SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PHOTONIC SYSTEM

• US 20100196013A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Franklin, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/505 using external modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/5165 Carrier suppressed; Single sideband; Double sideband or vestigial

Abstract

A photonic system and method are provided. The system includes an optical source configured to generate a carrier signal; and a modulator configured to modulate the carrier signal with a radio frequency, (“RF”) input signal to generate a modulated signal. The system also includes an optical filter configured to filter the modulated signal to generate a vestigial sideband modulated signal; and an optical detector configured to demodulate the vestigial sideband signal to generate an RF output signal. The system further includes a wavelength controller module configured to set an operating parameter of the optical source.

Claims

1. A photonic system, comprising:

an optical source configured to generate a carrier signal;

a modulator configured to modulate the carrier signal with a radio frequency (“

RF”

) input signal to generate a modulated signal;

an optical filter configured to filter the modulated signal to generate a vestigial sideband modulated signal;

an optical detector configured to demodulate the vestigial sideband signal to generate an RF output signal; and

a wavelength controller module configured to set an operating parameter for the optical source.

2. The photonic system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength controller module sets the operating parameter for the optical source based on a feedback signal from the optical filter.

3. The photonic system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on a feedback signal from the optical filter, the RF output signal, or a combination thereof.

4. The photonic system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on feedback signal and a reference signal.

5. The photonic system of claim 4, wherein the reference signal is one or more of the carrier signal received from the optical source, the signal from the modulator, a reflected signal from the optical filter, or a combination thereof.

6. The photonic system of claim 1, wherein the modulator is a single phase modulator, amplitude modulator, or a Mach Zehnder modulator.

7. A photonic system, comprising:

an optical source configured to generate a carrier signal;

a first coupler configured to receive the carrier signal from the optical source and generate a first configured carrier signal and a second configured carrier signal;

a modulator configured to modulate the first configured carrier signal with a radio frequency (“

RF”

)|input signal to generate a modulated signal;

an optical filter configured to filter the modulated signal to generate a vestigial sideband signal;

a second coupler configured for coupling the vestigial sideband signal and the second configured carrier signal received from the first coupler to generate a coupled vestigial sideband signal plus a coupled carrier signal;

a balanced optical detector configured for heterodyning the coupled vestigial sideband signal plus a coupled carrier signal to generate an RF output signal; and

a wavelength controller module configured to set an operating parameter for the optical source to generate the carrier signal.

8. The photonic system of claim 7, wherein the wavelength controller module sets the operating parameter for the optical source based on a feedback signal from the optical filter.

9. The photonic system of claim 7, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on a feedback signal from the optical filter, the RF output signal, or a combination thereof.

10. The photonic system of claim 7, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on a feedback signal and a reference signal.

11. The photonic system of claim 10, wherein the reference signal is one or more of the carrier signal received from the optical source, the signal from the modulator, a reflected signal from the optical filter, or a combination thereof.

12. The photonic system of claim 7, wherein the modulator is a single phase modulator, amplitude modulator, or a Mach Zehnder modulator.

13. The photonic system of claim 7, wherein the balanced optical detector comprises a first detector and a second detector, the first detector configured to receive one coupler output with the coupled vestigial sideband signal plus the coupled carrier signal, and the second detector configured to receive the other coupler output with the coupled vestigial sideband signal plus the coupled carrier signal.

14. A photonic system, comprising:

an optical source configured to generate a carrier signal;

a modulator configured to modulate the carrier signal with a radio frequency (RF) input signal to generate a modulated signal;

an optical filter configured to filter the modulated signal to generate a vestigial sideband signal;

a local oscillator configured to generate a local oscillator signal;

a coupler configured for coupling the vestigial sideband signal with the local oscillator signal to generate a coupled vestigial sideband signal plus local oscillator signal;

a balanced optical detector for heterodyning the vestigial sideband signal with the local oscillator signal to generate a frequency converted RF output signal; and

a wavelength controller module configured to set an operating parameter for the optical source.

15. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to set an operating parameter for the optical source based on a feedback signal from the optical filter.

16. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on a feedback signal from the optical filter, the RF output signal, or a combination thereof.

17. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the wavelength controller module is configured to control a wavelength of the carrier signal based on a feedback signal and a reference signal.

18. The photonic system of claim 17, wherein the reference signal is one or more of the carrier signal received from the optical source, the signal from the modulator, a reflected signal from the optical filter, and a combination thereof.

19. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the modulator is a single phase modulator, amplitude modulator, or a Mach Zehnder modulator.

20. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the balanced optical detector comprises a first detector and a second detector, the first detector configured to receive one coupler output with the coupled vestigial sideband signal plus the coupled laser oscillator and the second detector configured to receive the other coupler output with the coupled vestigial sideband signal plus the coupled laser oscillator.

21. The photonic system of claim 14, wherein the modulator is a single phase modulator, an amplitude modulator or a Mach Zehnder modulator.

22. A method for operating a photonic system, the method comprising:

(a) generating an optical signal from an optical source;

(b) modulating the optical signal with an input radio frequency (RF) signal to generate a modulated signal;

(c) transmitting the modulated signal to an optical filter, wherein the optical filter filters the modulated signal to generate a vestigial sideband signal;

(d) transmitting the vestigial sideband signal to an optical detector, where the optical detector demodulates the vestigial sideband signal to generate an output RF signal; and

(e) configuring the optical source based on a reference signal and a feedback signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of configuring the optical source includes setting an operating parameter for the optical source.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the reference signal is the optical signal generated in step (a) or the modulated signal generated in step (b) of claim 22.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the feedback signal is the vestigial sideband signal generated in step (c) or the RF output signal generated in step (d) of claim 22.