Multiwavelength optical beam forming network with ring resonator-based binary-tree architecture for broadband phased array antenna systems

Integrated optical beam forming networks (OBFNs) offer many advantages for phased array applications. ORR-based true-time-delay units can be cascaded in a binary tree topology and tuned for continuously-adjustable broadband time delay. Nonetheless, with large number of antenna elements, the OBFN may become very complex. A novel idea is proposed to exploit the frequency periodicity of the ORRs and the WDM technique to achieve multiple-signal-paths on a single beamformer, thus reducing complexity and costs. The use of high index contrast waveguides in Si-compatible technology further reduces chip footprint and allows the use of integrated OBFNs for large arrays and multi-beam applications

Optical phase synchronization in coherent optical beamformers for phased array receive antennas

An optical phase synchronization system using a power feedback loop technique is experimentally demonstrated. The system allows coherent combining of signals modulated on the same optical carrier in a hybrid optical beam forming system setup

Single-Frequency, Narrow-Linewidth Distributed Feedback Waveguide Laser in Al2O3:Er3+ on Silicon

A distributed feedback channel waveguide laser in erbium-doped aluminum oxide on a silicon substrate is reported. The optically pumped laser has a threshold pump power of 15 mW and emits 3 mW in single-frequency operation at 1545.2 nm wavelength with a slope efficiency of 6.2% and linewidth of 15 kHz

Analysis of phase noise and cnr degradation of externally generated lo signal in lnb for ku-band dvb-s systems by heterodyning two lasers

We investigate the externally generation of an LO signal by optical heterodyning, which is then distributed to each of the mixers at every antenna element of a phased array antenna used for standard DVB-S (digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite) reception system. The system1 is presented in Figure 1. The Ku-Band (10.7 GHz ~12.75 GHz) RF signal from the antenna array is amplified and then down converted to IF (950 MHz to 2150 MHz) at the mixer by a 9.75 GHz LO signal generated by optical heterodynin

Automatic transmission parameters measurement and radiation pattern simulation for an RF photonic integrated beamformer

We present the implementation and demonstration of a software tool for the performance characterization of integrated N-by-1 photonic beamformers for phased array antennas. The software operates the automatic measurement of the transmission parameters of an equivalent N+1 ports microwave network, corresponding to the complex excitations of the individual antenna elements of the array. The measured excitations are used to simulate the array factor generated by the optical beamformer and to analyze it in terms of maximum directivity, sidelobe levels and wideband behaviour. The software provides a useful tool to test the wideband performance of the network, the effects of excitation inaccuracies, and a straightforward evaluation of the effects of amplitude and phase weighting for beam shaping

On-chip, CMOS-compatible, hardware-compressive integrated photonic beamformer based on WDM

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel, hardware-compressive architecture for broadband and continuously tunable integrated optical true-time-delay beamformers. The architecture is based on on-chip wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) that, in conjunction with the frequency-periodic response of optical ring resonator (ORR) filters, dramatically reduces the network complexity and, in turn, its area occupation on the wafer. This allows the integration of an unprecedented number of delay channels on a single chip, overcoming the main limitation of current integrated beamformers, that is, the limited capability to feed very large arrays when using a single chip. Based on this technique, a novel device is realized with TriPleXTM waveguide technology, using CMOScompatible fabrication equipment, and its functionality is demonstrated over the instantaneous 2-10 GHz bandwidth. At the best of our knowledge, this results represent at the same time the record instantaneous bandwidth (8 GHz) for an optical beamformer based on optical ring resonators(ORR), and the first demonstration of an integrated beamformer where signals from different antenna elements are processed simultaneously by individual delay lines, exploiting the periodic response of ORRs