Transmitters and receivers
AssigneesConsorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario Per Le Telecomunicazioni, Cambridge Enterprise Limited
InventorsAndrea C. Ferrari, Marco Romagnoli, Michele Midrio, Alberto Montanaro, Vito Sorianello
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Abstract
An RF transmitter comprising an optical source configured to generate a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency. The transmitter may comprise a graphene photodetector having at least two electrical contacts; a transmit antenna coupled to a first of the electrical contacts; and an electrical data signal input connected to a second of the electrical contacts. The graphene photodetector is illuminated by the optical source; it may comprise a graphene photo-thermal effect (PTE) photodetector or a bolometric photodetector. A corresponding receiver is also described.
Claims25
An RF data transmitter comprising:
- an optical source configured to generate a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency;
- a photodetector comprising a layer of graphene and having at least two electrical contacts;
- a transmit antenna coupled to a first of the electrical contacts, in particular via an electrical amplifier;
- and
- an electrical data signal input connected to a second of the electrical contacts;
- wherein the layer of graphene of the photodetector is illuminated by the optical source.
A method of transmitting data using an RF signal comprising:
- illuminating a layer of graphene of a photodetector with light comprising a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency;
- converting the light into an electrical signal at the RF carrier frequency using the graphene photodetector;
- providing an electrical signal from an output electrode of the photodetector, wherein the output electrode is electrically coupled to the layer of graphene;
- and
- modulating the operation of the photodetector by applying a modulating electrical signal comprising data for transmission to a second electrode of the photodetector.
An RF data receiver comprising:
- an optical source configured to generate a pair of optical lines separated by a frequency defining an RF frequency of operation for the receiver;
- a photodetector comprising a layer of graphene and having at least two electrical contacts;
- an electrical data signal output connected to a first of the electrical contacts;
- a receive antenna coupled to a second of the electrical contacts, in particular via an electrical amplifier;
- and
- wherein the layer of graphene of the photodetector is illuminated by the optical source.
A method receiving data carried on an RF signal comprising:
- illuminating a layer of graphene of a photodetector with light comprising a pair of optical lines separated by an RF carrier frequency;
- providing an output electrical signal from an output electrode of the photodetector, wherein the output electrode is electrically coupled to the layer of graphene;
- coupling a second electrode of the photodetector a receive antenna;
- and
- mixing an electrical signal from the receive antenna with the RF carrier frequency in the photodetector to down-convert the electrical signal from the receive antenna into the output electrical signal, wherein the output electrical signal comprises received data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.