US 6,094,285 A · All optical RF signal channelizer

Abstract

A channelizer for signals for optically channelizing RF signals modulated onto an optical carrier by optically separating the RF signals and mapping the RF signals by way of an optically dispersive element, such as a diffraction grating. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, two stages of optical filters elements are provided in series to perform sequential channelization. Bragg reflection gratings are used for coarse filtering into predetermined bands while Fabry-Perot filters tuned to specific sub-bands of the Bragg reflection gratings are used for channelization. In alternate embodiments of the invention, a silica planar waveguide and an optical splitting device, such as a Talbot splitter, are used.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An optical signal channelizer for channelizing RF signals modulated onto an optical carrier defining a modulated RF optical signal at a plurality of frequencies, the optical signal channelizer comprising:

an optical local oscillator (LO) adapted to generate a plurality of LO optical signals at a plurality of frequencies;
an optically dispersive element disposed to receive said modulated RF signals and said plurality of LO optical signals at different wavelengths for spatially separating each of said modulated RF signals and said plurality of LO optical signals into a plurality of separate optical signals at different frequencies;
and
a detector array spaced away from said dispersive element and configured to receive said spatially separated RF and said plurality of LO optical signals and generating electrical signals as a function of the intensity of said optical signals.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

All optical RF signal channelizer

Life of this patent

All optical RF signal channelizer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10