Design of a holographic tracking module for long-range retroreflector free-space systems.

Weight reduction and low power consumption are key requirements in the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To communicate with an operator, a secured link between the UAV and a ground-based station is desirable. To realize these links, retroreflecting free-space optics is potentially attractive as it offers light weight and low complexity at the UAV. However, the base station requires a high-performance tracking module to enable a steady illumination of the UAV retroreflector. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a tracking system, which consists of coarse tracking and holographic fine tracking modules working cooperatively. Using this system, experimental field trials were carried out by mounting a multiple-quantum-well-based modulated retroreflector on a commercial UAV. A 2 Mbps optical link was achieved with a bit error rate of ∼2×10-4 at a link range of 300 m.

Visible light communication using InGaN optical sources with AlInGaP nanomembrane down-converters.

We report free space visible light communication using InGaN sources, namely micro-LEDs and a laser diode, down-converted by a red-emitting AlInGaP multi-quantum-well nanomembrane. In the case of micro-LEDs, the AlInGaP nanomembrane is capillary-bonded between the sapphire window of a micro-LED array and a hemispherical sapphire lens to provide an integrated optical source. The sapphire lens improves the extraction efficiency of the color-converted light. For the case of the down-converted laser diode, one side of the nanomembrane is bonded to a sapphire lens and the other side optionally onto a dielectric mirror; this nanomembrane-lens structure is remotely excited by the laser diode. Data transmission up to 870 Mb/s using pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) with fractionally spaced decision feedback equalizer is demonstrated for the micro-LED-integrated nanomembrane. A data rate of 1.2 Gb/s is achieved using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ODFM) with the laser diode pumped sample.

The acute physiological and mood effects of tea and coffee: the role of caffeine level.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of caffeine level in tea and coffee on acute physiological responses and mood. Randomised full crossover design in subjects after overnight caffeine abstention was studied. In study 1 (n = 17) the caffeine level was manipulated naturalistically by preparing tea and coffee at different strengths (1 or 2 cups equivalent). Caffeine levels were 37.5 and 75 mg in tea, 75 and 150 mg in coffee, with water and no-drink controls. In study 2 (n = 15) caffeine level alone was manipulated (water, decaffeinated tea, plus 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg caffeine). Beverage volume and temperature (55 degrees C) were constant. SBP, DBP, heart rate, skin temperature, skin conductance, and mood were monitored over each 3-h study session. In study 1, tea and coffee produced mild autonomic stimulation and an elevation in mood. There were no effects of tea vs. coffee or caffeine dose, despite a fourfold variation in the latter. Increasing beverage strength was associated with greater increases in DBP and energetic arousal. In study 2, caffeinated beverages increased SBP, DBP, and skin conductance and lowered heart rate and skin temperature compared to water. Significant dose-response relationships to caffeine were seen only for SBP, heart rate, and skin temperature. There were significant effects of caffeine on energetic arousal but no consistent dose-response effects. Caffeinated beverages acutely stimulate the autonomic nervous system and increase alertness. Although caffeine can exert dose-dependent effects on a number of acute autonomic responses, caffeine level is not an important factor. Factors besides caffeine may contribute to these acute effects.

Optical properties of a retroreflecting sheet.

The power reflection and polarization properties of a close-packed array of retroreflectors are modeled, and a commercially available sheet is measured to verify the predictions. The modeling technique is conceptually simple and applicable to a wide range of structures of this type. The close-packed sheet retroreflects over a range of angles of incidence of approximately -40 to 40 deg in both directions and returns the polarization that illuminates it largely unchanged. Predictions of returned power are within 10% for light incident within 15 deg of normal and within 20% for angles less than 20 deg. Angles of polarization rotation are predicted to within 10 deg over a similar range of input angles. The model predicts the angular aperture of the sheet and the major features of the angular response. Future research will focus on design of structures with wider angles of acceptance and responses optimized for specific applications.

Portal vein insulin flux and arterial glucose fluctuations in response to an oral meal test in islet cell-transplanted dogs.

Insulin flux was determined in the portal vein and simultaneously arterial blood glucose was measured before and during an oral glucose meal in conscious normal and pancreatic islet cell-autotransplanted dogs to test their insulinogenic reserve. These dogs had previously been chronically instrumented with blood flow probes on the portal vein and carotid artery, and blood sampling catheters in the portal vein, hepatic vein, carotid artery, and right external jugular vein. Such a model permits quantitative portal-peripheral comparisons and assessment of hepatic extraction. Sixteen dogs, 10 normal (N) and six long-term (2 months to 2 yrs) islet cell-transplanted dogs (IT) were fed an oral glucose meal as a test (OMT). Baseline portal vein insulin fluxes (PVF) were similar in both groups (25.6 +/- 0.04 pmol/min in N and 24.7 +/- 19.4 pmol/min in IT). Immediately after OMT, PVF rose to 248.2 +/- 40.9 pmol/min in N, but only to 55.9 +/- 17.9 pmol/min in IT. After 30 min PVF peaked for the second time in N at 156 +/- 35.9 pmol/min, declining slowly to baseline after 3 h. In IT, a similar peak at 30 min was seen (143.7 +/- 22.1 pmol/min), declining to a value not different from baseline after 3 h. However, cumulative insulin PV fluxes in the two groups over 3 h were not different. Differences were also seen in postprandial glucose fluctuations, which reached a maximum excursion of 11.8 +/- 0.45 mM in IT, while never rising above 7.8 +/- 0.33 mM in N. After 3 h both groups had similar glucose values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dynamic holographic interconnects that use ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulators.

Dynamic interconnect holograms are designed by the use of a simulated annealing algorithm and written to a 128 × 128 pixel ferroelectric spatial light modulator that is used in a binary-phase mode. Dynamic holograms are used to implement a 2 × 2 crossbar with single-mode fiber inputs and outputs, which function with as high as 27 dB of isolation between output ports. The principle is extended to two-dimensional interconnection holograms, and arbitrary fan-out to as high as 64 points is demonstrated with good performance.

Images of interconnection holograms are transferred from the spatial light modulator to an optically addressed spatial light modulator that is used in a binary-phase mode. The addition of a fixed array generator computer-generated hologram permits replication of the hologram image, thus creating a larger hologram with a high space-bandwidth product on the optically addressed spatial light modulator.

Results of a preliminary experiment are presented.

Scale-invariant binary phase-only matched filter using a ferroelectric-liquid-crystal spatial light modulator.

We describe the implementation of a scale-invariant binary phase-only matched filter using a 128 × 128 ferroelectric spatial light modulator. A 5-dB discrimination was obtained between a 10-image training set of highly correlated characters (E's and F's) over a scale range of 1.0 to 1.5.