail me and let me
I hope everyone is finding time to Ron Dieck (RonDieck@aol.com, know your concerns or complaints. This
enjoy the days of summer while they 561- 627-1321) or the ISA Conferences is your Division and your Society – let
last. After a trying year of security con- contact, Richard Arriola (rarriola@isa.org, your leadership know how you feel
cerns and economic turmoil, I hope 919-990-9303) for details. about things – we won’t know your
some of you are finding time to relax I should also mention the short concerns unless you tell us.
and recover. How many of you made it courses and tutorials that will be offered Thanks everybody for making ASD
to San Diego in May? The 48th in Orlando. These are great opportuni- one of ISA’s best technical Divisions.
International Instrumentation ties to learn from folks that are experts Until the next newsletter, please have a
Symposium (IIS) in San Diego went very in their respective fields, and I would pleasant and productive six months.
well this year. Attendance was stronger encourage you to take full advantage of
than expected and it seemed as though them. The short courses offered by the Sincerely,
everyone who attended enjoyed the IIS are always less expensive than you’d Patrick Russler
symposium - I certainly did! Please join find elsewhere for the same content – a Director-Elect, Aerospace Industries
our Division Director, Bill Stange, and real deal. Check the ISA web site Division
me in congratulating the Symposium www.isa.org/iis regularly for upcoming prussler@ara.com
General Chair, Steve Allison, on a job details on which courses will be avail- 919-582-3367
well done. Thanks, Steve! able in Orlando.
Next year, the 49th IIS will take ISA’s premier event, the ISA 2002
place in Orlando, Florida at the Adam’s Instrumentation, Systems and
Mark Hotel on May 4th through 8th, Automation Conference and Exhibition, Another Successful
2003. The Aerospace Industries will be in Chicago, Illinois 21-24 Symposium
Division and our partner, the Test October. It is “North America’s largest
Measurement Division, jointly sponsor and most comprehensive conference and The 48th International Instrumentation
the IIS. Come to Orlando and partici- exhibition dedicated to instrumentation, Symposium held in San Diego, 5-9 May
pate in the premier event of your systems and automation technologies.” was a success. It is sponsored by the two
Division. There will be the usual mix of Check out ISA’s new and improved web ISA Divisions, Test and Measurement and
great technical content and opportuni- site for details. Your Division is devel- Aerospace. The setting for the Symposium
ties to talk to vendors and sensor tech- oping two technical sessions for ISA was the Catamaran Hotel. The beach
nology experts. Where else can you have 2002, but it is not too late to help. If was only a few steps from the hotel and
lunch with folks who have been in the you are interested in presenting a paper the Tuesday evening cruise around the
business for 30 years and with sensor or developing a session at ISA 2002 in bay, in a paddle boat reminiscent of the
technology mavericks straight out of Chicago please contact division director Missisippi River was enjoyed by all.
graduate school? The opportunities for Bill Stange at 937-255-7197 or Sessions covered the topics of Real Time
good technical discussions and general william.stange@wpafb.af.mil, or myself. Systems, Optical Diagnostics and
networking abound. So don’t miss the ISA and the Aerospace Industries Measurement Techniques, Data
show. Division in particular are always look- Acquisition, Flow Measurements,
We are currently soliciting papers, ing for new leadership. Remember that Engine Health Monitoring, Sensor
presenters, and developers for the 49th ISA’s primary mission is the advance- Technology, and Aerospace Propulsion
IIS. If you are interested in presenting ment of sensor technology in general. Research Instrumentation. Short Courses
and contributing to the technical pro- That includes professional development offered were Fundamentals of Temperature,
gram, please let us know. The IIS is an and fostering leadership in the technical Pressure, and Flow Measurements;
excellent forum in which to present community as a whole. If you feel as Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and
your ideas to colleagues that understand though you have something to con- Applications; andSelection and
your topic. Having no one ask questions tribute, or just want to participate in the Application of Process Measurement
at the end of your presentation is a let general advancement of sensor technolo- Sensors. The tutorials were Fiber Optics
down – I can almost guarantee that gy, please give us a call. I’ve said it Sensors, Technical Writing that Pleases
you’ll get questions and comments after before and I’ll say it again…we’re Your Boss, The Design of a Successful
you present at the IIS. Remember to always looking for new blood. Measurement System, Thermographic
bring your business cards and be pre- As Director-Elect of ASD, I’m still Phosphor Thermometry, Information
pared for spirited discussion. If you are learning the names and faces of every- (In)Security, and Wireless Technology.
not a member of ASD or TMD, but one in our Division - all 964 of us. I’m The latter two topics were new this
have a topic relevant to the aerospace or also a relatively young guy – wet behind year. Attendance for the conference was
test measurement community, please the ears some of you might say. As a little higher than the previous year.
contact us. The 49th IIS will be award- such, I’m open to any ideas members This is especially encouraging consider-
ing honoraria to presenters and session may have on what the focus of the ing the events of the last year and the
developers from other Divisions. Please Division should be over the next several state of the economy.
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 3
The symposium banquet was fortunate Instrumentation Working Group(PIWIG). it will be an excellent setting which
to have not one but two speakers! The This is a consortium aimed at coordinat- includes what is probablythe largest hotel
first was by Pino Zani, ISA President, who ing and performing instrumentation gift shop in the world. The hotel is
luckily was in the area and dropped in for development for the Air Force, NASA attached to a mall! Next year’s event,
an all-too-brief visit to see our conference and DOE. PIWIG Members attended a and this is a new feature, will provide a
and to share his thoughts on cooperation special IIS session on Thursday open to special vendor’s session after the
between the various ISA organizations. Jeff both PIWIG and IIS attendees. On Wednesday banquet. The vendor’s will be
Krinsky of AT&T gave us an excellent talk Friday, the day after the symposium, the encouraged to make presentations. The
on consumer wireless technology that will group held another session. The arrange- limits on commercial presentations in
soon be available. It was an exciting pre- ment probably increased the attendance regular sessions will be lifted for this ven-
view of useful communications gadgetry. to bothevents. The Symposium provided dor session. This will provide another
The conference organizers are especially and coordinated registration, room benefit to these important contributors to
grateful to the Vendors who displayed arrangements and food services to the success of our symposia.
their wares at the conference and provided PIWIG. We hope to see you all there next year.
for lunches and the reception. Next year’s Symposium will be held in Thanks,
Another added feature of this year’s Orlando, FL. 4-8 May 2003 at the Steve Allison
conference was a mutually beneficial Adam’s Mark Hotel. Under the able lead-
arrangement with the Propulsion ership of Ron Dieck, General Chairman,
48th INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTATION SYMPOSIUM
PRESENTED BY THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES AND TEST MEASUREMENT DIVISIONS
Thanks to All Supporting Vendors
Druck Incorporated, Technology Corporation, It is family owned and man- nels and a 2MHz aggre-
a leader in pressure Lockheed Martin, Northrop aged, founded by Dr. Anthony gate throughput rate.
measurement and cal- Grumman, General Dynamics Kurtz in 1959, and incorporat- • System 495 with sampling
ibration for over 25 Land Systems, and numerous ed in the State of New Jersey. rates to 1MHz per chan-
years, manufactures system suppliers to these and Currently Kulite has more than nel and on-board memory
products ranging other key aerospace and mili- 100 patents making us, by far, to 64Msamples per chan-
from pressure transducers and tary companies. the most prolific innovators in nel.
