The Boeing Company
Microwave photonics enabled beam-forming and channelization

Abstract:

A receiver and a transmitter are disclosed that are applicable to space, air or ground RF communication systems and are applicable to systems where one or more signals of multiple types and characteristics are present in any given beam such as a communication spot beam on a high-throughput satellite. The transmitter can include an optical frequency comb configured to generate a multitude of equidistantly spaced optical wavelengths; an electro-optic modulator that receives the multitude of equidistantly spaced optical wavelengths and a data signal and produce a modulated optical beam; an optical circulator that receives the modulated optical beam; an optical switch that switches the modulated optical beam to an output port of the optical switch terminated in one or more Fiber-Bragg gratings; a wavelength division multiplexer that receives individual wavelengths of the modulated optical beam that are time-delayed from the optical circulator; and a plurality of antenna elements.