A 200 MHz Bandwidth, 4096 Spectral Channels, 3 W Power Consumption, Digital Auto-Correlation Spectrometer Chip for Spaceborne Microwave Radiometers, Phase I

NASA?s program for Exploration of the Solar System requires high-resolution microwave spectrometers for the analysis of chemical composition and physical properties of solar system atmospheres. The anticipated results of the proposed R/R&D effort (Phase I and II), if the project is successful, are to demonstrate experimentally the first digital auto-correlation spectrometer on a single chip for spaceborne microwave radiometers with the following important characteristics: (a) a bandwidth of 200 MHz, (b) 4096 spectral channels for high-resolution spectroscopy, (c) less than 3 W power consumption, (d) a mass of less that 800 grams, and (e) a space-qualifiable design and fabrication technology. The innovative approach proposed for achieving these significant objectives consists of a synergistic combination of the following: (a) a unique parallel architecture that will reduce the operating clock frequency, relative to a single-stream architecture, by a factor of 2 and consequently will lower significantly the power consumption, (b) novel differential analog and digital circuits that will improve robustness while operating in the presence of total dose natural radiation found in the space environment, and (c) an advanced 0.13 um CMOS fabrication process available from IBM for manufacturing high-performance, low-power, reliable, and robust (total dose radiation and latch-up resistant) space-qualifiable chips.

The proposing firm will focus on the marketing a family of state-of-the-art digital auto-correlation spectrometers. There are several non-NASA scientific and commercial markets with a high demand for digital auto-correlation spectrometers such as radio-astronomy, atmospheric research, imaging arrays for detection of weapons and explosives, telecommunication, and medical imaging The space-qualifiable, digital auto-correlation spectrometer chip developed in the proposed project will be commercialized to several NASA programs such as the Exploration of the Solar System, Earth Remote Sensing, and space-based radio-astronomy. If the proposed project is successful, it will provide a digital spectrometer chip with such a low power consumption and small mass that it will enable space science missions that were not previously possible.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.