Coded transmissions for space links affected by solar scintillation: Baseband analysis

A thorough analysis of the behavior of error‐correcting codes over space links affected by solar scintillation is presented. The relevant channel parameters are fixed through the development of a model based on real missions' data. Both telecommand and telemetry links are considered in fast and slow fading conditions. Besides classical coherent modulation schemes, the possibility to use noncoherent modulation schemes is considered, to eliminate the problem of phase tracking. For the case of channels with very slow fading, the use of external interleavers or erasure coding is proposed to cope with error bursts.     

Sensor interpixel correlation analysis and reduction for color filter array high dynamic range image reconstruction

High dynamic range imaging (HDRI) by bracketing of low dynamic range (LDR) images is demanding, as the sensor is deliberately operated at saturation. This exacerbates any crosstalk, interpixel capacitance, blooming and smear, all causing interpixel correlations (IC) and a deteriorated modulation transfer function (MTF). Established HDRI algorithms exclude saturated pixels, but generally overlook IC. This work presents a calibration method to estimate the affected region from saturated pixels for a color filter array (CFA) sensor, using the native CFA as a matched filter. The method minimizes color crosstalk given a set of candidates for proximity regions, and requires no special setup. Results are shown for a 21‐bit HDR output image with improved color fidelity and reduced noise. The calibration reduces IC in the LDR images and is performed only once for a given sensor. The improvement is applicable to any HDRI algorithm based on CFA image bracketing, irrespective of sensor technology. Generalizations to subsaturated and supersaturated pixels are described, facilitating a suggested irradiance‐exposure dependent point spread function charge repatriation strategy.     

Improved error performance of a 3/4‐Sezginer space‐time block codes

The Alamouti space‐time block code (STBC) achieves full diversity gain at a rate of 1/2. However, the Alamouti scheme does not provide multiplexing gain. The Silver code offers both diversity and multiplexing gain. It has a minimum normalization determinant of . The Golden code is another STBC that offers both diversity and multiplexing gain. The Golden code is ranked higher than the Silver code because of its lower minimum normalization determinant of , however, the golden code suffers from a high detection complexity in the modulation order of M⁴. The 3/4‐Sezginer code is another STBC, which compromises between the Alamouti scheme and the Golden code in terms of diversity gain and multiplexing gain. The 3/4‐Sezginer code achieves full diversity and half of multiplexing gain. The uncoded space‐time labeling diversity (USTLD) is a recent scheme that improves the error performance when applied to the STBC in multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems and will be applied to the 3/4‐Sezginer STBC to improve the error performance in this paper. The theoretical error probability for both the 3/4‐Sezginer STBC and the improved system is formulated using the union bound in this paper. The theoretical error probabilities of both 16‐QAM and 64‐QAM are validated through Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation and theoretical results show that the proposed system with 4 N_R can achieve an SNR gain of 1 dB for 16‐QAM and 1.2 dB 64‐QAM at a bit error rate (BER) of 10^?6.