We are living in a digitally integrated and connected world. Evidenced by the use of smartphones, smartwatches, and other smart devices, there is no ending this trend. This holds true across many industries and applications, but is especially prevalent within medtech devices — a market that’s predicted to reach $432.6 billion by 2025.1

Mission Control Conference System Enables Global Collaboration

TBMG-3720707/01/2020

Spinoff is NASA’s annual publication featuring successfully commercialized NASA technology. This commercialization has contributed to the development of products and services in the fields of health and medicine, consumer goods, transportation, public safety, computer technology, and environmental resources.

Practical 3D Printing of Antennas and RF Electronics

20AERP06_0506/01/2020

Additive manufacturing can reduce the time and material costs in a design cycle and enable on-demand printing of customized parts. New multi-material 3D printers that can print both metal and dielectric materials enable the additive manufacturing of antennas and RF components. Developments in software are critical to leveraging this capability; good tools allow more effort to go towards creation than implementation. Three devices are described in detail in this article to demonstrate the 3D printing of RF components. First, a Marchand balun is presented, demonstrating rapid prototyping of a complex, multilayer RF circuit. Next, a monopole array is shown with an integrated beam-steering network and radome to show rapid prototyping of a complete antenna system. Finally, a bowtie antenna with rounded corners is presented, showing good performance in the Kuband.

Practical 3D Printing of Antennas and RF Electronics

TBMG-3709506/01/2020

Low-Inductance DC Power Bus

TBMG-3616003/01/2020

Anew generation of power electronic conversion systems is being enabled by wide-bandgap (WBG) devices. Applications in civilian and defense sectors are already realizing improved power density and efficiency in power converters that utilize silicon carbide (SiC) and/or gallium nitride (GaN) switches; however, as semiconductor switches become capable of greater hold-off voltage, higher switching frequency, and higher junction temperature, limits on converter performance will depend on the remainder of the system: device packaging, filter components, and thermal management, as examples.

Evaluation of the Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Common Aircraft Electrical Materials

TBMG-3605802/01/2020

Among all of the large-scale disinfection and/or decontamination technologies available, vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP®) is of particular interest due to its rapid sterilization, easy usage, intrinsic environmental friendliness (i.e. simple by-products composed of only water and oxygen), and compatibility with many materials and systems.

Evaluation of the Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Common Aircraft Electrical Materials

20AERP02_1302/01/2020

Study aims to find a suitable decontaminant/disinfectant/sanitizer that can be used successfully in complex transportation vehicles with no negative impact on sensitive electronic equipment. Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC Among all of the large-scale disinfection and/or decontamination technologies available, vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP®) is of particular interest due to its rapid sterilization, easy usage, intrinsic environmental friendliness (i.e. simple by-products composed of only water and oxygen), and compatibility with many materials and systems. VHP® technology has been investigated for possible usage in aircraft applications. These studies used vaporized hydrogen peroxide concentrations in the range of 150 - 600 ppm and cycle times of 80 - 120 min. Maximum concentrations of hydrogen peroxide vapor were carefully controlled to avoid condensation in cool locations within the aircraft cabins. Although these studies did not evaluate the compatibility of the

Q&A: A Shape-Morphing, Self-Healing Soft Composite

TBMG-3578801/01/2020

Carmel Majidi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, and his team has developed a material with a unique combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, with actuation and self-repair capabilities that are unlike any other soft composite.

Medical Power Supplies and Electromagnetic Interference

TBMG-3551011/01/2019

One of the challenges of using commercial power supplies in medical instruments is electromagnetic interference (EMI). Commercial power supplies often list “meets Class B” for EMI, but this is often with conditions that are completely unrealistic or impossible for a medical system designer to meet. If designers assume electromagnetic compliance (EMC) in the power supply, they may find themselves chasing EMI problems and making last-minute system design changes, such as adding filtered power entry modules, shielding, and other compensation, before they can launch the product. This article discusses critical details to look for in commercial medical power supplies with respect to EMI. It also explores why it can be advantageous to consider a custom design to meet EMC as well as cost, performance, and lead time requirements.

Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms Counterfeit Materiel or Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Parts

AIR6273 (Current)07/30/2019

The SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) provides standardized terms, definitions, and acronyms that may be used in the G-19 and G-21 documents, unless otherwise specified in those documents. The SAE International series of documents that address the mitigation of suspect and counterfeit parts will reference this document in their respective Applicable Documents sections. This AIR is for use by organizations that procure and/or use materiel or EEE parts. The terms and definitions of this AIR are intended to be used in conjunction with other G-19 and G-21 standards.

