Precise adaptive photonic RF filters realized with adaptive bragg gratings

摘要

The demand for higher data capacity and reduced levels of interference in the communications arena are driving data links toward higher carrier frequencies and wider modulation bandwidiths. Cricuitry for performing intermediate frequency processing over these more demanding ranges is needed to provide complex signal processing. We have demonstrated photonics technologies utilizing Bragg Grating Signal Processing (BGSP), which can be used to perform a variety of RF filter functions. The desirable benefits of multiple-tap adative finite impulse response (FIR) filters, infinite impulse response (IIR) filters, and equalizers are well known; however, they are usually the province of digital signal processing and demand preprocessor sample rates that require high system power consumption. BGSPs provide these functions with discrete optical taps and digital controls which only requiring bandwidths easily provided by conventional RF circuitry. This is because the actual signal processing of the large information bandwideths is performed in the optical regime, while control functions are performed at RF frequencies compatible with integrated circuit technologies. To realize the performance benefits of photonic processing, the Bragg grating reflectors must be stabilized against environmental without unduly taxing the RF control circuitry. We have implemented a orthogonally coded tap modulation technique which stabilizes the transfer function of the signal processor and enables significant adaptive IF signal processing to be obtained with very low size, weight, and power. Our demonstration of a photonic proof-of-concept architecture is a reconfigurable, multiple-tap FIR filter that is dynamically controlled to implement low-pass, high-ass, boand-pass, band-stop, and tunable filters operating over bandwidths of 3 GHz.