Patent · US Expired

Photonic field probe and calibration means thereof

US6215295A · kind A · utility

123Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 1998
Grant dateApr 10, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R1/06772
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A photonic radio-frequency (RF) field probe for detecting and measuring RF fields incorporates a probe head, a fiber cable and a photodetector/power-laser unit. An antenna drives a small, fiber-coupled laser, biased by a fiber-coupled optical power converter through series resistors, together with electrical connections and supporting apparatus. Methods of calibration include use of a reference oscillator in the probe head, use of the relationship between optical power sent to the optical power converter and resulting photodetector signal, and measurement of signal-fiber attenuation from light reflected by the laser in the probe head. Other probe embodiments utilize a reflective multiple quantum well modulator and embodiments which measure all three directional components of the RF field.

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