Methods of and apparatus for generation of radio frequency signals
First Claim
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1. An extremely high frequency electrical generator comprising;
- means for generating a collimated coherent light beam along a first path;
beam splitting means oriented along said first path for splitting said light beam into two components, one of said components being directed along a second path, and the other of said components being directed along a third path, said second and third paths being non-coincident;
a first frequency selective element means oriented along said second path for receiving said one component and reflecting back, along said second path, toward said beam splitting means, light at the wavelength λ
1 ;
a second frequency selective element means oriented along said third path for receiving said other component and reflecting back, along said third path, toward said beam splitting means, light at the wavelength λ
2 ;
whereby said beam splitting means combines said light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 along a fourth path; and
a photodetecting means oriented along said fourth path for receiving light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 and for providing electrical signals at the wavelength, |λ
1 -λ
2 |.
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Abstract
Electrical signals with frequencies ranging from several tens of megahertz to hundreds of gigahertz are generated by detecting the optical output from a novel double-external-cavity diode laser system. The system provides a convenient means of measuring the frequency response of high speed photodetectors, and it can also be used for the optical generation and transmission of microwave or millimeter wave carriers in applications such as phased array radars.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An extremely high frequency electrical generator comprising;
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means for generating a collimated coherent light beam along a first path; beam splitting means oriented along said first path for splitting said light beam into two components, one of said components being directed along a second path, and the other of said components being directed along a third path, said second and third paths being non-coincident; a first frequency selective element means oriented along said second path for receiving said one component and reflecting back, along said second path, toward said beam splitting means, light at the wavelength λ
1 ;a second frequency selective element means oriented along said third path for receiving said other component and reflecting back, along said third path, toward said beam splitting means, light at the wavelength λ
2 ;whereby said beam splitting means combines said light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 along a fourth path; anda photodetecting means oriented along said fourth path for receiving light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 and for providing electrical signals at the wavelength, |λ
1 -λ
2 |. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of generating extremely high frequency electrical signals comprising the steps of:
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generating a collimated coherent light beam along a first path; splitting said beam along said first path into two components, one of said components being directed along a second path, and the other of said components being directed along a third path, said second and third paths being non-coincident; receiving said one component along said second path and reflecting back, along said second path, a frequency selected wavelength λ
1 ;receiving said other component along said third path and reflecting back, along said third path, a frequency selected wavelength λ
2,whereby said light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 are combined along a fourth path; andphotodetecting light at said wavelengths λ
1 and λ
2 along said fourth path, and providing electrical signals at the wavelength |λ
1 and λ
2 |. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification