Optical interposer for array antennas

A method for feeding a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• receiving at a photonic substrate at least one transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC) signal;
• communicating the TMOC signal to an array level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) disposed on the photonic substrate;
• using the ALPIC to extract a plurality of transmit element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from the TMOC;
• using a plurality of optical waveguides to optically distribute the plurality of transmit ELOC signals from the ALPIC to a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate;
• using photodetectors respectively provided at each of the plurality of conversion locations to convert each of the transmit ELOC signals to a transmit element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal;
• and
• coupling the transmit ELMRF from each photodetector respectively to one of the plurality of antenna elements disposed on an RF substrate disposed adjacent to the photonic substrate, and formed of a different substrate material as compared to the photonic substrate.

An optical interposer for a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• a photonic substrate on which is disposed:
• an optical interface configured to facilitate an optical communication link with a remote optical signal source through an optical fiber;
• an array level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) which is optically coupled to the optical interface, the ALPIC configured to extract a plurality of transmit element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from a transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC) signal received at the optical interface;
• a plurality of photodetectors disposed at a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate;
• a plurality of element-level optical waveguides configured to optically distribute the plurality of transmit ELOC signals from the ALPIC to the plurality of photodetectors;
• the plurality of photodetectors configured to convert each of the transmit ELOC signals to a transmit element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal, and a plurality of RF couplings are provided to communicate the transmit ELMRF signals respectively from the plurality of photodetectors to the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• wherein the optical interface is configured to receive at least one antenna control signal communicated through the optical fiber from the remote optical signal source, and one or more optical control elements responsive to the antenna control signal are configured to perform in the optical domain at least one antenna beam control operation comprising a selective variation in at least one of a phase and an amplitude in at least one of the plurality of transmit ELMRF signals.

An optical interposer for a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• a photonic substrate on which is disposed:
• an optical interface configured to facilitate an optical communication link with a remote optical signal source;
• an array level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) which is optically coupled to the optical interface, the ALPIC configured to extract a plurality of transmit element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from a transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC) signal received at the optical interface;
• a plurality of photodetectors disposed at a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate;
• a plurality of element-level optical waveguides configured to optically distribute the plurality of transmit ELOC signals from the ALPIC to the plurality of photodetectors;
• the plurality of photodetectors configured to convert each of the transmit ELOC signals to a transmit element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal, and a plurality of RF couplings are provided to communicate the transmit ELMRF signals respectively from the plurality of photodetectors to the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• wherein the plurality of antenna elements are provided on an RF substrate disposed adjacent to the photonic substrate, and formed of a different substrate material as compared to the photonic substrate.

An optical interposer for a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• a photonic substrate on which is disposed:
• an optical interface configured to facilitate an optical communication link with a remote optical signal source;
• an array level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) which is optically coupled to the optical interface, the ALPIC configured to extract a plurality of transmit element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from a transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC) signal received at the optical interface;
• a plurality of photodetectors disposed at a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate;
• a plurality of element-level optical waveguides configured to optically distribute the plurality of transmit ELOC signals from the ALPIC to the plurality of photodetectors;
• the plurality of photodetectors configured to convert each of the transmit ELOC signals to a transmit element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal, and a plurality of RF couplings are provided to communicate the transmit ELMRF signals respectively from the plurality of photodetectors to the plurality of antenna elements;
• and
• wherein the plurality of element-level optical waveguides extend through a thickness of the optical substrate, from the ALPIC disposed proximate to a first major surface of the photonic substrate, to the conversion locations disposed proximate to a second major surface of the photonic substrate and opposed from the first major surface.

An optical interposer for a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• a photonic substrate on which is disposed:
• a plurality of optical modulators disposed at a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate, each optical modulator configured to convert a receive element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal to a receive element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signal;
• a plurality of RF couplings provided to communicate the receive ELMRF signals respectively from a plurality of antenna elements to the plurality of optical modulators;
• a plurality of element-level optical waveguides respectively configured to optically communicate the plurality of receive element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from the plurality of optical modulators to an array-level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC), the ALPIC configured to perform at least one optical processing operation on the plurality of receive ELOC signals;
• an optical combiner configured to combine the plurality of receive ELOC signals to form a receive modulated optical carrier (RMOC) signal;
• and
• an optical interface configured to communicate the RMOC signal to a remote optical signal receiver through an optical fiber;
• wherein the optical interface is configured to receive at least one antenna control signal communicated through the optical fiber from a remote antenna control unit, and one or more optical control elements on the photonic substrate are responsive to the antenna control signal, the optical control elements configured to perform in the optical domain at least one antenna beam control operation responsive to the at least one antenna control signal, and wherein the at least one antenna beam control operation comprises a selective variation in at least one of a phase and an amplitude of at least one of the plurality of receive ELMRF signals.

A method for beamforming with an array antenna comprised of a plurality of antenna elements, comprising:

• coupling a receive element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal from each of a plurality of antenna elements to each of a plurality of optical modulators respectively disposed at a plurality of conversion locations on a photonic substrate;
• using the plurality of optical modulators to respectively convert each of the receive ELMRF signals to a corresponding receive element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signal;
• using a plurality of optical waveguides disposed on the photonic substrate to optically communicate the plurality of receive ELOC signals from the plurality of optical modulators to an array-level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) disposed on the photonic substrate;
• using the ALPIC to perform one or more optical processing operations involving the plurality of receive ELOC signals;
• performing at least one antenna beam control operation in the optical domain to selectively cause a variation in at least one of a phase and an amplitude in at least one of the plurality of receive ELMRF signals;
• and
• communicating at least one antenna control signal for specifying the antenna beam control operation from a remote location to a local control element on the photonic substrate using a common optical fiber through which the TMOC signal is also communicated.

A method for feeding a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• receiving at a photonic substrate at least one transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC) signal;
• communicating the TMOC signal to an array level photonic integrated circuit (ALPIC) disposed on the photonic substrate;
• using the ALPIC to extract a plurality of transmit element-level optical carrier (ELOC) signals from the TMOC;
• using a plurality of optical waveguides to optically distribute the plurality of transmit ELOC signals from the ALPIC to a plurality of conversion locations distributed on the photonic substrate;
• using photodetectors respectively provided at each of the plurality of conversion locations to convert each of the transmit ELOC signals to a transmit element-level modulated radio frequency (ELMRF) signal;
• coupling the transmit ELMRF signal from each photodetector respectively to one of the plurality of antenna elements;
• performing at least one antenna control operation to selectively cause a variation in at least one of a phase and an amplitude in at least one of the plurality of transmit ELMRF signals;
• and
• communicating at least one antenna control signal for specifying the antenna beam control operation from a remote location to a local control element using a common optical fiber through which the TMOC signal is also communicated.