transmitters to high perform- the industry. Mozayik is a full-featured
ance, pitot static air data instru- HBM, with data acquisition software pack-
ments. U.S. head- Neff Instrument age that requires no program-
Additionally, Druck offers a quarters Corporation ming. It supports all the hard-
complete line of field calibra- located in manufactures ware functions including hard-
tors for pressure, temperature Marlborough, Mass., is a lead- complete data ware and transducer calibra-
and electrical parameters and a ing global supplier of measure- acquisition products and sys- tion. It is offered as a comple-
comprehensive range of pri- ment technologies, products tems. Signal conditioning is ment to all Neff hardware prod-
mary and secondary pressure and solutions for industrial test built-in to products which ucts.
standards. and measurement applications. include:
HBM provides complete meas- • System 470 Low-Level
FCI Aerospace is urement solutions - from sensor Multiplexer - capable of
the "one stop to software - for industrial and handling large numbers of
source" manu- laboratory applications. Its analog and digital I/O at Pressure scanning instrumenta-
facturer of tem- wide range of measurement prices as low as $60 per tion for wind tunnel and turbo
perature, liquid level, flow and parameters includes force, channel. machinery research and test
pressure sensors to the world torque, weight, strain, displace- • System 472 Data applications achieving total sys-
aerospace, military, marine and ment and pressure. Primary Acquisition System featur- tem measurement uncertainty of
space industries. FCI's manu- markets include aerospace, ing built-in calibration, better than +/-0.03% FS.
facturing facility in San Marcos, automotive and manufacturing. very low noise operation
California features a multi mil- HBM is a wholly owned sub- and 50Khz throughput
lion dollar flow laboratory that sidiary of Spectris plc. rates.
permits the development of new • System 620/Series 600
instrumentation applications Kulite Data Acquisition System Intelligent Pressure Scanning
and full technical support for Semiconductor also featuring built-in cali- Modules from vacuum to
flight test programs. ISO 9001 Products, Inc. is a company bration and 100KHz 1000psi. New Intelligent
certified and AS 9000 compli- which designs, develops and throughput. Temperature Module accepts
ant, FCI has been selected as a manufacturers solid-state semi- • System 730 with simulta- type J, K, E, S, T, R & N
sensor partner by Boeing, conductor pressure sensors neous sampling, zero Thermocouples
Bombardier, Raytheon, United using piezoresistive technology. phase shift between chan-
Page 4 Summer 2002
48th ISA International Instrumentaion Symposium Vendor Exhibits
By Bill Atkinson
48th IIS Vendors Chair
The 48th ISA International Instru- years, manufactures products ranging Fluid Components International. HBM,
mentation Symposium was enriched by from pressure transducers and transmit- with U.S. headquarters located in
the displays of seven vendors. The vendor ters to high performance, pitot static air Marlborough, Mass., is a leading global
exhibits were displayed in the Kon Tiki data instruments.; Kulite Semiconductor supplier of measurement technologies,
Ballroom at the Catamaran Resort Hotel. Products, a company which designs, products and solutions for industrial test
The exhibits opened on Monday evening develops and manufactures solid-state and measurement applications. HBM
with pizza and soda provided through the semiconductor pressure sensors using provides complete measurement solutions
generosity of Kulite Semiconductor piezoresistive technology; Neff - from sensor to software - for industrial
Products. The exhibits opened again mid- Instruments, a manufacturer of complete and laboratory applications. Its wide
day on Tuesday with box lunches being data acquisition products and systems range of measurement parameters
served in the exhibit area. On Tuesday with signal conditioning is built-in; includes force, torque, weight, strain, dis-
evening the exhibit area was open for two Pressure Systems Inc., a manufacturer of placement and pressure. FCI Aerospace is
hours prior to the reception cruise. pressure scanning instrumentation for the “one stop source” manufacturer of
Wednesday evening the exhibit hall was wind tunnel and turbo machinery temperature, liquid level, flow and pres-
open for two and one half hours. research and test applications achieving sure sensors to the world aerospace, mili-
Thursday midday was the final session of total system measurement uncertainty of tary, marine and space industries. FCI’s
the exhibits with box lunches again being better than +/-0.03% FS; and Scanivalve, manufacturing facility in San Marcos,
served in the exhibit hall. a manufacturer of Intelligent Pressure California features a multi million dollar
The vendors were a mix of familiar Scanning Modules from vacuum to flow laboratory that permits the develop-
faces and several new exhibitors. Among 1000psi. and New Intelligent ment of new instrumentation applications
the long time supporters were: Druck Temperature Modules that accept type J, and full technical support for flight test
Incorporated, a leader in pressure meas- K, E, S, T, R & N Thermocouples. New programs.
urement and calibration for over 25 exhibitors this year were HBM, Inc. and continued on page 5
Network With Your Peers Online!
You are no longer limited to networking with people
locally or at conferences. You can now network with your
peers around the world electronically.
Got a question? Ask your peers! Got a problem?
Ask your peers! Got advice? Tell your peers!
Every ISA Division has an e-mail discussion list
exclusively for its members. And they want you to join!
Sign up today from your Division’s home page.
Visit www.isa.org/techdivmem
Mailing list information maintained by ISA's e-mail list administrator is held strictly
confidential and is not made available to the public.
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 5
48th IIS Vendor Exhibits
continued from page 4 Preparations Are Underway for 50th Anniversary
Celebration
The support of all these vendors was
much appreciated by the Symposium staff.
In general the vendors expressed satisfac-
tion with the show and their feedback
indicates that they felt the show results
were worth the investment. Pipe and drape
for the show was provided by the Carden
Convention Service Company and their
efforts caused the mechanics of the show
to go very smoothly with none of the usual
minor problems and annoyances.
The vendor exhibits were adversely
affected by the current business climate.
Several of our long term supporters opted Registration at the first sym-
not to return this year citing reduced posium with Registration
budgets. A number of vendors signed up A technical session at first sympo-
Chair, Bill Stephens, and
for the show hoping economic conditions sium with Walt Gabriel divulging
assistant, Jane Noble.
would improve. We had six vendors can- the “Black Art” of magnetic tape
cel out in the three weeks preceding the recording
show. Although this was disappointing,
we can take heart that they were willing The 50th International Instrumentation Beginning with this issue of the
to try to exhibit and hopefully will join us Symposium (IIS) will be held in May of Odyssey, and continuing in future issues
next year if conditions improve. 2004 in San Antonio, Texas. At this up to the 50th Anniversary, historical
Symposium, a 50th Anniversary information from this book will be pre-
Celebration for both the Aerospace sented.
