Fourier Optical Processing Beamforming Network Using Optical Waveguide Arrays and Lens for Transmission and Reception

Tomohiro AKIYAMA  Keizo INAGAKI  Yoshihiko MIZUGUCHI  Takashi OHIRA  

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Communications   Vol.E84-B    No.9    pp.2413-2420
Publication Date: 2001/09/01
Online ISSN: 
DOI: 
Print ISSN: 0916-8516
Type of Manuscript: Special Section PAPER (Special Issue on Innovation in Antennas and Propagation for Expanding Radio Systems)
Category: Millimeter-Wave Antennas
Keyword: 
optically controlled array antenna,  optical signal processing,  phased array antenna,  optical waveguide,  beamforming network,  

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Summary: 
An optically controlled beamforming technique is a very effect procedure for phased array antenna control. We have built a Fourier optical processing beamforming network. In the optical processor, we use optical waveguide arrays and a GRIN micro lens in order to reduce the size and weight of the processor, optical coupling losses, mechanical destabilization, and optical alignment difficulties. This paper describes the characteristics of a one-dimensional Fourier optical processor, and shows the configurations of both its transmitting and receiving modes, which we have constructed. We demonstrate multiple signal generation, and beam steering for transmission in the X-band. Furthermore, we configure the beamformer for reception using the phase information of local signals form the optical processor. We additionally demonstrate the beam steering of the received X-band RF signal. Experimental results confirm the feasibility of the Fourier optical processing beamforming network.