Beam forming system

Abstract

The invention provides a beam forming system which can be applied to the fields of wireless communication systems, automatic driving, artificial intelligence and the like. And small-scale, low-power-consumption and fast-response two-dimensional beam forming can be realized. The system comprises a first optical diffraction module and an array of second optical diffraction modules, the first optical diffraction module comprising at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, each second optical diffraction module in the array of second optical diffraction modules comprising one input port and a plurality of output ports. The first optical diffraction module is used for receiving at least one path of first signal light and generating multiple paths of second signal light with different phases based on the at least one path of first signal light. Each second optical diffraction module is used for receiving one path of second signal light in the multiple paths of second signal light and generating multiple paths of third signal light with different phases based on one path of second signal light, and the multiple paths of third signal light are used for generating multiple paths of first radio frequency signals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of optical communication technology, and more specifically, to a beamforming system. Background Art

[0002] Beamforming technology uses many miniature millimeter-level antenna sensors to form a rectangular array. Through human interference, the parameters of the basic antenna units in the array and the different transmission times of the signals of each antenna sensor are adjusted to form a concentrated, directional, and more powerful electromagnetic beam transmission, so that the signal obtained by the receiver can achieve the best effect. It has become one of the important technologies for wireless communication. As the wireless frequency band gradually develops towards the high-frequency band, the limited transmission distance of radio waves and the expansion of signal capacity have led to a sharp increase in the number of antennas. The beamforming scheme based on the traditional molecular array design has high power consumption and a limited number of antennas allocated to each subarray, so it is difficult to obtain high-quality beams. At present, full connection has become an effective means to save the number of antennas and improve beam quality. Among them, since electrical full connection is basically impossible to achieve, optical full connection has become a research hotspot. At present, in the optical full connection scheme, there are generally disadvantages such as excessive loss, large scale of system devices, and inability to achieve two-dimensional beamforming.

[0003] Therefore, how to achieve two-dimensional beamforming with small device scale and low system power consumption is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a beamforming system that can realize on-chip integrated two-dimensional beamforming, and has the advantages of small device scale, low system power consumption, and fast response speed.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a beamforming system. The system includes a first optical diffraction module and a second optical diffraction module array, wherein the first optical diffraction module includes at least one input port and multiple output ports, and each second optical diffraction module in the second optical diffraction module array includes an input port and multiple output ports, wherein: the first optical diffraction module is used to receive at least one first signal light, and generate multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the at least one first signal light; each second optical diffraction module is used to receive one second signal light in the multiple second signal lights, and generate multiple third signal lights with different phases based on the one second signal light, and the multiple third signal lights are used to generate multiple first radio frequency signals.

[0006] Based on the solution of the present application, by cascading two-stage optical diffraction modules, the phase of the input signal in two directions can be changed, thereby realizing two-dimensional beamforming. In addition, when the optical diffraction module provided by the present application is integrated on a chip, the miniaturization of the two-dimensional beamforming system can be realized.

[0007] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first optical diffraction module includes a first optical switch and a first optical diffraction device, the second optical diffraction module array includes a second optical switch array and a second optical diffraction device array, each of the second optical diffraction modules includes a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device, the multiple output ports of the first optical switch correspond one-to-one to the multiple input ports of the first optical diffraction device, the multiple output ports of the first optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of multiple second optical switches in the second optical switch array, and the multiple output ports of each second optical switch correspond one-to-one to the multiple input ports of the corresponding second optical diffraction device. Wherein: the first optical switch is used to receive the at least one first signal light and output the at least one first signal light to at least one input port of the first optical diffraction device; the first optical diffraction device generates the multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the at least one first signal light received by at least one input port, and outputs the multiple second signal lights to the input ports of multiple second optical switches of multiple second diffraction modules; each of the second optical switches is used to receive the second signal light and output the second signal light to the multiple input ports of the corresponding second optical diffraction device; each of the second optical diffraction devices generates multiple third signal lights with different phases based on the multiple second signal lights received by the multiple input ports.

[0008] It should be noted that, in the present application, the optical diffraction device may be a Rotman lens or a Blass lens, etc. The optical diffraction device in the present application includes at least one input port and multiple output ports, and is used to generate multiple output lights according to at least one input light. Exemplarily, if the optical diffraction device has one input port, the optical diffraction device can generate multiple output lights with different phases using the input light inputted from the one input port, and output them from multiple output ports respectively. If the optical diffraction device has multiple input ports, the optical diffraction device can generate multiple output lights with different phases using the multiple input lights inputted from the multiple input ports, and output them from multiple output ports respectively.

