Radio frequency (RF) signal receiver using optical processing and associated methods

An RF-optical matched filter receiver comprising:

• an optical source providing an optical signal;
• a first optical modulator to modulate the optical signal with a received RF signal and provide a modulated optical signal;
• an optical splitter to split the modulated optical signal into split optical signals on multiple signal paths;
• a modulator array including a second optical modulator in each signal path to modulate the respective split optical signals with a reference signal and provide a twice modulated optical signal;
• an optical detector in each signal path to respectively receive the twice modulated optical signal and provide a detected signal;
• and
• a processing unit to receive the detected signals and choose a desired signal including controlling delay of the reference signal to the second optical modulator and measuring a cross-correlation between the received RF signal and the reference signal based upon detected integrated optical power for different delay settings.

A method of processing a received RF signal comprising:

• generating an optical signal;
• modulating the optical signal with the received RF signal to provide a modulated optical signal;
• modulating the modulated optical signal with a reference signal to provide a twice modulated optical signal;
• detecting the optical power of the twice modulated optical signal to provide a detected signal that is proportional to the integrated optical power;
• and
• processing the detected signal to extract a cross-correlation between the received RF signal and the reference signal including controlling delay of the reference signal, and measuring the cross-correlation between the received RF signal and the reference signal based upon integrated optical power of the detected signal for different delay settings.