G-19 Counterfeit Electronic Parts Committee

Hybrid Transformer

TBMG-3473307/01/2019

Researchers have developed a hybrid transformer that has the benefit of a full planar transformer design but uses a wire-wound secondary winding to keep the parasitic winding capacitances lower. Alone, planar transformers have the advantage of a lower profile and better reproducibility, but wire-wound transformers allow for less parasitic capacitances. By combining elements from traditional wire-wound transformers and planar transformers, the overall performance and reliability were improved.

3D Printable Sensors Disposed of Without Contaminating the Environment

TBMG-3459206/01/2019

Simon Fraser University and Swiss researchers are developing an eco-friendly, 3D printable solution for producing wireless Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors that can be used and disposed of without contaminating the environment.

Q&A: Dr. Mahmooda Sultana, Multifunctional Sensor Researcher/Engineer at NASA Goddard

TBMG-3440505/01/2019

Dr. Sultana won funding to advance a nanomaterial-based detector platform that can sense environmental parameters from minute concentrations of target gases and vapors, to atmospheric pressure and temperature, and then transmit that data via a wireless antenna — all from the same 3 × 5’’ self-contained platform.

Securing Printed Board Performance and Assembly Reliability in Automotive Applications through IPC Standards

2019-01-125304/02/2019

Industry consensus developed IPC standards for the automotive electronics manufacturer have been available since 2016. We will look at the current IPC standards available in development and in revision, the standards development process, and the automotive application addendums for printed board fabrication and assembly soldering that provide unique criteria for the reliability of electronic interconnects that must survive the harsh environments within the automotive industry. Attention will be given to a new effort in development to provide links between existing automotive-centric IPC standards and other industry standards applicable to automotive applications for printed board material selection, design, and solder joint reliability testing. We will also discuss challenges facing the industry, including process changes and cleanliness requirements, e.g. ionic contaminants, that affect every manufacturer and customer.

Perry, John, Rowe, Teresa

Create the Future Design Contest Alumni Achieve Market Success

TBMG-3393403/01/2019

The Create the Future Design Contest, launched in 2002 by the publishers of Tech Briefs magazine, helps stimulate and reward engineering innovation. The annual event has attracted more than 15,000 product design ideas from engineers, entrepreneurs, and students worldwide.

Using Inkjet Printers to Build a New Biosensor for Less Invasive Breast Cancer Detection

TBMG-3388203/01/2019

Researchers at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NBIB) have created a novel, low-cost biosensor to detect Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER-2), a breast cancer biomarker in the blood, allowing for a far less invasive diagnostic test than the current practice, a needle biopsy. The scientists combined microfluidic technology with diagnostics, including electrochemical sensors and biomarkers, into a powerful package that can give results in about 15 minutes.

Process for Assessment and Mitigation of Early Wearout of Life-Limited Microcircuits

ARP6338A (Current)02/08/2019

This document is intended for use by designers, reliability engineers, and others associated with the design, production, and support of electronic sub-assemblies, assemblies, and equipment used in AADHP applications to conduct lifetime assessments of microcircuits with the potential for early wearout; and to implement mitigations when required; and by the users of the AADHP equipment to assess those designs and mitigations. This document focuses on the LLM wearout assessment process. It acknowledges that the AADHP system design process also includes related risk mitigation and management; however, this document includes only high-level reference and discussion of those topics, in order to show their relationship to the LLM assessment process.

APMC Avionics Process Management

Medical Device Design: The Importance of Thoughtful Adhesive Selection

TBMG-3373202/01/2019

Selecting an adhesive when designing a wearable medical device is not a trivial exercise. Too often the adhesive selection process is executed with the mindset “tape is tape” — a major oversimplification; or, it's assumed that the strongest adhesive for every application is the best choice.

Inkjet-Printed Biosensor Offers Less-Invasive Breast Cancer Detection

TBMG-3371902/01/2019

Researchers have created a novel, low-cost biosensor to detect HER-2, a breast cancer biomarker in the blood, allowing for a far less-invasive diagnostic test than the current practice, a needle biopsy. Scientists combined microfluidic technology with diagnostics, including electrochemical sensors and biomarkers, into a powerful package that can give results in about 15 minutes.

Flexible, Compliant, Multiline Microprobes for Measuring Material Electrical Properties

TBMG-3285909/01/2018

The ability to measure the electronic conductivity of battery film coatings is a pressing need in the battery industry; however, these measurements can be difficult, and prior methods have not been sufficiently accurate and robust. New surface probes were developed that can accurately measure electronic conductivity of battery film coatings.

