Optically controlled phase shifter and phased array antenna for use therewith
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a proximal rib waveguide;
a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including;
a first plasma induced modulator coquetted to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a and including;
a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and
a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide;
a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b and including;
a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and
a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide; and
a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c and including;
a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and
a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide,wherein a, b and c are each ≦
1.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for optically controlled phase shifters are described. An apparatus includes a proximal rib waveguide; a phase shifter connected to the proximal rib waveguide, the phase shifter including: a first plasma induced modulator connected to the proximal rib waveguide, the first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a and including: a first branch waveguide connected to the proximal rib waveguide; and a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to the first branch waveguide; a second plasma induced modulator connected to the proximal rib waveguide, the second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b and including: a second branch waveguide connected to the proximal rib waveguide; and a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to the second branch waveguide; and a third plasma induced modulator connected to the proximal rib waveguide, the third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c and including: a third branch waveguide connected to the proximal rib waveguide; and a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to the third branch waveguide. The transmission coefficients a, b and c are each ≦1. The systems and methods provide a substantial improvement in that a phased array antenna can be steered with the optically controlled phase shifters using much less controlling energy.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a proximal rib waveguide; a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including; a first plasma induced modulator coquetted to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a and including; a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide; a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b and including; a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide; and a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c and including; a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide, wherein a, b and c are each ≦
1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first phased array including a first bus waveguide and a first plurality of phase shifters, each of said first plurality of phase shifters i) being connected to said first bus waveguide with a proximal rib wave guide and ii) including, a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a and including; a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide; a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b and including; a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide; and a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c and including; a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide, wherein a, b and c are each ≦
1. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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providing a proximal rib waveguide; providing a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including; a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a, where a≦
1, and including;a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide; a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b, where b≦
1, and including;a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide; and a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c, where c≦
1, and including;a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide; applying an electromagnetic signal to said proximal rib waveguide; applying a first infrared signal to said first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a first optical fiber; applying a second infrared signal to said second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a second optical fiber; and applying a third infrared signal to said third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a third optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said output signal amplitude Iout from said phase shifter varies as a function of said input signal amplitude Io to said proximal rib waveguide according to a relationship
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">I.sub.out =(2(3.sup.1/2).sup.-1 I.sub.o)exp(iφ
.sub.out),
where φ
out represents an output signal phase shift. - space="preserve" listing-type="equation">I.sub.out =(2(3.sup.1/2).sup.-1 I.sub.o)exp(iφ
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24. A method, comprising:
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providing a proximal rib waveguide; providing a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including; a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a, where a≦
1, and including;a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide; a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b, where b≦
1, and including;a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide; and a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c, where c≦
1, and including;a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide; and a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide; collecting an electromagnetic signal from said proximal rib waveguide; applying a first infrared signal to said first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a first optical fiber; applying a second infrared signal to said second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a second optical fiber; and applying a third infrared signal to said third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a third optical fiber.
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Specification