SUPPORT STATUS - CARTELA PROJECT - INFRARED TRANSCEIVERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2014
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: August 9, 1955
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2014/05/08 : CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5
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Office Memorandum .? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
a1/111-
TO : The Files DATE: 9 August 1955
?
FROM :
SUBJECT: Support Status -
Project - Infrared Transceivers
1. Background - The Chief, requested that an infrared
communications system capable of a one mile plus operating range be
made available to that August 1955 to support the
Project. The equipment was to be powered by secondary cells, and
a battery charger to operate from 220 volt 50 cycle mains was to be
self-contained. One unit of the system was to be small enough to
be transported in a briefcase with an additional provision for
wire or tape recorder input.
2. Equipment - Two prototype infrared transceivers were
available from the TSS/ development, which met the range
and power supply requirements; it was decided that one of the units
would be supplied "as is" to function as the base station and that
the second unit would be repackaged by the laboratory on a crash
basis for reduced dimensions and recorder input. Additionally, TSS
requested to repackage one of the twenty sets for ultimate
delivery to OC as backup equipment. Repackaging principally consists
of removing the viewer used in alignment and modifying the bulky
tripod mounting.
3. Delivery - The base station and laborato modified Agent
sets were shipped by pouch on schedule. The modified unit
was shipped by air parcel post and picked up at the airport on 27
July 1955. Upon advice that the Agent unit had been damaged by
leaking electrolite, the _ modified unit was delivered to
O&T see below) to be hand-carried by Agency personnel departing -
for Saturday, 6 August 1955, as replacement equipment for the
damaged unit.
4. Equipment Damage - Upon arrival of the equipment in
it was opened in the presence of
OC-E, and it was found that one of the four Yardney
Silvercells in the agent set had leaked electrolite (potassium
hydroxide), and the extent of damage was believed to be considerable. 07
(The unit is being returned for repair.) The shipment of the /?:ct4c1116//r
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/08: CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2014/05/08 : CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5
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Support Status -
Project - Infrared Transceivers Page 2
equipment with wet cells installed was not an oversight. It was
discussed with the TSS technical people who monitored the
development work, and they interposed no objection. The manufac-
turer's literature claims that the High-rate cells have passed
tests involving 250 g shock in a plane perpendicular to the plates,
and 10 g in any plane during discharge, and further, that the
Yardney Silvercells perform efficiently at high altitudes and that
with proper packing, they have been used at altitudes as high as
85 miles (guided missiles). The equipment with charged wet cells
has been shipped between Chicago and Washington several times and,
in addition, has received somewhat rough treatment in field tests.
The above and the need for expeditious handling resulted in re-
leasing the equipment with the charged cells in place.
Repackaged Unit - Prior to releasing the
modified unit for replacement of the damaged unit, the
man acturer advised that the battery charger was erroneously se50X1t,
at 8.2 volts instead of 8.0 volts and that the lamp (tungsten
source) type GE 1045 heated excessively and should be replaced with
a type GE 1021. The schematic lists either a type 1045 or a 1029.
advised that the type 1029 should read 1021 and a jumper
across a .8 ohm resistor in series with the filament should be re-
moved when the type GE 1021 lamp is used. Corrections were noted
on the schematic, new lamps were purchased and tested (because of
a reported 20% rejection due to manufacturing tolerances in filament
point placement), and the jumper across the .8 ohm resistor was re-
moved.
6. Recalibration of the Charging Cutoff Voltage - An unsuccess-
ful attempt was made to calibrate the battery charger cutoff voltage
at exactly 8.0 volts. The equipment was due O&T by 2 p.m.; and al-
though an hour extension was obtained, the cells could not be
brought to full charge (1.84 volts plus or minus 1.5% open circuited
or 2.0 volts per cell charging voltage). A precision DC voltmeter
was made available by the laboratory, and battery charging commenced
upon its arrival. The batteries were down slightly due to demonstra-
tion of the equipment and testing of the new lamps. As the charging
rate levelled off as full charge was approached, it became apparent
that sufficient time did not remain to bring the cells to the exact
8.0 charging voltage cutoff necessary to prohibit overcharging.
(Yardney Silvercells cannot be overcharged.j This information was
relayed to O&T who felt that the charging cutoff adjustment could be
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/08 : CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5
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Support Status
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Project - Infrared Transceivers
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accomplished by . Accordingly, the undersigned delivered the unit 50X1
to O&T and wrote calibration instructions to be incorporated in a
cable to Prior to delivery, masking tape was placed over the 50X1
Silvercell vent caps as a precautionary measure although it was under-
stood that the unit would be hand-carried in an upright position and
in the pressurized cabin of the aircraft.
7. Security - Insofar as this office is concerned,the equipment
is classified SECRET. There have been several discussions with TSS
regarding the declassification of the equipment, and a declassifica-
tion board convened to consider its downgrading. Although TSS is
anxious that the equipment be made available in support of the
Project, documentation to such an end is not available.
? e paper resulting from the declassification board's action was
viewed and considered unsatisfactory (at least by the undersigned),
and the problem is currently to be resolved through liaison be-
tween
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/08: CIA-RDP78-03330A000800020011-5