Volume 10, Number 1 • January/February 2002 • Moving Forward

Technology Opportunity Showcasehighlights some unique technologies that NASA has developed and which we believe have strong potential for commercial application. While the descriptions provided here are brief, they should provide enough information to communicate the potential applications of the technology.or more detailed information, contact the person listed. Please mention that you read about it in Innovation

Breakthrough in Fourier Imaging Systems

Marshall Space Flight Center is seeking qualified companies to license and commercialize a breakthrough in Fourier Imaging Systems. NASA scientists have discovered a method for providing Fourier Imaging with as few as one or two grid pairs, while capturing the entire available spectrum.

The Rotational-Translational Fourier Imaging System has potential commercial applications in the following fields: medical imaging, offering finer resolution body scans and finding masses as small as 100 microns; telescopes, allowing for imaging of “high-energy events,” such as solar flares or distant star activity, in greater detail than current telescopes; and defect analysis, finding flaws, stress cracks or other imperfections in metals or assembled metal components that x-rays might miss. Benefits of this breakthrough include reduced cost and increased quality. In the past, multiple grid pairs have been needed to create a Fourier telescope. It had been theorized that one or two grid pair telescopes were feasible, but no working prototypes had been developed, until now.

This technology has overcome the multiple grid pair hurdle, creating an imaging system that uses only two grid pairs. The first grid pair offers multiple real components of the Fourier-based image. The second grid pair provides multiple imaginary components of the Fourier-based image. With the reduction in grid pairs, the major cost of producing the multiple grid pairs has been lowered. Depending upon the application, the two grid pair production costs can be one-tenth of the price of a comparable 24-grid pair imager. While it would be expected that the quality of the invention’s spectrum analysis would decline with the reduction in grid pairs, the opposite is actually the case. The Rotational-Translational Fourier Imaging System provides the ability to capture images across the entire available spectrum, rather than at discrete, predetermined intervals within the spectrum. Although the technology was developed for telescopes, its strength is in full-spectrum imaging of atomic particles and electromagnetic radiation. Q

For more information, contact Dr. James Dowdy at Marshall Space Flight Center, 256/544-7604. Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

Optimized Image Compression (DCTune)

NASA Ames Research Center is seeking a qualified company to license and commercialize Optimized Image Compression (DCTune) technology. DCTune is computer software that significantly improves digital image compression.

NASA missions have and will continue to generate immense quantities of image data. NASA confronts a major technical challenge in managing this great flow of imagery in collection, preprocessing, transmitting to Earth, archiving and distribution to scientists at remote locations. Part of the solution to this problem lies in efficient image compression techniques. As part of a larger program of human factors research, NASA Ames Research Center has developed technology to improve image compression where the ultimate consumer is the human eye.

The DCTune quantization matrix is compatible with industry compression standards for digital image compression, including JPEG, MPEG and CCITT H.261. A second technique optimizes the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) quantization matrix for each individual image. This is accomplished by means of a model of visual sensitivity to compression artifacts. Together these two techniques allow systematic perceptual optimization of image compression in NASA imaging systems.

DCTune significantly improves compression efficiencies for pictures and videos. It can be an add-on software module for existing imaging workstation software or imaging devices, or hard wired into existing microchip designs. DCTune offers three key benefits: control over desired picture quality/accurate specification of visual quality; optimum compression at given picture quality/reduced file size; and control over desired compression efficiency.

Potential commercial applications of DCTune include editing, storage and transmission of a variety of image data for use in digital copiers and scanners, digital facsimile machines, digital still cameras, digital video cameras and personal communications services.

In the DCTune technology, the sensitivity behavior of the human eye is accurately modeled, and it is able to precisely determine the amount of information needed for each image. DCTune calculates the best JPEG quantization matrices to achieve the maximum possible compression for a specified perceptual error.

To expedite transfer of this NASA technology to the commercial sector, the inventor has developed a prototype application and made it available to potential developers. DCTune1.1 is a minimal implementation of the DCTune technology. It is offered free for demonstration purposes only. Q

For more information, contact David Lackner at NASA Ames Research Center, dlackner@mail.arc.nasa.gov or Patrick Hung at NASA Ames Research Center, 650/604-5063. Please mention you read about it in Innovation.