Tiny waveform receiver with a dedicated system chip for observing plasma waves in space

Fukuhara, Hajime; Kojima, Hirotsugu; Ishii, Hiromune; Okada, Satoshi; Yamakawa, Hiroshi

doi:10.1088/0957-0233/23/10/105903

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology is one of the best solutions for the advancement of miniaturization technologies. Recently, ASICs for spaceborne instruments for electromagnetic field observations have been actively studied and developed in order to considerably reduce circuit resources (mass, volume, and power) (e.g., DC magnetic field measurements, see Magnes et al 2008;Sordo-Ibáñez et al 2015; AC magnetic field measurements, see Rhouni et al 2013;Ozaki et al 2014; plasma wave receivers, see Kojima et al 2010;Fukuhara et al 2012). The use of ASICs not only serves to reduce the mass and volume, but it also yields a number of analog circuits with almost identical characteristics.…”

Section: Significance Of Asic Technology In Plasma Wave Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three sets of self-deployable dipole antennas with a tip-totip length of 1.6 m and of a square-shaped loop antenna (100 turns each) with an area of 0.01-m 2 are attached. Analog components for the sensor probe consist of preamplifiers for electric fields constructed by discrete analog parts, an ASIC preamplifier for magnetic fields (the present study), and an ASIC waveform receiver (Fukuhara et al 2012) for probing six components of electromagnetic fields below 100 kHz. For digital components, a peripheral interface controller (dsPIC33EP512GP504) containing 4ch AD converters with sampling hold circuits and a wireless communication module (WH-MZ2, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.) are included.…”

Section: Brief Overview Of the Msee Sensor Probementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Development of an ASIC preamplifier for electromagnetic sensor probes for monitoring space electromagnetic environments

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Multipoint observations of plasma waves are essential for separating spatial and temporal variations of a plasma turbulence. Miniaturization and high environmental (temperature and radiation) robustness are key requirements for scientific instrument design toward a sensor network consisting of palm-sized probes. With increasing these demands, a preamplifier for the 3-axis loop antenna of an electromagnetic sensor probe has been developed by using application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology with a 0.25-μm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process. Findings: In the present study, a new temperature compensation method is proposed by using the open-loop gain of the ASIC preamplifier with a bandgap reference (BGR) circuit. Usually, the gain is characterized by the closed-loop gain, which is governed by the accuracy of the polysilicon resistances in a chip. The open-loop gain is characterized by the effective transconductance of the ASIC preamplifier, which often has a negative temperature dependence. The temperature dependence of the gain can be dramatically improved by using the temperature-compensated BGR circuit to cancel out the negative dependence of the transconductance. The temperature dependence of the gain was about −0.01 dB/ • C in the frequency range within the closed-loop bandwidth. On the other hand, the temperature dependence of the gain at 60 kHz operating with the open-loop gain was improved from −39 × 10 −3 to −2.6 × 10 −3 dB/ • C by using the temperature-compensated BGR circuit. Moreover, the radiation robustness for the total ionizing dose (TID) level is evaluated by irradiation with gamma rays from cobalt-60. The ASIC preamplifier is not sensitive to TID effects when a thin gate oxide is used. The ASIC preamplifier showed a high radiation tolerance to at least a total ionizing dose level of 400 krad(Si). Finally, the effectiveness of the ASIC preamplifier is evaluated on the basis of a virtual sounding rocket experiment using theoretical calculations of LF standard electromagnetic waves. Conclusions: Fundamental issues (miniaturization, low-noise performance, and high environmental robustness) are solved by the presented ASIC preamplifier. The success in developing the high robustness ASIC preamplifier leads to a future mission using a lot of palm-sized probes in space.

show abstract

Section: Significance Of Asic Technology In Plasma Wave Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Brief Overview Of the Msee Sensor Probementioning

confidence: 99%

Development of an ASIC preamplifier for electromagnetic sensor probes for monitoring space electromagnetic environments