Industries Division and the Symposium is
New Educational The First Symposium
currently being planned that will hopeful-
Product ly be a gathering place for the “old ASD and the symposium were both
timers” that were involved in the early founded in 1954. In 1953, the ISA recog-
The popular Short Courses on The
Engineering & The Dynamics of years. A past ASD Director, Bill Comer, nized a need for a forum for the dissemi-
Measurement Systems for Test & has been appointed to head a committee nation of information devoted exclusively
Evaluation, are now available on 62 full that will plan an Old Timers Reunion, as to aircraft and missile instrumentation. It
hours of Videotapes recorded during a well as, update the ASD History Book, responded to this need by sponsoring and
live performance at NASA Langley. which also chronicles the Symposium’s forming a D-14 Aeronautical
Based on the Unified Approach devel- history. ASD Historian Dick Cusick, Instrumentation Committee in 1954.
oped by Peter Stein, they include numer-
another past ASD Director, will assist in Floyd B. Simpson was appointed chair-
ous demonstrations, over 1000 refer-
ences keyed to the lectures and compre- this effort and provide needed historical man.
hensive text material. The programs fea- data from the ASD History Library that In October, 1954 Delmas C. Little, ISA
ture the electrical measurement of he has maintained for many years. Technical Division Vice-President, sent
mechanical and thermal quantities. Bill and Dick are developing a database Bernard Alberts, President of the Wichita
Contact: Peter Stein, Phone/Fax: of names and addresses of persons who Section, an invitation on behalf of the
1-800-meas-sys or 480-945-4603. e- Aeronautical Instrumentation Committee
have previously been involved with the
mail: meas.sys@alum.mit.edu; For
detailed description send blank e-mail to Symposium but are no longer members of to cooperate in presenting a Flight Test
autoresponder: meas-sys@mailback.com. ISA. Please send any information you may Symposium. It is noteworthy that Wichita
Stein Engineering Services, Inc., have to Bill at bcomer@cafes.net or Dick Section attendees at the ISA Meeting in
5602 E. Monterosa, Phoenix, AZ at RichardCusick@aol.com. This informa- Philadelphia broached (with others) the
85018. tion will be used to reestablish communi- desire of flight test instrumentation engi-
Over 300 weeks of these programs cations and help develop interest. neers to hold their own national assem-
have been presented over the last 40
The 1st Edition of the ASD History blage as one topic of an historic ad hoc
years in 17 countries to engineers, scien-
tists, managers and senior technicians in Book was compiled and published in committee meeting convened by Mr.
industry, government and educational 1974 on the 20th Anniversary by Irv Little. This invitation was enthusiastically
institutions who are charged with obtain- Lantor. On the 30th Anniversary, Joe accepted and John See (Boeing) was
ing valid, noise-free, undistorted data Newnham updated the information and selected by the Section as Symposium
under difficult conditions. published the 2nd Edition. The current General Chairman. ISA (National) as rep-
$1100 with one set of text delivered, update for the 50th Anniversary will be resented by the D-14 Committee retained
10% discount for payment with order.
the 3rd Edition. continued on page 6
Page 6 Summer 2002
Editor’s Message
By Gary Whitworth, ASD Newsletter Editor
I remember, on more than one occa- more easily distracted by fishing and golf- new ideas, new insight, new enthusiasm.
sion I believe, Peps Schneider standing in ing (presumably their current “business”). There are a large number of ASD
the “bloody pulpit” of editorship of this In most cases, retirees don’t just walk members that take advantage of the bene-
newsletter, talking about how perhaps too up and volunteer for a job; they held that fits offered by the Division. Some have
many Board positions (and perhaps IIS and/or other position(s) before retirement. for considerable time, and some for much
staff positions), were being filled by If no one moves up or steps forward to less. But all have talents to offer the
retirees. Not a great number of positions, claim his position, and the retiree has not Division, by serving in the “startup” posi-
of course, but somewhat more than none. yet made a clean break to the full occupa- tions that come into existence as their
And the positions were not usually ones tional vacuum, he simply agrees to con- predecessors move up the responsibility
of highest leadership. Nonetheless, Peps tinue to fill the position on a “tempo- ladder. No matter if these slots are filled
argued that this is not the way it is sup- rary” basis. Until someone does step for- by retirees, they are probably recycling
posed to be, in the overall scheme of ward. (Note: not usually “until he dies.”) from the more responsible positions any-
things. On the heels of the 48th Annual And there is the rub. New people must way, because there was no “new blood”
International Instrumentation step forward, or the retirees are never stepping up. This of course makes these
Symposium, and looking forward to the relieved, or just have ultimately to walk retirees very valuable, and greatly appre-
49th, 50th, and hopefully many more, away from the responsibility. ciated for being available when necessary.
please allow me a thought or two on Most volunteer organizations fill their But retirees don’t last forever. And
retirees and “new blood” in our positions un-elected positions by younger and because they are so valuable, it is neces-
of responsibility. newer members stepping up voluntarily, sary to continually replenish the crop.
Not that there aren’t some possible and making themselves available for posi- After all, today’s newcomers are like seed
advantages to having retirees available for tions of lesser responsibility. In these slots, corn. They will be tomorrow’s retirees.
these positions, such as the conceit that the newcomers learn the ropes, “pay their The Board and IIS staff always wel-
retirees have more time to apply to dues” and generally gain the experience come new faces and talents. If you as a
Division tasks. (I’m not at all sure that so that their accession to the more Division member are interested in getting
this is true.) But it is not good from some responsible positions comes naturally and more involved, contact the Division lead-
pragmatic aspects: less income to the IIS, easily, as if by osmosis. In addition, they ership. Help push the retirees out the top.
since retirees have greatly discounted reg- are now known to their peers, and have Why already I can think of at least one
istration fees; retirees have no corporate the benefit of immediate acceptance and position currently filled by a retiree who
backing and can less afford to attend trust. The usual phrase “new blood” would not be unhappy to be gently float-
meetings and symposia; and retirees are implies much more than youth; it means ed out...
50th Anniversary Celebration inevitably arose. Those that are docu- Evolvement of Names and Sponsorship
continued from page 5 mented relate to Section/Division versus In 1957, at the ISA National Meeting
ISA Headquarters policy and practice in Cleveland, the D-14 Committee was
responsibility for the technical program concerning symposium conduct and renamed the Aeronautical Industry
and authorized $300 working capital to financing. To quote from a letter from Committee. Then, in 1960, it was
cover symposium expenses. Preprints National “...our interest arises not only renamed again as the Aero/Space
were to be available at symposium time because of our normal concern that Industry Division and in 1961 the Flight
and it was decided at a January 1955 these nationally sponsored events be Test Instrumentation Symposium was
meeting not to have material exhibits. successful, but particularly so because renamed The National Aero/Space
Between March 1 and March 21 pre- we advanced $300 working capital for Instrumentation Symposium. The
program announcements were mailed this symposium.” However, the first Division’s name was changed to its pres-
and the program was finalized. meeting had successfully been produced ent name, The Aerospace Industries
Announcements were prepared by for and directed - The Flight Test Division, in 1971. In 1973, Aerospace
April publication in ISA media. The Instrumentation Symposium, as an insti- was dropped from the Symposium’s
Symposium was a resounding success, tution, was off to a stimulating begin- name to encourage participation from
technically, financially, and socially. ning. other industries such as oceanography,
Attendance was a respectable 249. The Indicative of the growth of the environmental, mass transportation, and
proceedings of the first symposium were instrumentation community, the D-14 automotive safety testing. The Test
printed by the Wichita Section and con- Committee was expanded in 1955 to Measurement Division became a joint
veniently included a list of attendees. include Bernard Oldfield (Edwards sponsor of the Symposium in 1974 and
As with any such new enterprise, AFB), Floyd Bryan (Douglas), Eugene the Symposium name was changed to
particularly one driven by a crew of Spencer (Hughes) and G.E. Sanderson The International Instrumentation
fledgling aerospacers, misunderstandings (Lockheed). Symposium – the name it carries today.
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 7
Message from the 49th WELCOME ASD NEW DIVISION MEMBERS
IIS General Chairman: April George E. Crowder Ronald Pawlowski
Glenn Taylor Cunningham Alicia Perez Ballester
It is a pleasure and honor to invite you H T. Bentley, III
Thomas E. Dinjus Trevor Rice
to the finest International Instrumentation Kapil Bhatnagar
Stephen Kirby Doyle .
James P Roberts
and Control Symposium, the ISA 49th .
