Title

Photonic control of phased arrays using analog vector modulation

Abstract

A compact free-space/solid optics photonic controller for phased array antennas/transducers is introduced that uses the principle of in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) vector modulation via two dimensional (2-D) spatial light modulators (SLMs). The SLMs are used as distributed optical gain control devices to implement the vector modulation operation required to generate the desired radio frequency (rf) signals with the correct phase and amplitude values. In one design, the system is fed by four independent lasers where one pair of lasers is mutually incoherent with the other pair of lasers. These lasers are modulated (directly or externally) by separate forms (different phase shifts: 0, 90, 180, 270 degrees) of the input rf carrier. Depending on the phase and amplitude of the carrier required for the nth antenna/transducer element, two predetermined laser beams from the nth pixel locations of two of the preselected SLMs are optically combined in intensity via a photosensor to generate the desired rf signal. In a similar fashion, the system can provide independent control for all N elements of the phased array.

Publication Date

12-1-1996

Publication Title

IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology

Number of Pages

31-36

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

0030386225 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0030386225

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS