Passive Modulating Retroreflector(PMR)

Industrial Affiliates Senior Design Presentation

Rigel Woida -- Principle Investigator

Nicholas Trail -- Chief Engineer

Kelleher Guerin -- Electro-Mechanical Engineer

Adam Little -- Opto-Mechanical Engineer / Marketing Manager

Erik Arend -- Optical Engineer

February 28, 2007http://classes.engr.arizona.edu/engr498a/2006/pmr/

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

A Passive Modulating Retroreflector (PMR)

is an optical system that returns an external

signal back to the originating source,

encoding data within the signal.

What is a PMR?...

Fills in a military deficiency for Real Time War Theater Communication

Research Phase for Prototyping and technology development

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

PMR System – War Theater

War Fighter Physiological Status Monitor (WPSM)

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Overview of the Four Main Components

Retroreflector Returns incident light

Modulator Encodes Data

Source and Detector Generates and receives signal

Hardware and Software Interface

Controls system and analyzes data

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Modulator Component Modulation is the process of varying a carrier signal in order to

use that signal to convey information. Amplitude Modulation Scheme operating in the Kilohertz range

Sacrifice Speed for cost and efficiency

Source

Source

Source

Modulator Goals Maximize (SNR)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio Meet Speed

Requirement Various

Pictorial Representation of Idealized Modulator ( White = “ON” state; Black = “OFF” state )

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Retroreflector

Optical element which reflects signal back to its source regardless of the angle of incidence

Testing up to 25 degrees off-axis for system operation

Examining Possible Choices Conventional Corner-Cube Spherical Retroreflector(s) Micro-array

Spherical Retroreflector

Corner-Cube Schematic

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Signal Source / detector Light Source

Preliminary experiments with HeNe Laser (632 nm) ~ 5 mW in close range operation

Single Frequency, Gaussian Beam Profile

Detector Comparable response time to modulator

speed Optimized for desired wavelength High Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Testing Layout

Layout:

DC SupplyFunction Generator

Oscilloscope

Detector

Beam Splitter

HeNe Laser Source

Modulator

Retro Reflector

Optical Table

Basic

Science

Functional

Testable

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Goals of PMR Research Fabricate and test a prototype system of the PMR technology

Research materials to meet project requirements

Proof-of-Concept project

Stay within specified budgetPMR

Basicbasic function of the unit

Sciencebasic interaction with environment

Functionalsub –components used for verification

Testabledesign specification and testable goals of the project.

Level 1

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Increasing Detail Level

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Future ConceptCan you see my friend?

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Future ConceptHow about now !

Industrial Affiliates Presentation February 28, 2007

Thank You!

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