Bert P Fontenot
Mike Drumm Carlo D. Roman
International Instrumentation Robert Foster
George T. Gillies James Scire
Symposium. We will be meeting 5-8 May Gerald Michael Hill
Frank Greitzer Darrell Sego
2003 in wonderful Orlando, FL. This site William Stansbury Horne
Mark Haberbusch William A. Sotomayer
is especially nice for families and our Steven Yuan Sun Lu
hotel rate is set up for bringing families. Dan Lee Hanson Shane Warner Taylor
W. H. Newton, Jr.
The rate is for single, double, triple or James E. Hardy Vincent S. Thompson
Willard Nott
quad! Our Vendors will have a special Edward E. Hartman Chin-Chi Tsai
Don Pittenger
session on Wednesday afternoon to pres- Terry Hayes Jim Wang, PhD
Michael R. Sponsler
ent their latest and greatest products. We Robert Howard
Robert Stack
are working to get some cross-fertilization John Stevens
Gary L. Hunt June
from other disciplines in ISA by inviting Paul Ivey Tom Brockmann
several ISA Divisions to program paper Martin Kudela William F. DiSilvestro, III
sessions with us. We expect this to be a
May Michael Lockhart Joseph H. Goodrich
fabulous symposium and well worth your Daniel A. Barberree Joseph Mach Jan Ickroth
time to attend. Brian K. Beachkofski James R. Markham Thomas Perrin, Jr.
For more information on this upcom- Wayne Belew Javier Martinez N
ing event please visit http://www.isa.org/iis Michael Bennett Martin J. Morris
I’ll look forward to meeting you in Jim S. Birger Peter J. Neild
Orlando! Tom C. Bonsett Rolf Orsagh
Mike Cates Timothy Carl Owen
Ron Dieck Jimmy Coleman Pachaivannan Partheeban
RonDieck@aol.com
INSTRUMENTATION, SYSTEMS,
AND AUTOMATION
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Join us in honoring your Division colleagues at the Joint A & T and I & S
Department Awards Luncheon at ISA 2002: in the McCormick Place
Convention Center, Chicago, IL on Monday, 21 October at 11:30 a.m.
Department Awards will be presented for
Outstanding Division and Most Improved
Division, along with the Division Communications Tickets are $28.00 per person
awards. We will also recognize individual
Division members for their outstanding contribu- and may be purchased using
tions to Division activities. the online registration form at
Each Division will host a table at the luncheon.
www.isa.org/isa2002
Come meet your Division leaders and hear the or call Kelly L. Bishop
latest on Division activities. at (919) 990-9249.
Page 8 Summer 2002
ISA 2002 Technical Conference
For Aerospace Industries Division
Wednesday, 23 October Special Forums Fuel Your Focus
1:45 p.m. — 3:15 p.m. Cybersecurity of Industrial Control Systems*
11:45 a.m., Tuesday, 22 October
Real-Time Systems (Paper Session)
Remote access. Wireless. Web-enabled hardware. Open architecture. These and
Smart Sensor Usage in Gas Turbine other technologies offer significant business advantages for industrial real-time
Testing computer control systems; but they can create security vulnerabilities unless they
Michael Bennet, Jacobs Sverdrup/ are implemented with security in mind through all phases of the system life-cycle.
AEDC Group This high-level overview examines the security implications of these technologies,
Integration of Automation PLC the concerns and plans of users and vendors, what is being done, and what more
Development With Real-Time can be done to ensure an adequate level of security as we move toward greater
Simulation connectivity and openness in industrial control systems, and as the business IT
Stephen Salita, Sverdrup Technology and control system IT worlds merge. (For more information on this topic, please
see the Security sessions on pages 8 and 12.) Topics covered will include:
An Automation System Based on • User and vendor perspectives on control system security and risk
LabVIEW to Control the Test of management
Mechanical Meter Calibration • US Government activities, including NIST’s Process Control Security
Javier Martinez Navarro, Instituto Requirements Forum
Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua • Education, awareness, and training needs and issues
Automation of Space Materials
Contamination Measurement Moderator:
Randy Buchanan, University of Al Wavering, Acting Chief, Intelligent Systems Division, NIST
Southern Mississippi
Panelists:
Developer: William Stange Dr. Sujeet Shenoi, University of Tulsa, Center for Information Security
Company: USAF
3:30 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Fiber Optic Sensors (Tutorial)
Provides an overview of optical fiber
Get in the
sensor theory for interfero-metric,
grating-based, and other fiber optic
sensor types, with a focus on optical
Driver’s Seat!
fiber sensors being used in laboratory, REGISTER TODAY
industrial/commercial, and aerospace
applications. Representative applications Online:
discussed include industrial sensing, civil www.isa.org/isa2002
structure and aerostructure health moni-
toring, space-based shape monitoring/
control, advanced materials testing, Mail: ISA 2002
manufacturing yield improvements, and P. O. Box 3561
biological/chemical sensing. Examples of Durham, NC 27702
COTS fiber optic sensor/ systems prod- USA
ucts will be on display.
Call: (919) 549-8411
Developer: Steve Poland
Fax: (919) 549-8288
Company: Luna Innovations
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 9
Cyber Security Sessions at ISA 2002
Sponsored by the POWID, FPID, G&C, TXD, ASD, and TMD Divisions and the Standards & Practices Dept.
ISA 2002 Technical Conference, 21-24 October, Chicago, IL
Monday, 21 October 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The Role of Standards in the Internet (In)Security (Tutorial)
Real Time Control System Security Development of Secure Control Dr. Sujeet Shenoi, Oliphant Professor
Issues and Direction (Panel Session) Systems Design (Panel Session) of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
at The University of Tulsa is one of the
The Issues and Challenges — An Overview ISA 84 — Programmable Electronic
leading computer scientists in the United
NIST or NSA System (PES) for Use in Safety
States in the field of computer security,
Applications
The Electric Power Industry information assurance, and anti-cyber
Vic Maggioli
Joe Weiss terrorism. He leads a team of faculty
ISA 95 — Enterprise/Control that have gotten TU named one of 22
Examples of Cyber Attacks and System Integration National Centers of Excellence in
Failures J. Unger Information Assurance by the National
Industry Specialist Security Agency, and one of 6 universi-
ISA POWID Activities
Developer: Joe Weiss ties awarded a “Cyber Corps” program
Marjorie Widmeyer
by the National Science Foundation. TU
Company: EPRI Future Directions Standards Integration has also been awarded a DoD Cyber
or Diversification? Corps program, being the only institu-
1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Bob Webb tion to have both programs, and the
only one to offer three levels of NIST
Developer: Robert Webb
Vendor Solutions to Maintain Real Time certification in security training. (The
Control and Network (Panel Session) Company: Power Engineers Cyber Corps was established in 2001
modeled on ROTC, providing full
Honeywell Approaches to Cyber
tuition, room and board scholarships
Security Threats
for two years to students who will com-
Honeywell Tuesday, 22 October
plete a degree—BS, MS, or PhD—in two
Allen Bradley’s Approach to Security, No Cyber Security Sessions years if they agree to work for the feder-
Access, and Connectivity al government in a civilian position for
Allen Bradley two years upon graduation.)
Wednesday, 23 October Shenoi is also an outstanding teacher,
Foxboro Approaches
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. having been named the US Professor of
Foxboro
the Year in 1998 for doctoral level insti-
Technology Summary Network Applications (Paper Session) tutions by the Carnegie Foundation’s
All Council for the Advancement and
Applying Fieldbus to US Power Plants
Support of Education.