[0009] Based on the above solution provided by the present application, two-dimensional beamforming is realized by cascading an optical switch and an optical diffraction device. Among them, the optical switch can realize fast switching of the path, so that the system scanning speed reaches the ns level, improves the response speed of the system, and reduces the system power consumption. At the same time, compared with the prior art in which each wavelength corresponds to a different modulator and phase shift unit, the use of a single optical diffraction device can meet the phase shift of multi-channel multi-beam, thereby achieving the purpose of greatly reducing the scale of system devices.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes a first mixer array. Each mixer in the first mixer array generates a first mixing signal light based on a third signal light from a corresponding second optical diffraction device and a local oscillator light, and the first mixing signal light is used to generate the first radio frequency signal.

[0011] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the mixing scheme of the mixer, and homodyne mixing or heterodyne mixing can be selected for the system according to the usage scenario and application requirements of the system.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the multiple output ports of each second optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of multiple first mixers in the first mixer array, and each first mixer is specifically used to: receive the third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device, and mix the third signal light with the local oscillator light to generate the first mixed signal light.

[0013] In the embodiment of the present application, the output of the first mixer can be directly connected to the input port of the second optical diffraction device, so as to receive a third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device and perform a mixing operation.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first optical switch is a wavelength selective switch, and the second optical switch array is a wavelength selective switch array.

[0015] It should be noted that, in the present application, when the first optical switch receives multiple first signal lights, if the wavelengths of the multiple first signal lights are the same, then the first optical switch and the second optical switch may be optical switches without a wavelength selection function, or may be wavelength selection switches with a wavelength selection function, and the first optical switch and the second optical switch may be optical switches of different types, for example, the first optical switch is an optical switch without a wavelength selection function, and the second optical switch is a wavelength selection switch. If the wavelengths of the multiple first signal lights are different, the first optical switch and the second optical switch are wavelength selection switches.

[0016] Based on the above solution, when the input of the system is a plurality of first signal lights with different wavelengths, the wavelength selective switch can be used to make the plurality of wavelength signal lights share the first optical diffraction device, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the scale of system devices.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes: a wavelength division multiplexer array, the wavelength division multiplexer array being located between the second optical diffraction device array and the first mixer array, the multiple output ports of each second optical diffraction device corresponding one-to-one to the input ports of the multiple wavelength division multiplexers in the wavelength division multiplexer array, the multiple output ports of each wavelength division multiplexer in the wavelength division multiplexer array corresponding one-to-one to the input ports of the multiple second mixers in the first mixer array, each wavelength division multiplexer being used to receive the third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device, and demultiplex the third signal light into multiple fourth signal lights with different wavelengths; each second mixer is specifically used to receive the fourth signal light from the corresponding wavelength division multiplexer, and mix the fourth signal light with the local oscillator light to generate the first mixed signal light.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present application, when the input of the system is a plurality of first signal lights of different wavelengths, a wavelength division multiplexer can be arranged between the mixer and the optical diffraction device, and the signal lights of different wavelengths can be separated by the wavelength division multiplexer, so that the signal lights of different wavelengths are input into the corresponding mixer for mixing, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the system when the input is a plurality of signal lights of different wavelengths.

[0019] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the system also includes: a first photodetector array, wherein the input port of each first photodetector in the first photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to the output ports of the multiple second mixers, and each first photodetector is used to receive the multiple first mixing signal lights output by the multiple second mixers through the space-division optical fiber, and convert the multiple first mixing signal lights into multiple first electrical signals; or, each first photodetector is a segmented photodetector, used to receive the multiple first mixing signal lights output by the multiple second mixers, and convert the multiple first mixing signal lights into multiple first electrical signals.

[0020] It is understandable that in the present application, the space-divided optical fiber can be a multi-core optical fiber, a few-mode optical fiber, a multi-core few-mode optical fiber, etc., and the present application does not limit it. Through the space-divided optical fiber or the segmented photoelectric detector, each wavelength after each mixing can be input to the corresponding detector respectively, ensuring the normal operation of the system.

[0021] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes: a first wavelength division multiplexer array, wherein an input port of each first wavelength division multiplexer in the first wavelength division multiplexer array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of the plurality of second mixers, and each first wavelength division multiplexer is configured to receive a plurality of first mixing signal lights from the corresponding plurality of second mixers, and generate a first wavelength division multiplexed signal light based on the plurality of first mixing signal lights.

[0022] Based on the above solution, by introducing a wavelength division multiplexer after the second mixer, the transmission capacity and efficiency of the optical fiber can be greatly improved, and the use cost of the optical fiber can be reduced.

