Patent · US Expired

Movable optical fiber system for directing microwaves

US4954834A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
1References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 5, 1988
Grant dateSep 4, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 5, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01Q3/267
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A movable optical fiber system for directing test and calibration signals to the individual transmit-receive modules of a phased array antenna is provided with a laser device for generating optic signals. The laser device also includes a circuit for amplitude modulating the optic signals prior to their exiting the laser device. A fixed length of fiber-optic cable is connected with the laser device for directing the generated optic signals to a photodiode secured for movement to a motion device positioned adjacent the antenna face. The photodiode converts the optic signals to equivalent microwave signals, and the microwave signals are thereafter passed through a waveguide connected with the photodiode. Both the photodiode and waveguide are moved in a preselected linear path across the antenna face by the motion device; and, as the motion device operates to move the photodiode and waveguide, microwave test and calibration signals are discharged from the waveguide to be received by the individual transmit-receive modules in succession.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.