Encryption Daniel Calandrini
Intrusion Detection and Resolution Asset Optimization: Start with Unit Developer: Sujeet Shenoi
(Security Agents, etc.) Performance
Company: University of Tulsa
Steve Brennan
Processes and Procedures
Developer: Karen Clay
Who Offers What S upport Today?
Company: Siemens Westinghouse Power
A Vision of the Future — Remote
Method Security in a Distributed
Processing Architecture
B.Taylor and S. Muftic
Developer: Robert Webb
www.isa.org/isa2002
Company: Power Engineers
INSTRUMENTATION, SYSTEMS,
AND AUTOMATION
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Page 10 Summer 2002
2002 Aerospace Industries Division Board Members
DIRECTOR HISTORIAN TECHNICAL AREA CHAIRMAN
Mr. William A. Stange Richard T. Cusick Data Acquisition and Display
US Air Force Johns Hopkins University Open
AFRL/PRTC 6108 Goodman Rd
1950 Fifth St Laurel, MD 20707-2606 BLAST, SHOCK AND VIBRATION
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433 Phone: (240) 228-5567 Dr. Patrick L. Walter
Phone: (937) 255-2351 Fax: (240) 228-5937 TCU/Endevco Corp.
Fax: (937) 255-2660 E-mail: richard_cusick@jhuapl.edu PO Box 298640
E-mail: william.stange2@wpafb.af.mil Fort Worth, TX 76129
HONORS AND AWARDS Phone: (817) 257-6318
DIRECTOR ELECT Mr. Robert E. Lindeman Fax: (817) 921-7704
Mr. Patrick M. Russler E-mail: p.walter@tcu.edu
Senior Scientist MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Applied Research Associates Mr. William T. Holt FLIGHT TEST
811 Spring Forest Rd Ste 100 Aero Systems Engineers Mr. Gary G. Whitworth
Raleigh, NC 27609 914 Prestige Ct
Phone: (919) 876-0018 Newport News, VA 23602-9437 GROUND TEST
Fax: (919) 878-3672 Phone: (757) 865-6371 x201 Mr. Louis R. Harris
E-mail: prussler@ara.com Fax: (757) 856-6373 Scanivalve Corp.
E-mail: w.t.holt@larc.nasa.gov 17445 Montero Rd.
DIRECTOR EMERITUS, TREASURER, San Diego, CA 92128-2343
PROGRAM CHAIR MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Phone: (509) 891-9970
Mr. Robert E. Lindeman Mr. Kenneth J. Slusser Fax: (858) 613-0417
Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Boeing Co. E-mail: Lharris@inetworld.net
1099 Ave C 7333 Jumilla Ave
Arnold AFB, TN 37389-9013 Winnetka, CA 91306-3018 49TH IIS GENERAL CHAIR
Phone: (931) 454-6850 Phone: (818) 586-5744 Mr. Ronald Dieck
Fax: (931) 454-6406 Fax: (818) 586-5753 Ron Dieck Associates, Inc.
E-mail: Bob.Lindeman@arnold.af.mil E-mail: Kenneth.Slusser@West.Boeing.com 7 Dunbar Raod
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418-6816
SECRETARY SPECIAL PROJECTS Phone: (561) 627-1321
Mr. Tim Hardin Mr. Bruce Land, III Fax: (561) 627-1321
Endevco Johns Hopkins University - APL E-mail: RonDieck@aol.com
30700 Rancho Viejo Rd. 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-1789 Bldg 10 STAFF CONTACT
Phone: (714) 493-8181 Laurel, MD 20723 Kelly Bishop
Fax: (714) 661-7231 Phone: (240) 228-6083 ISA - The Instrumentation, Systems, and
E-mail: tim@endevco.com E-mail: bruce.land@jhuapl.edu Automation Society
67 Alexander Dr.
EDUCATION CHAIR NEWSLETTER EDITOR Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Dr. Roger N. Blais Mr. Gary G. Whitworth Phone: (919) 990-9249
Provost & Vice President Academic Retired Fax: (919) 549-8288
Affairs 11948 Simpson Rd E-mail: kbishop@isa.org
The University of Tulsa Clarksville, MD 21029
Office of the Provost Phone: (301) 498-3590
600 S. College Ave E-mail: gwhitworth@erols.com
Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
Phone: (918) 631-2554 STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
Fax: (918) 631-2721 Technical Papers Review
E-mail: roger-blais@utulsa.edu Dr. Otto M. Friedrich, Jr.
University of Texas
HISTORIAN 1125 Shady Ln.
William Comer Austin, TX 78721-3024
404 Hidden Spring Rd. Phone: (512) 385-3758
Tullahoma, TN 37388 E-mail: o.friedrich@ieee.org
Phone: (931) 455-5791
E-mail: bcomer@cafes.net
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 11
FLIGHT TESTING WITH TOYS
Part 2 - Dealing with Torque and Power
By Allan Schanzle
DEATH, TAXES, AND CHANGE verse a circular pattern, as this avoids angle, resulting in a possible stall where
It has been stated many times that extended chases and helps to minimize there is essentially no forward motion,
there are two things that can be consid- crashes with downwind obstacles. Let’s and consequently, a complete absence of
ered as guaranteed…. death and taxes. assume we want a left turning glide airflow over the wing and tail surfaces.
If the past decade or so has shown any- path, so we’ll tweak the rudder to give a The resulting flight path can be almost
thing, a third sure-fire item can be small offset to the left. Of course, if anything, but is usually a disaster. The
added to these two….“change.” We’ve there is a small warp in one of the solution here is to point the direction of
all experienced this. We get older and wings or if one wing is heavier than the the propeller shaft down. So now we
can’t do the things we used to, or our other, the model may want to glide to require both right thrust and down
home that was previously out in the the right, and trying to make it go left is thrust. When we begin flight testing, we
sticks is now suburbia. Don’t even think tantamount to avoiding taxes. That’s need to determine just how much of each
about the tax laws. when you don’t fight Nature…. let the thrust offset is necessary to produce the
Change is inevitable in practically little critter glide to the right. Now let’s proper flight path. Needless to say, it is a
everything. In Part 1 of this series (the attack the power flight path. trial and error scenario, and will vary
Winter 2002 issue), I discussed some of from model-to-model, even for the same
the problems that occur in the flight TORQUE AND POWER model when different size rubber motors
testing of model airplanes that are As we wind up the motor, the torque are used. What we need is a simple tech-
allowed to fly wherever the wind takes in the rubber increases. Therefore, when nique that allows us to go to our flying
them. We call these “free-flight” models. we launch the plane with a fully wound field and, based upon what we observe
Many times, these are powered by rub- motor, there is a relatively large amount from flight-to-flight, make any combina-
ber bands. The “power” comes from of torque (and power) fed to the pro- tion of up, down, or sideways adjust-
tying a knot in a strand of rubber to peller, and for a traditionally wound rub- ments to the direction of the propeller
form a loop, inserting it into the fuse- ber motor, this, in conjunction with the shaft.
lage of the model and anchoring it near rudder setting, tends to produce a serious Before discussing the solution to the
the rear, attaching the other end of the rolling and turning tendency to the left torque problem, we need to understand
loop to a hook attached to the propeller, (the prop is like a gyroscope) with a pos- how the front end of a rubber-powered
and “winding it up.” How many turns sible end result that the model spirals in model is designed, and why. The “why”
go into a motor depends on many dif- and rips off the left wing, which usually is simple. Seventy years ago, young
ferent parameters: the size of the rubber, takes a good portion of the fuselage with teenage modelers discovered that it is
the length of the loop, the quality of the it! As the motor unwinds, the torque possible to put many more turns into a
rubber (it varies for different manufac- becomes less, (as does the effect of the given rubber motor if it is first
turers), and satisfying our ego to get the rudder due to reduced power, and there- stretched….. a lot. Like about 4 to 7
highest and longest flight possible, fore, speed) and the rolling tendency times the relaxed length of the loop.