[0023] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the system also includes: a second photodetector array, the input port of each second photodetector in the second photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to the output port of each first wavelength division multiplexer, and each second photodetector is used to receive the first wavelength division multiplexing signal light from the corresponding first wavelength division multiplexer, and convert the first wavelength division multiplexing signal light into a second electrical signal.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first optical diffraction module is used to receive a first signal light, and the system further includes: a third optical diffraction module and a fourth optical diffraction module array, the third optical diffraction module includes at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, and each fourth optical diffraction module in the fourth optical diffraction module array includes an input port and a plurality of output ports, wherein:

[0025] The third optical diffraction module is used to receive one path of fifth signal light, and generate multiple paths of sixth signal light with different phases based on the one path of fifth signal light;

[0026] Each of the fourth optical diffraction modules is used to receive one of the multiple sixth signal lights, and generate multiple seventh signal lights with different phases based on the one sixth signal light, and the multiple seventh signal lights are used to generate multiple second radio frequency signals.

[0027] It should be noted that when the first optical switch is a single-input multi-output optical switch, the two-dimensional shaping of a single beam can be expanded to a two-dimensional shaping of a dual beam by introducing a third optical diffraction module and a fourth optical diffraction module array into the system. It is understandable that, based on this solution, the two-dimensional shaping of a single beam can be expanded to any number of multi-beam shaping (i.e., not limited to dual beams) according to the application scenario and application requirements of the system, thereby increasing the flexibility of the beamforming system provided by the present application and improving its applicability. That is, based on the above solution, the present application can not only be used for single-beam shaping, but can also be expanded to multi-beam shaping, ensuring its application in multi-beam shaping scenarios.

[0028] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the third optical diffraction module includes a third optical switch and a third optical diffraction device, the fourth optical diffraction module array includes a fourth optical switch array and a fourth optical diffraction device array, each of the fourth optical diffraction modules includes a fourth optical switch and a fourth optical diffraction device, the multiple output ports of the third optical switch correspond one-to-one to the multiple input ports of the third optical diffraction device, the multiple output ports of the third optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of multiple fourth optical switches in the fourth optical switch array, and the multiple output ports of each fourth optical switch correspond one-to-one to the multiple input ports of the corresponding fourth optical diffraction device. Wherein: the third optical switch is used to receive the fifth signal light and output the fifth signal light to at least one input port of the third optical diffraction device; the third optical diffraction device generates the multiple sixth signal lights with different phases based on the at least one fifth signal light received by at least one input port, and outputs the multiple sixth signal lights to the input ports of multiple fourth optical switches of the fourth diffraction modules; each of the fourth optical switches is used to receive the sixth signal light and output the sixth signal light to the corresponding multiple input ports of the third optical diffraction device; each of the fourth optical diffraction devices generates multiple seventh signal lights with different phases based on the multiple sixth signal lights received by multiple input ports.

[0029] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes a second mixer array, and the multiple output ports of each fourth optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of multiple mixers in the second mixer array. Each mixer in the second mixer array receives one of the seventh signal lights from the corresponding fourth optical diffraction device, and mixes the one of the seventh signal lights with the local oscillator light to generate one of the second mixed signal lights, and the one of the second mixed signal lights is used to generate one of the second radio frequency signals.

[0030] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes: a third photodetector array, wherein an input port of each third photodetector in the third photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the first mixer array, and at the same time, an input port of each third photodetector corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the second mixer array. Each third photodetector is used to receive one channel of the first mixing signal light and one channel of the second mixing signal light through a space-division optical fiber, and convert the one channel of the first mixing signal light into one channel of a third electrical signal, and convert the one channel of the second mixing signal light into one channel of a fourth electrical signal; or each third photodetector is a segmented photodetector, used to receive one channel of the first mixing signal light and one channel of the second mixing signal light, and convert the one channel of the first mixing signal light into one channel of a third electrical signal, and convert the one channel of the second mixing signal light into one channel of a fourth electrical signal.

[0031] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes a second wavelength division multiplexer array, an input port of each second wavelength division multiplexer in the second wavelength division multiplexer array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the first mixer array, and at the same time, an input port of each second wavelength division multiplexer corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the second mixer array. Each second wavelength division multiplexer is configured to receive one channel of the first mixing signal light and one channel of the second mixing signal light, and convert the one channel of the first mixing signal light and the one channel of the second mixing signal light to generate one channel of the second wavelength division multiplexed signal light.

[0032] Based on the above solution, the transmission capacity and efficiency of the optical fiber can also be greatly improved and the use cost of the optical fiber can be reduced by using the second wavelength division multiplexer.

