Optically controlled phase shifter and phased array antenna for use therewith

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first phased array including a first bus waveguide and a first plurality of phase shifters, each of said first plurality of phase shifters i) being connected to said first bus waveguide with a proximal rib wave guide and ii) including,
• a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a and including:
• a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide;
• a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b and including:
• a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide;
• and
• a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c and including:
• a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide,
• wherein a, b and c are each .ltoreq.1.

A method, comprising:

• providing a proximal rib waveguide;
• providing a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including:
• a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a, where a.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide;
• a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b, where b.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide;
• and
• a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c, where c.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide;
• applying an electromagnetic signal to said proximal rib waveguide;
• applying a first infrared signal to said first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a first optical fiber;
• applying a second infrared signal to said second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a second optical fiber;
• and
• applying a third infrared signal to said third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a third optical fiber.

A method, comprising:

• providing a proximal rib waveguide;
• providing a phase shifter connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said phase shifter including:
• a first plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said first plasma induced modulator having a first transmission coefficient a, where a.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a first branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said first branch waveguide;
• a second plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said second plasma induced modulator having a second transmission coefficient b, where b.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a second branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said second branch waveguide;
• and
• a third plasma induced modulator connected to said proximal rib waveguide, said third plasma induced modulator having a third transmission coefficient c, where c.ltoreq.1, and including:
• a third branch waveguide connected to said proximal rib waveguide;
• and
• a third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector connected to said third branch waveguide;
• collecting an electromagnetic signal from said proximal rib waveguide;
• applying a first infrared signal to said first photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a first optical fiber;
• applying a second infrared signal to said second photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a second optical fiber;
• and
• applying a third infrared signal to said third photosensitive semiconductive plasma injector through a third optical fiber.