Microcontroller Altimeter (uCA)

TBMG-3248608/01/2018

Traditional altitude switch designs for harsh environments are mechanical in nature and operate by means of an inflatable bladder or bellows that mechanically depresses a pushbutton switch. The altitude trip point is set by mechanically adjusting the distance of the switch to the bellows. The mechanical action of the switch results in a loss of accuracy on the order of several thousand feet, forcing engineers to design interfacing systems with an extremely high error tolerance. Furthermore, these types of systems are typically large and unreliable, difficult to manufacture, and prone to failure under certain operating conditions.

Microservices Drive Digital and Connected Health Efficiencies and Growth

TBMG-3246108/01/2018

Healthcare is poised for significant change over the coming years as a result of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual assistants, sensors, and wearables. Significant investments have been made in transitioning providers to EMR systems, but the benefits of this digital transformation has not yet been fully realized. Microservices are a new software development technique that provides a number of advantages in architecting back-end solutions while offering particular benefits in developing digital and connected healthcare solutions.

Q&A: Dr. Yanfei Xu, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

TBMG-2969707/01/2018

Plastics are excellent thermal insulators — a quality that can be an advantage in some applications. But this property is less desirable in products such as plastic casings for laptops and mobile phones, which can overheat. Dr. Xu is a member of a team that has developed a new polymer that works as a heat conductor. The polymer, which is lightweight and flexible, can conduct ten times as much heat as most commercial polymers.

Using Digital Microscopes as Inspection Tools

TBMG-2888205/01/2018

Digital microscopes are being automated and computerized to make them easier to use, display more data with more detail and precision, and expand their areas of application. With traditional microscopes, you need years of experience in order to take full advantage of the instrument. Digital microscopes can reduce the learning period by automatically selecting many of the settings to optimize an image. They can focus, zoom, polarize light, move filters in and out, and utilize tools like differential interference contrast (DIC) prisms.

Industrial Rotary Encoders: Selecting the Right Device for Your Application

TBMG-2881104/01/2018

Rotary encoders play important roles in motion control and industrial automation systems, providing control systems with information about the motion of motor shafts, pulleys, robot arms, etc. There are many variants available — some familiar and some highly innovative.

Mixing 3D Printing Technologies Helps Optimize Products

TBMG-2857003/01/2018

Stratasys Eden Prairie, MN

Additive Manufacturing Materials for RF Components

TBMG-2838802/01/2018

The Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Weapons Development and Integration (WDI) Directorate has a program known as PRIntable Materials with Embedded Electronics (PRIME2). PRIME2 will integrate RF and electronics into additive manufacturing processes to reduce size, weight, and overall cost of these components and subsystems. This program will advance the state of the art in printable electronics, and deliver a materials database, process development, modeling, and simulation of 3D-printed objects with embedded conductive elements, passive prototypes, and RF prototypes. PRIME2 will create a new fabrication capability (applied to electronics and RF technology areas), weight reduction, higher reliability, and on-demand (local and immediate) spare components in the field.

NASA CubeSats: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology

TBMG-2839102/01/2018

NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program is on the countdown clock to advance communications and proximity maneuvering capabilities for CubeSats with the Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna (ISARA) mission.

Laser Direct Structuring for Sensor Manufacturing

TBMG-2836202/01/2018

Every day the world’s leading medical device companies rely upon laser direct structuring (LDS) to meet their most demanding design and performance requirements. Millions of electronic components with complex geometries are cost-effectively manufactured each year through the use of LDS to create circuit traces on three-dimensional molded interconnect devices (3D-MID).

NASA CubeSats: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology

18AERP02_0602/01/2018

NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology Program is on the countdown clock to advance communications and proximity maneuvering capabilities for CubeSats with the Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna (ISARA) mission. The spacecraft is a 3U CubeSat carrying a Ka-band payload that includes a low-power transmitter, High Gain Antenna (HGA), standard gain reference antenna, and RF antenna select switch. A Ka-band ground station will verify high data rate by signal-to-noise (SNR) measurement, and measure the antenna performance. The HGA gain will be measured by switching between the HGA and an onboard standard gain antenna (SGA), while the spacecraft will be slewed on orbit to measure the antenna patterns. The on-orbit data will be compared to measurements that were taken prior to launch.

Infrared Testing

J359_201801 (Current)

01/09/2018

The scope of this SAE Information Report is to provide general information relative to the nature and use of infrared techniques for nondestructive testing. The document is not intended to provide detailed technical information, but will serve as an introduction to the theory and capabilities of infrared testing and as a guide to more extensive references.

Metals Technical Committee