[0033] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the system further includes a fourth photodetector array, wherein input ports of a plurality of photodetectors in the fourth photodetector array correspond one-to-one to output ports of a plurality of second wavelength division multiplexers in the second wavelength division multiplexer array. Each of the fourth photodetectors is configured to receive the one-way second wavelength division multiplexed signal light from the corresponding second wavelength division multiplexer, and to convert the one-way second wavelength division multiplexed signal light into a fifth electrical signal.

[0034] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first optical diffraction device includes a first Rotman lens, and the second optical diffraction device array includes a second Rotman lens array. It can be understood that when the system also has at least one third optical diffraction device and at least one fourth optical diffraction device array, the third optical diffraction device and the at least one fourth optical diffraction device array may include a third Rotman lens and a fourth Rotman lens array.

[0035] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a wireless communication base station, which includes: an active antenna unit (AAU), wherein the AAU includes the beamforming system provided in the above-mentioned first aspect and any one of the implementations of the first aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 The schematic structure diagram of a beamforming device with integrated optical waveguide.

[0037] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a beamforming device based on an optical frequency comb light source and a wavelength division multiplexing architecture.

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming system 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0039] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming system 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a first signal light generating device 500 suitable for an embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of another first signal light generating device 600 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a radio frequency signal generating device 700 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0043] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0044] Fig. 9 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 900 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0045] Fig.10 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0046] Fig.11 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of several space-division optical fibers applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] Fig.12 It is a schematic structural diagram of a segmented detector suitable for an embodiment of the present application.

[0048] Fig.13 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 1300 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] Fig.14 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 1400 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0050] Fig.15 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 1500 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] Fig.16 A schematic diagram of the structure of a base station provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The technical solution in this application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0053] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following explanation is made.

[0054] First, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. and various numerical numbers in the text descriptions or drawings of the embodiments of the present application shown below are only used for the convenience of description, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence, and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, they are used to distinguish different optical switches, different Rotman lenses, or different mixers.

[0055] Second, the term "comprising" and any variations in the embodiments of the present application shown below are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0056] Third, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions, and the embodiments or designs described as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. The use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a specific way for easy understanding.

[0057] For ease of understanding, the technical terms involved in this application are first briefly explained and illustrated.

[0058] 1. Beamforming

[0059] Also known as beamforming and spatial filtering, it is a signal processing technology that uses a sensor array to send and receive signals in a directional manner. Beamforming technology adjusts the parameters of the basic units of the phase array so that signals at certain angles obtain constructive interference, while signals at other angles obtain destructive interference. Beamforming can be used both at the signal transmitter and at the signal receiver. At the transmitter, the beamformer controls the phase and signal amplitude of each transmitting device to obtain the required constructive and destructive interference patterns in the transmitted signal wave array. At the receiver, the signals received by different receivers are combined in an appropriate way to obtain the expected signal radiation pattern.

[0060] 2. Rotman lens

[0061] A commonly used multi-beam forming network, which uses the optical path difference from the beam port to each unit on the antenna array to determine the beam direction. It is a true time delay (TTD) beamformer. In theory, the beam direction is independent of the operating frequency. When the frequency changes, the beam direction remains unchanged, and a wider frequency band can be achieved. It has the advantages of stable multi-beam pointing, easy to achieve wide-angle coverage, and simple structure.

[0062] Rotman lenses can be used in microwave and millimeter wave beamforming networks and multi-beam antenna feed systems. The substrate-integrated waveguide multi-beam antenna formed by them can be used in microwave and millimeter wave multi-beam systems and smart antennas, which can bring advantages such as improving communication channel quality, reducing transmission power and bit error rate, and reducing multipath interference. The address of this article must be retained when reprinting: https: / / baike.86580.cn / article / 115437.html

[0063] 3. Optical switch

[0064] An optical device with one or more optional transmission ports, which is used to physically switch or logically operate the optical signals in the optical transmission line or integrated optical circuit. It is an optical path controller that plays the role of converting the optical path.

[0065] 4. Mixing scheme

[0066] In the mixing scheme of the present application, the mixing scheme can be divided into a homodyne scheme or a heterodyne scheme according to whether the local oscillator frequency is unequal or equal to the signal light frequency. In the homodyne scheme, the optical signal is converted into an intermediate frequency signal after photoelectric conversion, and a secondary demodulation is required to be converted into a baseband signal. In the heterodyne scheme, the optical signal is directly converted into a baseband signal after photoelectric conversion without secondary demodulation, but it requires that the local oscillator frequency is strictly matched with the signal light frequency, and that the local oscillator light and the signal light are phase-locked.

[0067] 5. Active Antenna Processing Unit (AAU)

[0068] In the 5G communication system, the remote radio unit (RRU) in 4G and the original passive antenna are integrated into an AAU, which simplifies site deployment, reduces feeder complexity, reduces transmission loss, and improves network performance.

[0069] The beamforming system provided in the present application can be applied to the AAU in the network equipment of the wireless communication system. In addition, it can also be applied to phased array radar, satellite navigation positioning, laser surgery, autonomous driving, image imaging and geographic detection, artificial intelligence and other fields and industries.

[0070] In wireless communication networks, beamforming technology has become a very critical technology used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and transmission distance of link signals. With the development of 5G+ and future 6G technologies, wireless frequency bands are gradually moving towards high-frequency bands. In order to effectively save the number of antennas and improve beam quality, the current solution is a full-connection solution, in which full connection is divided into electrical full connection and optical full connection. Since electrical full connection has large crosstalk when the circuits cross, and the system is large in scale, it is difficult to implement. Compared with electrical full connection, optical full connection can effectively utilize the characteristics of light polarization, wavelength, and mode multiplexing to achieve the expansion of traffic channels, becoming a hot topic of research.

[0071] Among the current optical full-connection solutions, one is to use a tunable laser as the light source, write multiple Bragg gratings with different central wavelengths on the waveguide optical delay line, and place the Bragg gratings with the same central wavelength at different positions in adjacent waveguide optical delay lines. By selecting the output wavelength of the laser, the transmission delay of the optical signal is controlled to achieve the effect of beamforming the microwave signal. This process is as follows: Figure 1 However, since this solution uses different wavelengths corresponding to different delay combinations to achieve beamforming, it is impossible to achieve simultaneous operation of multiple beams, and only one beam can be emitted, and a single chip cannot achieve full connectivity. Another solution is Figure 2As shown, the laser emits a frequency comb laser with equally spaced wavelengths, and one or more wavelengths are divided into branches through a distribution unit, wherein each wavelength is downloaded to a modulator and a phase shift unit device in a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) device to complete the modulation and phase shift of the signal, and then input to the detector end, and output a radio frequency signal of the corresponding frequency through heterodyne detection, and finally sent out through an antenna unit. However, this scheme introduces the radio frequency source generated by the optical frequency comb into the design of the beamforming scheme, resulting in an increase in the number of modulators used and a high system complexity. In addition, there is also a beamforming scheme based on the Blass matrix, which uses the structure of an optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer network to adjust the phase relationship of each path, and then uses a coherent detection scheme to move the optical phase to the radio frequency signal to achieve the phase change of the radio frequency signal, thereby achieving the purpose of beamforming. However, the change of phase in the Blass matrix is ​​achieved by heating, and the beam scanning speed is difficult to meet the product index requirements. In addition, there are a large number of heaters in the system, resulting in a large system volume.

[0072] In view of this, the present application proposes a beamforming solution, which can reduce the device scale in the beamforming system, reduce system power consumption, improve system response speed, and have good system performance.

[0073] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the beamforming system 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, the beamforming system includes a first optical diffraction module 10 and a second optical diffraction module array 20. The first optical diffraction module 10 has at least one input port and multiple output ports, and the second optical diffraction module array 20 includes multiple second optical diffraction modules, each of which has one input port and multiple output ports. Specifically, the first optical diffraction module 10 is used to receive at least one first signal light, and generate multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the at least one first signal light. Each second optical diffraction module in the second optical diffraction module array 20 is used to receive one second signal light among the multiple second signal lights output by the first optical diffraction module 10, and generate multiple third signal lights with different phases based on the received second signal light, wherein the multiple third signal lights are used to generate multiple first radio frequency signals. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the first optical diffraction module 10 has M input ports and K output ports, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and K is an integer greater than 1. The second optical diffraction module array 20 includes K second optical diffraction modules, and each second optical diffraction module has 1 input port and T output ports, where T is an integer greater than 1.

[0074] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the first optical diffraction module 10 can generate multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the incident light, and therefore, the first optical diffraction module 10 is used to realize beamforming of the incident light in the first direction. At the same time, each second diffraction module in the second optical diffraction module array 20 continues to generate multiple third signal lights with different phases based on one second signal light emitted by the first optical diffraction module 10, thereby realizing beamforming of the incident light in the second direction.

