Next Generation Photonic True Time Delay Devices as Enabled by a New Electro-Optic Architecture

摘要

We present new photonic-true-time-delay (PTTD) devices, which are a key component for phased array antenna (PAA) and phased array radar (PAR) systems. These new devices, which are highly manufacturable, provide the previously unattainable combination of large time delay tunability and low insertion loss, in a form factor that enables integration of many channels in a compact package with very modest power consumption. The low size, weight, and power are especially advantageous for satellite deployment. These devices are enabled by: ⅰ) "Optical Path Reflectors" or OPRs that compresses a ＞20 foot change in optical path length, i.e., a ＞20 nsec tuning of delay, into a very compact package (only centimeters), and ⅱ) electro-optic angle actuators that can be used to voltage tune or voltage select the optical time delay. We have designed and built OPRs that demonstrated: large time delay tunability (＞30 nsecs), high RF bandwidth (＞40 GHz and likely much higher), high resolution (＜200 psec), and low and constant insertion loss (＜ 1 dB and varying by ＜ 0.5 dB). We also completed a full design and manufacturing run of improved EO angle actuators that met the PTTD scanner requirements. Finally, a complete optical model of these integrated devices will be presented, specifically; the design for a multi-channel (400 channels) PTTD device will be discussed. The applicability and/or risks for space deployment will be discussed.