International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1992 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) Encoders are extensively used in instrumentation and telemetry systems. Commercially available encoders are available from several sources and vary in complexity depending on the application. Encoders often include analog signal conditioning, a system clock, and one or more digital input ports. Many of these systems also cost several thousand dollars and the cost goes up when high data accuracy of one or two percent is required. This paper describes a low cost approach which has been used in production telemetry applications with great success and which yields a PCM encoder with data accuracies of better than 2%.

ITC/USA 2005 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-First Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2005 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / In this paper, we present an efficient real-time implementation technique for Motion-JPEG2000 video compression and its reconstruction used for a real-time Airborne Video Telemetry System. we utilize Motion JPEG2000 and 256-channel PCM Encoder was used for source coding in the developed system. Especially, in multiplexing and demultiplexing PCM encoded data, we use the continuous bit-stream format of the PCM encoded data so that any de-commutator can use it directly, after demultiplexing. Experimental results show that our proposed technique is a practical and an efficient DSP solution.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1993 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) data systems are used extensively in testing aircraft all over the world. These systems can be tailored to almost any set of measurement requirements using flexible, modular equipment available from several sources. This paper describes a system assembled from readily available components manufactured in the United States that is being used to certify a Russian aircraft flying in The Commonwealth of Independent States. The system features distributed data acquisition, programmable signal conditioning and PCM encoding modules, multi-channel temperature and pressure scanners and real time data displays on board the aircraft. The impact of U.S. export controls and our experience to date is also discussed.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / The Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) is currently being developed as the Army’s newest hypervelocity anti-tank missile. The project has recently transitioned from the Science and Technology Objective phase to the Advanced Technology Demonstration phase. Science and technology phase flight testing required the development of a miniature telemetry system for measuring the super sonic flight dynamics of the airframe, as well as, monitoring of the on board flight computer. Design challenges included a small mechanical envelope, limited power budget, numerous analog measurements, computer serial stream processing, and harsh launch and flight dynamics. Two versions of the system were developed in support of the partnership effort between the Army Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) and industry. This paper will focus on the successful design, development, and flight tests of the CKEM telemetry system.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1993 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Given the small size of hit-to-kill interceptor test vehicles currently under development, volumetric limitations mandate using the experimental vehicle's telemetry system during vehicle ground level acceptance and environmental testing to gather performance data, in addition to the primary function of successfully gathering and transmitting data during the test flight. In small, lightweight test interceptors, volume and mass become major telemetry system design considerations. In this paper we describe a system engineering approach to determine the key requirements and calculate some of the critical design parameters necessary for the successful design and development of a high data rate wide band FM Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) airborne telemetry system.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 30-November 02, 1995 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / In this paper, a new concept in PCM telemetry encoding equipment is described. Existing "programmable" PCM encoders allow only simple changes in the functionality of the hardware, such as input gain, offset, and word formatting. More importantly, these encoders do not provide capability for "in-flight" processing of signals and in general have not taken advantage of existing hardware and software digital signal processing technology. In-flight processing of signals can provide a significant reduction in the required transmission bandwidth, allowing additional data that may not have otherwise been transmitted to be sent on the telemetry channel. A modular digital signal processor (DSP) based PCM encoder architecture is described that has a set of on-board processing algorithms configurable via a simple-to-use graphical user interface. Algorithms included are compression (lossy and lossless), Fourier transforms of various resolutions (typically followed by peak detection to provide a data rate reduction), extreme values (max, min, rms), time filtering, regression, trajectory prediction, and serial data stream processing. Custom algorithms can be developed and included as part of the suite of processing algorithms. The preprocessing algorithms exist as firmware on the DSPs and can accommodate as many different signals as the processing bandwidth of the DSP can handle. Typically one DSP can handle many input signals and different algorithms. The encoder is programmable via a standard RS-232 serial interface allowing the signal input configuration, telemetry frame layout, and on-board processing algorithms to be changed quickly.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / M/A-COM, Inc. has developed a miniature Tactical Telemetry Module (TTM) for medium power (500 mW and 1 W) telemetry applications. The TTM demonstrates system integration of a multi-channel PCM encoder, lower S-band transmitter, and power regulation onto a single printed wiring board (PWB). The module is smaller than a standard business card and utilizes both COTS and M/A-COM proprietary technologies. The PCM encoder is designed for eight (8) analog inputs, eight (8) discrete inputs, and one (1) synchronous RS-422 serial interface. Data rates of 300 kbps to 6 Mbps are supported. The module incorporates a frequency programmable, phase-locked FM S-band transmitter. The transmitter utilizes M/A-COM’s new dual port VCO and high efficiency 500 mW and 1 W power amplifier MMIC’s. Additionally, switching power regulation circuits were implemented within the module to provide maximum operating efficiency. This paper reviews the design and manufacturing of the Tactical Telemetry Module (TTM) and its major components, and presents system performance data.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 18-21, 2004 / Town & Country Resort, San Diego, California / The function of a PCM telemetry encoder, installed in moving vehicles such as automobiles, aircraft, missiles, and artillery projectiles, is to transform many physical variables, such as velocity, shock, temperature, vibration and pressure, into digital data. Also, the encoder is required to make a data frame composed of digital input signals and frame synchronous data. The framed data is supplied to the input of a transmitter. There are three critical considerations in developing a PCM telemetry encoder to be installed in an artillery projectile. The first is the performance consideration, such as sampling rate, data receiving rate and data transmission rate. The second is the size consideration due to the severely limited installation space in an artillery projectile and the last is the power consumption consideration due to limitations of the munition’s power supply. To meet these three considerations, the best alternative is a one-chip solution. Using a commercially available TMS320F2812 DSP chip, we have implemented a 30-channel PCM telemetry encoder to process randomized data frames, composed of 16-channel analog data, 14-channel digital data and 2 frame synchronization data per data frame, at 10Mbps transmission baud rate. This paper describes the structure of the 30-channel PCM telemetry encoder and its performance.

ITC/USA 2005 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-First Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2005 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / A miniature 1 Watt Tactical Telemetry Module (TTM) has been developed for the Excalibur projectile program. The TTM incorporates a multi-channel PCM encoder, lower S-band transmitter, and power regulation onto a single printed wiring board (PWB). The PCM encoder is designed for eight (8) analog inputs, four (4) discrete inputs, and one (1) synchronous RS-422 serial interface, with a total data rate of 1 Mbps. The module incorporates a digitally programmable, phase-locked FM S-band transmitter. The transmitter utilizes M/A-COM’s new dual port VCO and a high efficiency 2 W power amplifier MMIC. Additionally, switching power regulation circuits were implemented within the module to provide maximum operating efficiency. This paper reviews the environmental requirements of Excalibur, the design of the Excalibur TTM, and presents electrical and air-gun test data.