Wavelength controlled optical true time delay generator
US5461687A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S372/70
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wavelength controlled optical true time delay generator (14) utilizes passive switching to direct an optical beam to different length paths depending on the input wavelength. In one embodiment a dispersive element (20) is used to reflect the input beam at different angles depending on the incident wavelength. Different optical paths are then provided for the light reflected at different angles. In another embodiment, an optical fiber (50) is provided with reflective gratings (52), each of which are reflective at different wavelengths. The gratings (52) are positioned at different lengths along the optical fiber (50) to provide for different path lengths of light reflected by the gratings and back down the optical fiber (50) to an optical output (38). The true time delay generator (14) provides for a true time delay of any length in a low loss switching mechanism which is relatively inexpensive and compact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.