50 GB/S PAM4 bi-directional plastic waveguide link having carrier synchronization using PI-based Costas loop

An RF communication system comprising:

• an RF transmitter configured to up-convert a transmission signal to a carrier frequency and transmit the transmission signal;
• an RF receiver configured to down-convert a received signal received on the carrier frequency and receive the received signal;
• a bi-directional plastic waveguide device configured to provide a channel for transmission of the transmission signal and a channel for reception of the received signal;
• and
• a microstrip-to-waveguide transition (MWT) configured to transfer a signal between the RF transmitter or the RF receiver and the bi-directional plastic waveguide device,
• wherein the RF receiver comprises:
• a phase detector configured to detect a phase of the down-converted received signal using a clock signal;
• and
• a phase synchronization device configured to adjust a phase of the clock signal based on the detected phase,
• wherein the bi-directional plastic waveguide device further comprises a first plastic waveguide unit and a second plastic waveguide unit each comprising a plastic waveguide and metal cladding that surrounds the plastic waveguide,
• wherein the MWT comprises:
• a first MWT unit for transferring the transmission signal from the RF transmitter to the first plastic waveguide unit;
• and
• a second MWT unit for transferring the received signal from the second plastic waveguide unit to the RF receiver, and
• wherein the bi-directional plastic waveguide device comprises a metal shield disposed between the first and second plastic waveguide units.