Optically frequency generated scanned active array

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.