PHOTONIC RF GENERATOR
First Claim
1. An RF signal generator comprising:
- an optical part for outputting two or more optical carrier signals separated in optical frequency by a frequency difference;
a modulator arranged to modulate the two or more optical carrier signals with an intermediate frequency to generate sideband signals, the modulator also being arranged to apply a phase modulation to one or more of the sideband signals or the optical carrier signals, without applying the phase modulation to others of the sideband signals or optical carrier signals, the modulator having integrated optical paths for both the phase modulated signals and for the others of the signals without corresponding phase modulation; and
a detector part arranged to combine at least one of the phase modulated signals with at least one of the other signals without corresponding phase modulation, to output an RF signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference in optical frequencies of these signals, and having the phase modulation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF signal generator has an optical part for outputting optical carrier signals separated in optical frequency, and a modulator arranged to modulate the optical carrier signals with an intermediate frequency to generate sidebands. A phase modulation is applied to one or more of the sidebands or the optical carriers, without applying the phase modulation to others of the signals, and the modulator has integrated optical paths for both the phase modulated signals and for the others of the signals. A detector part carries out heterodyne detection to combine the phase modulated and other signals to output an RF signal having the phase modulation. By having integrated optical paths, the relative phase of these optical paths can be more stable than using a fiber sagnac interferometer and optical isolator thus enabling use in advanced radio communications.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An RF signal generator comprising:
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an optical part for outputting two or more optical carrier signals separated in optical frequency by a frequency difference; a modulator arranged to modulate the two or more optical carrier signals with an intermediate frequency to generate sideband signals, the modulator also being arranged to apply a phase modulation to one or more of the sideband signals or the optical carrier signals, without applying the phase modulation to others of the sideband signals or optical carrier signals, the modulator having integrated optical paths for both the phase modulated signals and for the others of the signals without corresponding phase modulation; and a detector part arranged to combine at least one of the phase modulated signals with at least one of the other signals without corresponding phase modulation, to output an RF signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference in optical frequencies of these signals, and having the phase modulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of generating an RF signal, the method comprising:
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outputting two or more optical carrier signals separated in optical frequency by a frequency difference; using a modulator to modulate the two or more optical carrier signals with an intermediate frequency to generate sideband signals, and applying a phase modulation to one or more of the sideband signals or the optical carrier signals, without applying the phase modulation to others of the sideband signals or optical carrier signals, wherein the modulator has integrated optical paths for both the phase modulated signals and for the others of the signals without corresponding phase modulation; and combining at least one of the phase modulated signals with at least one of the other signals without corresponding phase modulation, to output an RF signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference in optical frequencies of these signals, and having the phase modulation.
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Specification