which means winding until the rubber is decreases. As we near the end of the Needless to say, the more turns in the
one turn short of breaking, which is an motor run, torque is all but non-existent. rubber, the longer the motor will produce
unknown. Sometimes we have to use As we enter the glide pattern, we hope power, and all other things being equal,
more than one loop, which adds anoth- the rudder offset is sufficient to produce the longer the model will fly. Most model
er parameter to the problem. For the the desired circular flight path and not go competitions are based on endurance of
models I usually fly, which have straight…. into the downwind trees or flight, so the length of the motor run is
wingspans of 16 to 24 inches and weigh building. Balsa wood and tissue paper important. This dictates that the design
from about 3/4 of an ounce to 2 ounces, just don’t win those battles. Torque and of the model must allow the rubber to be
I put in 1000 to 2000 turns. You can’t power change, and that’s the problem. stretched before winding, and this in turn
do this with the rubber bands in your So what can be done to compensate requires a removable portion of the front
desk drawer because the rubber used for for these two characteristics of rubber of the plane we call “the nose section.” A
model airplanes is specially formulated power? The usual treatment is to offset typical front-end design is shown in
by companies that produce rubber for the direction the propeller is pointing by Figure 1
the core of golf balls. a few degrees. To compensate for the ten- Now we’re ready to attack the
So what has this got to do with dency to go left, we point the propeller adjustable thrust line problem. My solu-
change? Two things. The flight path shaft a few degrees to the right. But that’s tion to this dilemma is not original, and
under power and the corresponding not the only problem with a fully wound I’ve heard that it was developed back in
glide after the motor has unwound. motor. The relatively large torque pro- the late 1930’s. This is shown in Figure 2
Let’s start with the glide path. The duces an initial power burst that usually (next page).
ideal situation is to have the model tra- makes the model climb at a very steep continued on page 12
Page 12 Summer 2002
appropriate line of thrust is obtained
and then tighten the screw. Let’s start
with about 200 turns and launch the
model, observing the flight pattern. If it
turns sharply to the left, give it a few
more degrees of right thrust. If it goes
straight, remove some right thrust. As
we increase the turns, torque and power
will begin to produce a greater effect, so
we again make adjustments to render
the desired flight pattern. As we increase
the turns even more, we will likely see
Figure 2. the model begin to climb steeply and
tend to stall. Here’s where we begin to
prop shaft as you feel appropriate.
add down thrust while maintaining the
Tighten the screw and we have created a
right thrust. It’s a trial and error
new guess to the thrust line. Pretty
process, and we need to continue to
clever for a bunch of young boys back
make small adjustments until the plane
in the 1930s. Let’s go to the flying field
flies in the desired pattern under power.
and try to get our new model trimmed
But how about the resulting glide after
for flight. As discussed in Part 1, initial
the motor has expended all its turns?
flights are to demonstrate basic stability
Do we need to make an adjustment to
characteristics and use only 15 to 50
the rudder to get the proper glide circle?
Figure 1. turns in the motor, so the thrust line
If so, this means we need to go back to
direction will not be all that important.
block one and start al over. Sorta like
Loosen the screw and move the Experience dictates that as we increase
x2 + y2 = 1
adjustable plate around. Due to the con- the number of turns in the rubber, we
Oh yes. Did you notice the “reverse
ical hole in the nose block and the fact will require a few degrees of right
S” bend at the back of the prop shaft?
that the prop shaft goes through the thrust. So we loosen the screw and push
That design is very important.
adjustable plate, you can redirect the the adjustable plate around until the
Take Forgetting Out PDTIBWKHWH*
of the Equation. Pity poor Ted, an instrumentation
engineer who let his technical skills
atrophy to the point that his employer
assigned him the task of selling sensors
door to door. Ted rang the door bell at a
house one day and a youngster about 13
or 14 years of age answered the door
holding a can of beer in one hand and a
cigarette in the other. Somewhat sur-
prised, Ted asked the young lad if his par-
ents were at home. The teenager paused
for a second, chugged down a big gulp of
beer, took a long drag on the cigarette,
flicked the cigarette ashes on the floor,
and then finally responded “Do you real-
ly think my parents are at home?”
The moral to this story is stay active
Forgot to renew your ISA ■ No detailed forms to fill out. with ISA and the annual International
membership? Never forget again, ■ No break in your InTech Instrumentation Symposium, so you will
sign up for Automatic Membership subscription.
Renewals and we’ll renew your
always know more about advanced
■ Take advantage of this instrumentation systems than how to
membership automatically.
convenient benefit today.
sell them door to door.
(* Peps Didn’t Tell It But We Know
Choose the Automatic Renewal Option on the enrollment or renewal form He Would Have)
at www.isa.org or call ISA at (919) 549-8411.
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 13
49
th International Instrumentation
Symposium
4-8 May 2003 • Orlando, FL
Adam’s Mark Hotel
Call for Papers
The 49th International Instrumentation Symposium will convene in Orlando, FL,
on 4-9 May 2003. This annual symposium is sponsored jointly by the ISA Aerospace
Industries and Test Measurement Divisions. This symposium has become recognized
as the outstanding forum for discussion of new and innovative instrumentation
techniques, development and applications. Prospective authors are invited to submit
papers in the following areas:
AEROSPACE
Measurements/Sensors Data Systems
20 03 ✔ Pressure ✔ Data Acquisition Processing
49 ✔ Flow ✔ Real Time Systems
TES
T M EA S U R E M E N T
✔ Temperature ✔ Telemetry Systems
✔ Force/Vibration/Strain ✔ Remote Systems
Questions? ✔ Heat Flux ✔ Computer Applications
Contact Ron Dieck ✔ Measurement Uncertainty ✔ Human Engineering
49th General Chairman ✔ Metrology and Calibration ✔ Data System Management
(561) 627-1321 ✔ Blast and Shock
RonDieck@AOL.com Advanced Systems/
Instrumentation Systems Sensor Technology
✔ Flight Test and Avionics ✔ Electro Optical Systems
◆
✔ Wind Tunnel ✔ Fiber Optic Sensors and Systems
Conference contact: ✔ Aerospace ✔ Photonics
✔ Energy ✔ NDT & Acoustic Test Equipment
Richard Arriola
ISA Technical Conference ✔ Transportation ✔ Automatic Test Equipment
Programs and Publications ✔ Factory Automation ✔ Modeling Techniques
(919) 990-9303 ✔ Special Test Facilities ✔ Laser Systems
rarriola@isa.org ✔ Re-entry Vehicles/Systems ✔ Micro Electro Mech Systems (MEMS)
✔ Expert Systems
✔ Safety
Deadline Dates:
Guidelines for Submission: Abstracts Due:
31 October 2002
• Intent to Present Application must be submitted electronically and in English by
31 October 2002. Paper Review Drafts Due:
• Must include a 200-500 word abstract. 10 December 2002
• Papers should be no longer than 10 pages, including figures and illustrations. Final Papers Due:
8 February 2003
• Papers accepted for publication will require copyright transfer to ISA.