[0075] It should also be noted that when the first optical diffraction module 10 receives multiple first signal lights, the wavelengths of the multiple first signal lights may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this. That is, the beamforming system provided by this application can be used for two-dimensional beamforming of multiple incident signal lights of the same wavelength, and can also be used for two-dimensional beamforming of multiple incident signal lights of different wavelengths. In addition, this application does not limit the frequency or signal format of the signal carried on the multiple first signal lights, that is, the frequency or format of the multiple first signal lights may be the same, or partially the same, or completely different.

[0076] It can be understood that the number of second optical diffraction modules in the second optical diffraction module array 20 is at least the same as the number of output ports of the first optical diffraction module, that is, the number of second optical diffraction modules in the second optical diffraction module array 20 is not less than the number of output ports of the first optical diffraction module, so that the multi-path second signal light emitted from the first optical diffraction module 10 can be received by the corresponding multiple second optical diffraction modules.

[0077] It should be noted that, in the present application, the first optical diffraction module and the second optical diffraction module can be integrated into two chips respectively, or can be integrated into the same chip together to achieve two-dimensional beamforming through on-chip cascading.

[0078] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a beamforming system 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the beamforming system 400 includes a first optical switch 421, a first optical diffraction device 422, a second optical switch array 423, and a second optical diffraction device array 424. The first optical switch 421 and the first optical diffraction device 422 constitute Figure 3The first optical diffraction module 10 shown. The second optical switch array 423 and the second optical diffraction device array 424 constitute the second optical diffraction module array 20, and each second optical diffraction module is composed of a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device. Among them, the first optical switch 421 has M input ports and N output ports, and at the same time, the N output ports of the first optical switch 421 correspond to the N input ports of the first optical diffraction device 422 one by one, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The K output ports of the first optical diffraction device 422 correspond to the input ports of the K second optical switches in the second optical switch array 423 one by one, and at the same time, the P output ports of each of the K second optical switches correspond to the input ports of the K second optical diffraction devices in the second optical diffraction device array 424 one by one, wherein K is an integer greater than 1, and P is an integer greater than 1.

[0079] Specifically, the first optical switch 421 is used to receive at least one first signal light, and output the at least one first signal light to at least one input port of the N input ports of the first optical diffraction device 422. The first optical diffraction device 422 is used to change the phase of the at least one first signal light, and then input K second signal lights with different phases to the K second optical switches. Each of the K second optical switches outputs the received second signal light to the P input ports of the corresponding second optical diffraction device. Each of the K second optical diffraction devices changes the phase of the received P second signal lights, and then outputs T third signal lights, which are used to generate T radio frequency signals.

[0080] In an achievable manner, T radio frequency signals are generated by T mixers. In this case, the system 400 further includes a mixer array 425, and the T output ports of each of the K second optical diffraction devices correspond one to one with the input ports of the T mixers in the mixer array 425, where T is an integer greater than 1. Specifically, after each of the K second optical diffraction devices generates T third signal lights, it outputs T third signal lights with different phases to the corresponding T mixers. Each of the K*T mixers mixes the received third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device with the local oscillator light, and outputs a mixed signal. At this time, the K*T mixers generate K*T mixed signals, which are used to generate K*T radio frequency signals, thereby realizing the scanning of K*T two-dimensional scanning beams.

[0081] Specifically, the first optical switch 421 controls one or all of the N output ports according to the requirement of the number of beam scanning angles in the first direction, that is, the first optical switch 421 inputs at least one first signal light into at least one input port of the first optical diffraction device 422 according to the requirement. Subsequently, the first optical diffraction device 422 generates a plurality of second signal lights with different phases, the same number as the output ports of the first optical diffraction device 422, according to at least one port to which the first signal light is input, that is, the first optical diffraction device 422 generates K second signal lights with different phase differences, and outputs the K second signal lights to the K second optical switches in the second optical switch array 423, respectively. Subsequently, the K second optical switches respectively control at least one output port among the P output ports according to the requirement of the number of beam scanning angles in the second direction, and input the at least one second signal light into at least one input port of the corresponding second optical diffraction device. After each of the K second optical diffraction devices receives at least one second signal light from the corresponding second optical switch, it generates T third signal lights with different phases according to at least one port of the second signal light input, and inputs the T third signal lights with different phases into T mixers. Subsequently, the K*T mixers mix the received third signal lights with different phases with the local oscillator light to generate K*T mixed signal lights. The K*T mixed signals are used to generate K*T two-dimensional scanning beams that can scan in both the vertical and horizontal directions at the same time.

