5 bit photonic time shifter for wideband arrays

Author

Loo, R.Y. ; Tangonan, Gregory L. ; Yen, H.W. ; Lee, John Jaehwan ; Jones, V.L. ; Lewis, Jessica

Author_Institution

Hughes Res. Labs., Malibu, CA

Volume

31

Issue

18

fYear

1995

fDate

8/31/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1532

Lastpage

1533

Abstract

A 5 bit photonic time shifter (switchable delay line) was developed for applications to wideband array antennas. This module was used to steer the beam on the subarray level, which required up to 10 ns delay in the true time delay beamforming network. The time shift module consists of four diode lasers and eight photodetectors in conjunction with fibre optic delay lines and a 4×8 optical coupler connected in between. The L-band module has a 38 dB loss at present. A silica waveguide-based delay line technology using monolithic-hybrid integration is under way. The miniaturised version will reduce the loss by combining a laser and detector switch array plus other OEIC components in the package

Keywords

antenna phased arrays; optical delay lines; optical fibres; 10 ns; 38 dB; 5 bit; L-band module; OEIC; SiO₂; beam steering; beamforming network; detector switch array; diode lasers; fibre optic delay lines; loss; miniaturisation; monolithic-hybrid integration; optical coupler; photodetectors; photonic time shifter; silica waveguide; subarray; switchable delay line; wideband array antennas;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electronics Letters

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0013-5194

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/el:19951098

Filename

469190