The lead author is the main contact. Submit your electronic Intent to Present
Application with abstract online at http://isa.org/iis. Registration Policy:
All participants must pay
registration fees.
Page 14 Summer 2002
Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion Using Optoelectronic
Techniques
Michael J. Hayduk, Rebecca J. Bussjager, Steven T. Johns and Cheryl Gerhardstein
Sensors Directorate
Air Force Research Laboratory
Rome, NY 13441-4515
Eric Donkor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-2157
KEYWORDS
Analog-to-digital converters, photonics, mode-locking, saturable absorbers
ABSTRACT
Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) have wide spread application in both commercial and military
systems. These systems cover a wide range of continuous-time analog signals including radar,
electronic warfare, communications, and medical imaging. In all of these systems the analog signal
must be converted into a discrete-time digital signal which is then processed using digital signal
processing techniques. The development of ADCs has not kept pace with the rapid advancements of
digital processors. For example it has recently been shown that it takes approximately eight years for
each improvement of 1.5 bits of digital resolution. There has been much recent interest in the use of
photonics to aid in the signal conversion process. This paper will present the development of two
unique photonic ADC architectures. One system uses an array of passive photonic semiconductor
saturable absorbers to convert the signal. The other system that will be presented within this paper uses
a unique optoelectronic sampling and quantizing circuit to convert the analog signal at sampling speeds
up to tens of gigahertz.
INTRODUCTION
The rapid advancement in digital signal processing architectures has led to an increased interest in the
development of high resolution and wide bandwidth ADCs that can directly digitize high-frequency
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 15
analog signals. The development of electronic ADCs has not kept pace with the advancement of this
digital processing technology. As shown in Figure 1 using the data compiled by Walden, roughly eight
years is required for 1.5 bits of increased resolution [1]. However, as the sampling rate of the ADC is
doubled there is a loss of one bit of resolution. The practical limitations of electronic ADC development
are due to three common noise sources. Thermal noise appears to limit ADC operation below 2 MS/s.
This is the result of voltage fluctuations in any resistive circuit element at a given temperature.
Sampling time fluctuations or aperture uncertainty limits ADC operation between 2 MS/s to 4 GS/s.
Finally, comparator ambiguity appears to limit ADC operation as the sampling speed is pushed past 4
GS/s. This is a result of the finite speed with which the ADC electronic circuitry can respond to small
changes in voltage.
22
20 A p e rtu re
18 A m b ig u it y
16
14
12 T h e rm a l
10
8
6 2
0 2
4
2
0
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Figure 1. Electronic ADC evolution showing the limiting factors of thermal noise, aperture jitter and
comparator ambiguity [1].
The limitations in electronic ADC development have led to an increased interest in using novel
optoelectronic techniques to overcome these barriers [2,3,4]. The achievement of narrow sampling
pulsewidths at high sampling rates with low jitter by photonic systems will allow for a simultaneous
increase in both the conversion speed and accuracy of ADCs. The increase in ADC performance will
also lead to a decrease in the complexity of receiver systems. A typical receiver is currently limited by
the speed of the ADC. Single or multiple down conversion stages are often required to convert the
frequency of the received analog signal into a frequency that can be processed by the ADC. The down
conversion process requires many analog components including local oscillators, mixers and filters.
Page 16 Summer 2002
Improved ADC performance will eliminate these components which often consume large amounts of
power and are typically unreliable. However, the revolutionary advancement of ADC performance
through the use of photonics requires the development of compact, low noise and low power systems.
Two unique photonic ADC architectures that are currently under development will be presented within
this paper.
DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTONIC ADC ARCHITECTURES
A basic photonic ADC module consists of a short pulse sampling source, an electro-optic modulator and
a quantizer. The sampling source is a mode-locked laser producing pulses on the order of a picosecond
at a repetition rate equal to the desired sampling speed of the ADC. The sampling of the analog RF
electronic signal by the optical pulse train is done using an electro-optic (E-O) modulator. In the final
portion of the system, a quantizer converts the analog signal into digital format. Depending upon the
system architecture the quantization function can take place either in the optical domain or in the
electronic domain. The stability of the mode-locked laser is critical in achieving a large number of bits
at a high sampling rate. Both amplitude and timing fluctuations will serve to reduce the number of
resolvable bits. The linearity or dynamic range of the E-O modulator is also a key concern in achieving
a large number of bits.
A critical issue in the development of photonic ADC modules is the ability to integrate the entire system
into a small physical footprint. An ideal photonic ADC system will be integrated onto a single chip
using integrated opto-electronic techniques allowing for insertion into numerous platforms. Figure 2
shows the block diagram of one such photonic ADC system that can potentially meet these
requirements. The flash photonic ADC architecture consists of a series of semiconductor saturable
absorbers whose transmission is a function of incident optical intensity. As in electronic flash ADC
architectures, 2N–1 saturable absorbers are required, where N is the number of desired bits of resolution
[5]. For example a 4-bit system requires, 24–1 or 15 saturable absorbers. The optical properties of each
saturable absorber channel is tailored so that the non-linear intensity is monotonically scaled over the
entire range of channels. As described above the front end of this system consists of a mode-locked
laser and an E-O modulator which samples the electronic RF signal. The modulated analog signal is
then passed in parallel to the series of semiconductor light absorbing channels. Supposing a sampled
optical pulse of very low intensity, corresponding to a small voltage, is incident upon all of the saturable
absorption channels, the signal will be absorbed by the first channel in the array and also by all of the
other absorbers except for the Nth absorber in the array. This structure has the lowest absorbance and
will pass the weakest signal. A detector following this absorber is then turned “on” by the transmitted
optical signal. All of the other detectors remain “off” because the optical signal did not pass through
these light absorption channels. The corresponding digital word representation of the converted analog
signal then corresponds to a certain predefined bit pattern output from the optical detectors. Similarly,
suppose a signal with a slightly larger intensity, corresponding to a larger voltage, is incident upon the
series of the saturable absorption channels. The signal is still absorbed by the upper light absorption
channels but then it gets passed by remaining light absorption channels, turning on the corresponding
detectors. All of the ‘off’ detectors are considered to have a value of ‘0’ and the ‘on’ detectors are
considered to have a value of ‘1’. Optical delay lines are also required following the saturable absorbers
to ensure that the optical signal in all of the light channels reaches the detectors at the same instant in
time. Comparing the detector output to a reference voltage forms a true electronic digital signal. The
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 17
output of the comparator is then sent to digital memory for storage and then on for further digital
processing.
Light is fully transmitted
Saturable Absorber
or absorbed (on or off)
T D
Electrical
Signal I
G
I
Modulated Optical Intensity
T
Pulse Train
A
T L
M
E
Intensity M
T
From RF/Optical Sampler O
T
R
Y
Intensity
Clock From
Mode-locked Laser
Figure 2. Block diagram of semiconductor saturable absorber photonic ADC architecture.