[0082] It should be noted that the number of input signals of the optical diffraction device determines the angle and number of beam scans in one dimension. This is because different input ports of the optical diffraction device can correspond to different phases of the output signal, and the combination of different input ports can correspond to different phase combinations of the output signal light. Exemplarily, when the same input signal light is input from different input ports of the optical diffraction device, the phase of the signal light output from all output ports of the optical diffraction device changes each time due to the change of the input port. When multiple input signal lights are input from multiple different input ports of the optical diffraction device, the phase of the signal light output from all output ports of the optical diffraction device each time also differs. Therefore, the input port of the signal light input into the optical diffraction device in the system each time can be controlled according to the number and angle requirements of the final scanning beam. Since there are two-stage optical diffraction devices (for example Figure 4 The first optical diffraction device 422 and the second optical diffraction device array 424 are arranged in the optical diffraction device array, thereby controlling the input of each level of the lens to achieve two-dimensional shaping of the transmitted beam.

[0083] Optionally, the first optical switch 421 is a single-input single-output optical switch, or a single-input multi-output optical switch, or a multi-input multi-output optical switch, which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, when the first optical switch 421 is a single-input single-output optical switch or a single-input multi-output optical switch, the scheme is a shaping scheme for a single beam (as shown below): Fig. 9 . The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 ). At this time, the first optical switch 421 receives a first signal light, and selects an output port for the first signal light according to the angle of the scanning beam in a one-dimensional direction as required, so that the first signal light enters an input port of the first optical diffraction device along the output port, thereby realizing the configuration of the scanning beam in the one-dimensional direction. Subsequently, a second optical diffraction device is used to realize the angle of the scanning beam in another one-dimensional direction, thereby completing the beamforming effect in the two-dimensional direction. Similarly, when the first optical switch 421 is a single-input multi-output optical switch or a multi-input multi-output optical switch, the multiple output ports of the first optical switch 421 determine the multiple input ports of the first optical diffraction device, and the multiple input ports of the first optical diffraction device determine the configuration of the scanning beam in a one-dimensional direction. At the same time, the multiple input ports of the second optical diffraction device determine the configuration of the scanning beam in another one-dimensional direction.

[0084] It is understandable that if the first optical switch 421 is a single-input optical switch (including single-input single-output and single-input multiple-output), in order to implement a multi-beam shaping scheme, multiple Figure 4 The structure shown makes the input wavelength of each single beam system the same (as shown below Fig.10 In the embodiment shown, the M first signal lights come from the same laser, or from lasers of the same wavelength) or different (as shown below Fig.13 In the embodiment shown, the M paths of first signal lights come from M lasers of different wavelengths), thereby expanding the single-multiple-beam shaping scheme to a multi-beam shaping scheme.

[0085] Alternatively, if the first optical switch 421 is a multi-input multi-output optical switch, the first optical switch 421 can input up to M first signal lights. When the wavelengths of the M first signal lights are the same, the M first signal lights can be split from the same laser beam through a power splitter (or a beam splitter, a beam splitter, etc.) (as shown below): Figure 8As shown in the embodiment), and then modulated by M modulators to generate M first signal lights. Among them, the modulation frequencies of the M modulators can be the same or different, that is, the M light beams of the same wavelength can be loaded with the same RF signal or different RF signals. When the loaded RF signals are different, the frequencies of the M RF signals can be different, or the formats of the M RF signals can be different, which is not limited in this application. Alternatively, when the wavelengths of the M first signal lights are different, M light beams can be generated by M lasers that emit different wavelengths, and then modulated by M modulators to generate M first signal lights (as shown below Fig.14 and Fig.15 The modulation frequencies of the M modulators may be the same or different, that is, the M light beams of the same wavelength may be loaded with the same radio frequency signal or different radio frequency signals.

[0086] Optionally, the first optical switch 421 and the second optical switch array 423 are optical switches without a wavelength selection function. In this case, the wavelength of at least one first signal light received by the first optical switch 421 is the same. At the same time, the wavelengths of the N second signal lights output by the first optical diffraction device 422 are the same, that is, the wavelength of one second signal light received by each second optical switch is the same, so that the wavelength of the third signal light received by each second optical diffraction device is the same as the wavelength of at least one first signal light.

[0087] Alternatively, the first optical switch 421 and the second optical switch array 423 are wavelength selection switches (WSS). In this case, the wavelengths of the multiple signals received by the first optical switch 421 are different. At the same time, each of the N second signal lights output by the first optical diffraction device 422 includes all wavelengths, that is, one second signal light received by each second optical switch includes all wavelengths, so that the input of each second optical diffraction device includes all wavelengths.

