NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a method of processing data from Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) measurements that improves upon existing methods. This method is simpler, more accurate, faster and less expensive than previous methods. It uses less hardware and can be used with all wavelengths. In conventional measurements, a reference laser signal runs through the device and is guided to a separate detector and triggers capture of the spectral signal. This old method restricts usable wavelengths to less than half the frequency of the laser. As part of a modification that does away with this limitation, a mirror slides along the device at a constant speed during the scan. Unavoidable velocity variations require linearization or resampling with respect to a known reference for which a metrology laser is employed. The laser is guided as before but the signal is sent to a different detector where the timing information is stored and used to mathematically velocity-correct the original signal in post processing. The problem with this approach is that extra hardware, post processing and tuning are required, and the process can be somewhat difficult to perform. This method digitizes the laser signal in a separate channel along with spectra data, which eliminates the hardware required in previous methods and then demodulates the laser signal with a synthetic quadrature phase detector combined with phase tracking to derive the proper slide position for each data point. This method only requires inexpensive 24 bit audio digitizers, rather than the more expensive event counters of the previous method. The new method does not require tuning, and high resolution data can be obtained at any wavelength. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially. US Patent 8,693,002. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to
[email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley’s Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development “OSACB” for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.