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…17) Given the severe environmental conditions on the Martian surface, such as temperatures down to −120ºC, a bread-board model/experimental model (BBM/EM) of the instruments needs to be subjected to environmental tests before it can be used on Mars. In 2015, two types of microphones were tested under conditions of 7 hPa in a 100% CO 2 atmosphere (although the 100% CO 2 is not the actual composition of the Mars atmosphere) and temperatures between room temperature and −120ºC, without any heaters on the BBM test board.…”

Section: Instrumentation Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies of Dust and Discharges around a Martian Rover with Onboard Hazard Analyses using Electromagnetic and Acoustic Wave Measurements

Yamamoto

Sato

Ishisaka

et al. 2016

AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY JAPAN

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A remote-sensing payload designed for a Mars rover, to observe Martian discharge events induced by dust devils and storms, is introduced. Low-frequency electromagnetic (E-M) and acoustic wave (AW) measurements have never been performed on Mars. Thus, to date, the occurrence of large-scale electrical discharges on Mars remains unknown. These measurements are important, due to the long propagation distances (>100 km) of these atmospheric events and the potential damage incurred by Martian rover systems and future human landings. Combining E-M and AW measurements, precise distance information on dust storms and dust devils can be obtained using the velocities of light and sound, because discharges are generated by electrostatic processes in a low-pressure dusty atmosphere. Moreover, by estimating electrical conductivity using E-M waves, information on underground moisture may be obtained. The rover will also record the sounds of roaring winds, shock waves caused by meteor entries, the possible eruption of ground gases, liquid flow, and the operating sounds of the rover itself − all historic firsts for Mars exploration.

show abstract

“…We use the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the preamplifiers of magnetic field sensors and waveform receivers. While the design and performance of the ASIC waveform capture is described by Fukuhara et al (2011Fukuhara et al ( , 2012, the description of the ASIC preamplifier of the magnetic field sensor will appear in the independent paper (Ozaki et al 2015). The conventional design is used for the preamplifiers of the electric field sensors, because of the necessity of very high impedance at the input.…”

Section: Overview Of the Sensor Probementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ASIC we developed includes the analog circuits such as filters and amplifiers required for a plasma wave receiver in one chip. The detailed specification and the performance of the plasma wave chip are described by Fukuhara et al (2012). Although we improved the chip design for the use in the prototype of the sensor probe, basic design was the same with that by Fukuhara et al (2011).…”

Section: Analog Part Of the Plasma Wave Receivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Small sensor probe for measuring plasma waves in space

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Since conventional one-point observations of plasma phenomena in space cannot distinguish between time and spatial variations, the missions on the basis of multiple-point observations have become the trend. We propose a new system for multiple-point observation referred to as the monitor system for space electromagnetic environments (MSEE). Findings: The MSEE consists of small sensor probes that have a capability to measure electromagnetic waves and transfer received data to the central station through wireless communication. We developed the prototype model of the MSEE sensor probe. The sensor probe includes a plasma wave receiver, the microcontroller, the wireless communication module, and the battery in the 75-mm cubic housing. In addition, loop antennas, dipole antennas, and actuators that are used for expanding dipole antennas are attached on the housing. The whole mass of the sensor probe is 692 g, and the total power consumption is 462 mW. The sensor probe can work with both inner battery and external power supply. The maximum continuous operation time on battery power is more than 6 h. We verified the total performance for electric field measurements by inputting signal to preamplifier. In this test, we found that analog components had enough characteristics to measure electric fields, and the A/D conversion and the wireless transmission worked correctly. In the whole performance for electric fields, the sensor probe has equivalent noise level of −135 dBV=m= ffiffiffiffiffi Hz p .

show abstract

Tiny waveform receiver with a dedicated system chip for observing plasma waves in space

Cited by 6 publications

References 14 publications

Development of an ASIC preamplifier for electromagnetic sensor probes for monitoring space electromagnetic environments

Development of an ASIC preamplifier for electromagnetic sensor probes for monitoring space electromagnetic environments

Studies of Dust and Discharges around a Martian Rover with Onboard Hazard Analyses using Electromagnetic and Acoustic Wave Measurements

Small sensor probe for measuring plasma waves in space

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About