A multibeam receiving array antenna by means of spatial optical signal processing

A multibeam receiving array antenna requires a beam-forming network (BFN) to separate signals according to the direction of signal arrival. When compared with conventional techniques which use a microwave BFN or the digital beam-forming array antenna, spatial optical signal processing has advantages with respect to the bandwidth, circuit complexity, size and weight. Spatial optical signal processing is a technique that uses optical spatial Fourier transform characteristics. ATR has proposed a beam shaping, beam scanning and multiple beam transmitting array antenna that uses spatial optical signal processing. In addition, we have proposed the concept of a receiving mode spatial optical signal processing array antenna. We show the configuration of our receiving mode spatial optical signal processing array antenna and also experimental results for the optical radiation patterns of a spatial optical signal processing BFN. The results for the radiation patterns are in good agreement with theoretically calculated values.