Non-electronic radio frequency front-end with immunity to electromagnetic pulse damage

• US 7,450,790 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Jalali, Bahram, Hsu, Chia-Jen, Houshmand, Bijan
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US11/535,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0885 using optical probes, e.g. electro-optical, luminescent, glow discharge, or optical interferometers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

A non-electronic all-dielectric (NEAD) or non-electronic RF (NERF) front-end that exploits isolation features of photonics to eliminate metal electrodes, interconnects and the antenna. An electro-optic (EO) modulator is integrated with a dielectric resonance antenna to exploit unique isolation features of photonics. A doubly (RF and optical) resonant device design maximizes the receiver sensitivity. High-Q optical disk resonators and dielectric resonant antennas are integrated to create an efficient mixing of light and RF fields. The resulting non-electronic RF technology produces an all-dielectric RF front-end which provides complete isolation between the air interface and the ensuing electronic circuitry, enabling the creation of an RF receiver that is immune to high-power electro-magnetic pulses (EMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) pulses. The device can also be configured as a non-intrusive field probe that co-exists with a conventional receiver and detects a EMP or HPM attack.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric resonance antenna configured to operate as a concentrator for the received radio-frequency power; and

an electro-optic resonant modulator integrated with said dielectric resonance antenna;

wherein said electro-optic resonant modulator is configured for receiving radio-frequency power from said dielectric resonance antenna through Pockels effect; and

wherein both said electro-optic resonant modulator and said dielectric resonance antenna are non-electronic structures comprising all-dielectric materials without either metal electrodes or metal transmission lines.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electro-optic resonant modulator comprises a microdisk resonator.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said microdisk resonator comprises a crystal material selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and lithium tantalite (LiTiO₃).

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said microdisk resonator has a curved sidewall, a radius of approximately 1 mm, and a thickness of approximately 200 micron.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said resonator comprises a Fabry-Perot resonator.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said resonator comprises a crystal material selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and lithium tantalite (LiTiO₃).

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for reverse poling to break symmetry of resonance in half of the electro-optic resonant modulator.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

wherein said dielectric resonance antenna includes a cavity;

wherein said electro-optic resonant modulator is positioned in said cavity; and

wherein said electro-optic resonant modulator has a sidewall spaced apart from said dielectric resonance antenna by an air gap.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said dielectric resonance antenna comprises:

a first segment having said cavity; and

a second segment bonded to said first segment.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a prism optically coupled to said electro-optic resonant modulator;

an input fiber optically coupled to said prism; and

an output fiber optically coupled to said prism.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said prism, said input fiber and said output fiber are integrated with said dielectric resonance antenna.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an unpowered passive device.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said apparatus provides a high degree of immunity from damage to interconnected devices from high power electromagnetic pulses (EMP).

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a component of a device selected from the group consisting of a non-intrusive field sensor that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a radio frequency receiver front-end that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a high-altitude nuclear electromagnetic pulse immune field probe, and a remote radio frequency sensor.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric resonance antenna; and

an electro-optic resonator;

said dielectric resonance antenna comprising a first segment and a second segment bonded to said first segment;

said first segment of said dielectric resonance antenna having a cavity;

said resonator positioned in said cavity;

said resonator having a sidewall spaced apart from said dielectric resonance antenna by an air gap.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15:

wherein said resonator comprises a microdisk resonator; and

wherein said microdisk resonator comprises a crystal material selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and lithium tantalite (LiTiO₃).

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said microdisk resonator has a curved sidewall, a radius of approximately 1 mm, and a thickness of approximately 200 micron.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 15:

wherein said resonator comprises a Fabry-Perot resonator; and

wherein said Fabry-Perot resonator comprises a crystal material selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and lithium tantalite (LiTiO₃).

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein reverse poling is used to break symmetry of said resonator.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a prism optically coupled to said resonator;

an input fiber optically coupled to said prism; and

an output fiber optically coupled to said prism.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said prism, said input fiber and said output fiber are integrated with the said dielectric resonance antenna.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said apparatus is an unpowered passive device.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said apparatus provides a high degree of immunity from damage to interconnected devices from high power electromagnetic pulses (EMP).

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said apparatus is a component of a device selected from the group consisting of a non-intrusive field sensor that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a radio frequency receiver front-end that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a high-altitude nuclear electromagnetic pulse immune field probe, and a remote radio frequency sensor.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric resonance antenna; and

an electro-optic crystal resonator;

said dielectric resonance antenna comprising a first segment and a second segment bonded to said first segment;

said first segment of said dielectric resonance antenna having a cavity;

said resonator positioned in said cavity;

said resonator having a sidewall spaced apart from said dielectric resonance antenna by an air gap.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said resonator comprises a microdisk resonator.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said microdisk resonator has a curved sidewall, a radius of approximately 1 mm, and a thickness of approximately 200 micron.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said resonator comprises a Fabry-Perot resonator.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said resonator comprises a crystal material selected from the group consisting of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and lithium tantalite (LiTiO₃).

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein reverse poling is used to break symmetry of said resonator.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

a prism optically coupled to said resonator;

an input fiber optically coupled to said prism; and

an output fiber optically coupled to said prism;

wherein said resonator, said prism, said input fiber, and said output fiber are integrated with said dielectric resonance antenna.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said apparatus is an unpowered passive device.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said apparatus provides a high degree of immunity from damage to interconnected devices from high power electromagnetic pulses (EMP).

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said apparatus is a component of a device selected from the group consisting of a non-intrusive field sensor that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a radio frequency receiver front-end that does not require a metal antenna, metal interconnects, or metal electrodes, a high-altitude nuclear electromagnetic pulse immune field probe, and a remote radio frequency sensor.