Data Transfer for Multiple Sensor Networks

About this technology

Overview

At extreme temperatures, few electronic components are available to support intelligent data transfer over a common, linear combining medium such as wire or the airwaves. NASA Glenn's innovation allows the operating frequency of a sensor instrument to be time variant because the sensor is part of the frequency generator's transfer function. Each instrument associated with a sensor imparts a unique (orthogonal) signature onto the continuous output of that sensor. As a consequence, the outputs of numerous instruments may be simultaneously superimposed upon one another via a linear combining medium and then be separated at a common receiving node in a more temperate location using any number of linear source separation techniques. A listening node, using various techniques, can pick out the signal from a single sender, if it has unique qualities; e.g., a "voice." This technique is analogous to the human brain recognizing and following a single conversation in a party full of people talking and other distracting noises.