franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

11.8 DEFLECTOR SHIELDS11.8.2 Deflector grids (dorsal view)Outer Saucer Module gridInner Saucer Module gridEngineering Hull grid (P/S)directed energy weapon are known, it is possible to dramaticallyincrease deflector efficiency by adjusting the shieldingfrequencies to match those of the incoming weapon. Similartechniques are used to protect the vehicle against variousnatural hazards, as when shielding is increased in the 10 10meter band to protect against X rays generated by a supernova.Raising shields to defensive configuration also triggers anumber of special operating rules. First, active sensor scansare operated according to special protocols that are intendedto minimize the interference due to the shielding effects. Forcertain types of scans, sensors are continually recalibrated totake advantage of any EM "windows" left open by rotation ofshield frequencies. In other cases, the random variation ofshield frequencies is modified slightly to allow a specific EMwindow at specific intervals necessary for data collection.Such sensor operation techniques generally result in substantiallyreduced data collection rates, so sensor usage isstrictly prioritized during Alert situations. Further, most defensivescenarios require sensors to be operated in "silentrunning" mode during which the usage of active scan sensorsis not permitted and only passive sensors may be used.serves as the transmission medium for the transporter beamrequires such a wide EM and subspace bandwidth that it isnormally impossible to transport through shields. Additionally,the shields' spatial distortion effects can be severelydisruptive of the transporter beam's pattern integrity.Shield operation also has a significant impact on warpdrive operation. Because of the spatial distortion inherent inthe shielding generation process, there is a measurable effecton the geometry of the warp fields that propel the ship. Warpdrive control software therefore includes a number of routinesdesigned to compensate for the presence of deflector shields,which would otherwise cause (at maximum rated output) a32% degradation in force coupling energy transfer. Simultaneously,shield generator output must be upshifted by approximately147 kilohertz to compensate for translational fieldinteraction.Also affected by deflector shield usage is operation of thetransporter system. The annular confinement beam thatThe idea of frequency "windows" in the shields used for sensor scans was the basis of O'Brien's trick in "The Wounded" whenhe was able to beam onto the USS Phoenix, even though that ship's shields were raised at the time.