Optically frequency generated scanned active array
First Claim
1. A system for scanning an antenna array comprising:
- first means for modulating a desired signal on an optical carrier signal, said first means including a frequency-tunable optical oscillator with a phase shifter for changing an output frequency of said optical oscillator;
second means for employing said optical carrier signal to derive feed signals having predetermined phase relationships; and
third means for receiving said feed signals and radiating corresponding transmit signals in response thereto to said antenna array to steer said array.
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Abstract
A system for scanning an antenna array of the present invention. The system includes a first mechanism for modulating a desired signal on an optical carrier signal. The first mechanism includes a frequency-tunable optical oscillator with a phase shifter for changing an output frequency of the optical oscillator. A second mechanism employs the optical carrier signal to derive signals having predetermined phase relationships. A third mechanism receives the feed signals and radiates corresponding transmit signals in response thereto to the antenna array to steer the array. In more specific embodiment, the desired signal is a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, and the phase shifter is an electrically controlled optical RF phase shifter. The optical carrier signal includes a first optical carrier signal and a second optical carrier signal. The frequency-tunable optical oscillator includes a first tunable optical oscillator for providing the first optical carrier signal and a second tunable optical oscillator for providing the second optical carrier signal. The first and second optical oscillators include first and second optical RF phase shifters, respectively, that include feedback paths having optical and electrical sections.
20 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for scanning an antenna array comprising:
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first means for modulating a desired signal on an optical carrier signal, said first means including a frequency-tunable optical oscillator with a phase shifter for changing an output frequency of said optical oscillator; second means for employing said optical carrier signal to derive feed signals having predetermined phase relationships; and third means for receiving said feed signals and radiating corresponding transmit signals in response thereto to said antenna array to steer said array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An radar system comprising:
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a continuous transverse stub antenna array; an optical oscillator that generates an optical signal oscillating at a predetermined frequency, said optical oscillator including a phase-shifting optical modulator; an optical manifold that employs said optical signal to derive feed signals having progressive phase relationships; and optical transmit modules that each receive one of said feed signals and output corresponding electrical signals in response thereto to said antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for scanning an antenna array having plural elements comprising the steps of:
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modulating a desired signal on an optical carrier signal via a frequency-tunable optical oscillator with a phase shifter; employing said optical carrier signal to derive feed signals having predetermined phase relationships; and receiving said feed signals and radiating corresponding transmit signals in response thereto to said antenna array to steer said array.
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Specification