The tailoring of the optical properties of the saturable absorbers to either turn ‘on’ or remain ‘off’ is
highly dependent upon the material properties of the semiconductor. InGaAs was chosen as the
saturable absorber material due to its optical properties around 1550 nm. This operating regime
coincides with a primary transmission window of optical fiber and allows the use of commercially
available devices such as high-speed detectors. The optical properties of primary interest include the
nonlinear transmission or saturation intensity and the recovery or lifetime of the carriers within the
InGaAs. The nonlinear transmission of a series of InGaAs saturable absorbers was characterized. The
incident intensity upon the samples was varied using a rotating quarter waveplate in conjunction with a
polarizer. A continuous-wave chromium-doped:YAG laser operating at 1500 nm was used as the
excitation source. A beamsplitter prior to the sample was used to calibrate the intensity incident upon
the sample. A microscope objective focused the light onto the sample. Another objective then collected
and collimated the transmitted light which was then sent to a detector. The results of the nonlinear
transmission experiment for three different samples is shown in Figure 3. The values of the linear
portion of the transmission were all normalized to a value of 1 to allow for easier comparison between
the different samples. All three samples have similar saturation intensity values that occur at
approximately 10 kW/cm2. The samples labeled 2797 and 1437 consist of InGaAs/InAlAs multiple
quantum wells (MQWs) while sample 2796 is bulk InGaAs grown lattice matched on semi-insulating
InP.
Page 18 Summer 2002
1 5
2796
1 4 2797
14 7
1
1 2
1 1
1 0
1 10 100
2
Figure 3. Nonlinear transmittance of three samples of InGaAs grown lattice matched on InP. The
transmittance values of all three samples are normalized to a value of one.
The lifetimes or carrier dynamics of the InGaAs was characterized using a standard pump / probe
technique. The chromium doped:YAG laser was operated in a mode-locked fashion producing 130 fs
pulses at 1500 nm. The mode-locked pulses were split into orthogonal polarizations using a polarization
dependent beamsplitter. The pump beam is set to be approximately 100 times stronger than the probe
beam so that only the pump beam induces transmission changes within the sample. The probe beam was
delayed in time with respect to the pump beam using a motion controlled stage. The beams are then
spatially recombined and focused onto the sample. A Glan-Thompson polarizer is inserted following
the sample to ensure that only the probe beam reaches the detector. The probe beam monitors the pump-
induced change in transmission in the InGaAs as a function of time. The lifetime of the carriers is then
determined from the exponential decay in transmission. The results of the pump / probe experiment for
a MQW InGaAs/InAlAs sample grown at low temperature are shown in Figure 4. The exponential fit of
the decay indicates a carrier lifetime of 18 ps. The sample fully recovers in approximately 75 ps
indicating that this absorber could be used at speeds up to 1/75 ps or 13 GHz. We are currently
continuing to explore the fundamental material parameters of the InGaAs to determine the correlation
between the layer thickness, material lifetime and alloy composition upon the saturation intensity of the
material. A thorough understanding of these material properties is required in order to fabricate a
photonic ADC that meets both the sampling speed and resolution requirements of the desired
application.
The second photonic ADC architecture that is being explored uses a pair of photodiodes triggered by
mode-locked optical pulses placed back to back in series to sample the electronic RF analog signal. This
RF sampling architecture is shown in Figure 5. The RF analog signal is split in parallel to N different
channels each of which has its own sampling circuit. Figure 5 illustrates the use of 8
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 19
0 006
18
0 005
0 004
0 00
0 002
0 001
0 000
100 0 100 200 00 400
Figure 4. Measured 18 ps recovery of low temperature grown InGaAs / InAlAs MQW sample.
Clock
Ts pulses
Sam pled output
Optical delay
1 to quantizer
line
Sam pled
output 2 to
quantizer
Sam pled output
3 to quantizer
RF Sam pled output 8 to
input Quantizer.
Figure 5. Schematic representation of 8 channel RF sampling using mode-locked laser pulses to trigger
the sampling circuit.
Page 20 Summer 2002
different channels. The optical pulses that trigger each of the N channels are delayed with respect to
each other so that the photodiodes for each of the channels turn on at different times. The photodiodes
are changed from a high impedance state to a low impedance state only when turned on by the optical
pulses. This allows the RF signal to be sampled across the load resistor when the diodes are turned on.
In contrast, there is no signal across the load when the diodes are in the high impedance state. The
successive time delays between the N channels are set so that the RF signal is sampled N times per
cycle. The results of 5 GS/s sampling of a 2 GHz RF signal are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6. Superposition of 5 GS/s sampling of 2 GHz RF input signal.
A novel quantization scheme has also been designed to be used in conjunction with this RF sampling
circuit. The quantizer uses the RF sampled signal to drive an RC circuit which is then fed into an
electronic comparator. The exponential decay of the RF signal through the RC circuit is transformed by
the comparator into a pulse whose width is directly proportional to the amplitude of the sampled RF
signal. The electronic pulse in turn drives an E-O modulator that is optically fed by a stream of mode-
locked pulses. The number of pulses that pass through the modulator depends upon the width of the
electronic pulse which in turn depends upon the amplitude of the RF signal. The number of pulses can
then by used to form a corresponding digital code. Each of the N channels requires a separate
quantizing circuit.
SUMMARY
The use of photonics for ultrafast sampling and signal processing can greatly advance the development
of ADCs. Higher sampling speeds and greatly improved resolution will lead to the direct digitization of
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 21
RF signals eliminating the need for frequency down conversion techniques. However, compact,
integrated and low power photonic ADC architectures must first be developed in order to make these
advanced converters practical. This paper has presented the development of two unique photonic ADC
architectures. The first approach utilizes semiconductor light absorbing channels to all-optically
quantize a signal. Time-resolved results presented within this paper indicate that operating speeds well
past 10 GS/s are possible using low temperature grown InGaAs. A second photonic ADC architecture
has also been presented which utilizes a unique sampling circuit triggered by optical pulses from a
mode-locked laser. Sampled data at 5 GS/s using this technique was presented. The sampling speed of
this architecture appears to only be limited by the small signal response of the photodiodes.
REFERENCES
[1] R. H. Walden “Analog-to-Digital Converter Survey and Analysis”, IEEE J. on Select. Areas in
Commun., 17, 539 (1999).
[2] A. S. Bhushan, F. Coppinger, S. Yegnanarayanan, and B. Jalali, “Nondispersive wavelength-division
sampling”, Opt. Lett. 24, 738 (1999).
[3] T. R. Clark, J. U. Kang, and R. D. Esman, “Performance of a Time- and Wavelength-Interleaved
Photonic Sampler for Analog-Digital Conversion”, IEEE Photon. Tech. Lett., 11, 1168 (1999).
[4] J. C. Twichell, P. W. Juodawlkis, J. L. Wasserman, R. C. Williamson, and G. E. Betts, “Extending
the performance of optically sampled time-demultiplexed analog-to-digital converters”, in Digest of
Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C.), 624 (2000).
[5] D. F. Hoeschele, Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion Techniques, (John Wiley and
Sons, New York, 1994).
Page 22 Summer 2002
Snapshots to Enjoy From The 48th IIS!
Registration started slowly… …but picked up quickly
Staff leadership looked relaxed… ….but stayed busy
The backdrop for the meeting was gorgeous ….and everyone turned out for the reception on
the water
Aerospace Industries Division Newsletter Page 23
Part of the luncheon attendees……. ….and Speaker, Jeff Krinsky accepting a token of apprecia-
tion from ISA President, Pino Zani
As usual, the attendance drawing was a bit hit Past Directors, Hank Hegner, Ron Dieck and Bill Comer
start planning the 49th IIS in Orlando
Director’s message (and past President of ISA) Ron Dieck, access the E-mail List Serve by clicking
continued from page 1 has visited this hotel and is very impressed on the link on the left-hand side naviga-
by their conference facilities, as well as tion bar titled “E-mail List.” From
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While it seems like just yesterday that subscribe (ISA policy prevents us from Sincerely,
we finished the 48th IIS, it is already time adding names on our own). To sub- Bill Stange
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