Optical interconnects for phase array antennas

Optical interconnects offer several performance advantages for advanced phased-array antennas. New phased-array architecture designs are possible because of the use of photonic technology, which allows the antenna system to be partitioned differently. Functions that can be provided by the optical interconnect include: transmit/receive switch setting, polarization selection, A/D output bus, phase and amplitude control, local oscillator signal distribution, and beam forming or shaping. Some of these functions require digital transmission links, and some require analog microwave links. For the most part the digital links can be implemented using present fiber optic technology. For analog links the insertion loss and signal-to-noise-ratio performance still need to be improved. Nevertheless, fiber optic delay lines have been demonstrated as wideband true time delay microwave phase shifters for antenna beam steering.<>