[0088] Optionally, when the wavelengths of the plurality of first signal lights input by the first optical switch 421 are different, Figure 4 The system shown may also include a wavelength division multiplexer array (as shown below). Fig.14In the embodiment shown in the figure, the wavelength division multiplexer array is located between the second optical diffraction device array 424 and the mixer array 425, wherein the multiple output ports of each second optical diffraction device correspond to the input ports of the multiple wavelength division multiplexers in the wavelength division multiplexer array 426, and the multiple output ports of each wavelength division multiplexer are connected to the input ports of the multiple mixers, and each wavelength division multiplexer is used to demultiplex each path of the third signal light into multiple paths of the fourth signal light with different wavelengths, that is, before entering each mixer, each path of the third signal light output by the second Rotman first passes through the wavelength division multiplexer to obtain the signal light corresponding to the different wavelengths, and then is input into the corresponding mixer to be mixed with the local oscillator light.

[0089] when Figure 4 When the system shown includes a wavelength division multiplexer array, the system may also include a wavelength division multiplexer array (as shown below). Fig.15 In the embodiment shown in the figure, one input port of each wavelength division multiplexer in the wavelength division multiplexer array is connected to the output ports of multiple mixers, and each wavelength division multiplexer is used to generate one wavelength division multiplexed signal light from the multiple mixed signal lights output by the multiple mixers, and the generated one wavelength division multiplexed signal light is used to generate one radio frequency signal.

[0090] Optionally, in the solution of the present application, the mixing mode of each mixer in the mixer array 425 is a homodyne scheme or a heterodyne scheme. The homodyne scheme means that the wavelength of the local oscillator light input to the mixer is the same as the wavelength of the signal light received by the mixer from the corresponding second optical diffraction device. At this time, the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the beam emitted by the system is the same as the frequency of the radio frequency signal carried on at least one first signal light input to the first optical switch 421. Since the frequency of the radio frequency signal carried on at least one first signal light input to the first optical switch 421 is determined by the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the modulator that generates the at least one first signal light, under the homodyne scheme, the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the beam emitted by the system is consistent with the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the modulator. Exemplarily, the local oscillator light under the homodyne scheme can be separated from the output light of the laser that generates the first signal light by a spectrometer. The heterodyne scheme means that the wavelength of the local oscillator light input into the mixer is different from the wavelength of the signal light received by the mixer from the corresponding second optical diffraction device. At this time, the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the beam emitted by the system is related to the frequency of the radio frequency signal of the modulator that generates the first signal light, the laser that generates the first signal light, and the frequency difference between the generated local oscillator signal light. Exemplarily, the local oscillator light under the heterodyne scheme can be generated by reintroducing a new light source that generates heterodyne local oscillator light. It can be understood that when the wavelength of the heterodyne local oscillator light in the heterodyne scheme is the same as the wavelength of the laser that generates at least one first signal, it can be understood as a zero-difference scheme.

[0091] Based on the above scheme, the purpose of two-dimensional beamforming is achieved in the scheme of the present application through the scheme of two-layer optical switches and lens cascade. Since the optical switch is used to switch the path in the scheme of the present application, the switching rate of the system is improved. In addition, the scheme of the present application uses a single optical diffraction device to meet the phase shift of multi-channel multi-beam, thereby greatly reducing the device scale of the system.

[0092] When the wavelengths of at least one first signal light received by the first optical switch 421 are the same, illustratively, Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a first signal light generating device 500 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Specifically, Figure 5 As shown, the first signal light generating device 500 includes a laser 510, a 1:M power splitter 520, and M modulators 530. The laser 510 is used to generate a laser beam and output the laser beam to the 1:M power splitter 520. The 1:M power splitter 520 divides the received laser into M paths of laser beams and outputs them to the M modulators respectively. The M modulators modulate the received path of laser beams and output them to Figure 4 The input port of the first optical switch 421 is shown.

[0093] It should be noted that the M modulators can modulate the received light beams by electro-optical modulation, acousto-optical modulation, magneto-optical modulation, etc., which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, when the M modulators adopt electro-optical modulation, the voltage of the radio frequency (RF) signal is loaded on the modulator to change certain physical properties of the modulator. When the laser passes through it, certain parameters of the light wave are modulated, thereby generating a light wave carrying a radio frequency signal, that is, generating signal light. In addition, the frequencies of the electrical signals loaded on the light waves by the M modulators can be the same or different, and the formats of the electrical signals can be the same or different, which is not limited in this application.

[0094] It should be noted that, when the first signal light generating device 500 is used to generate one first signal light, the 1:M power splitter 520 may not be provided in the first signal light generating device 500 .

[0095] When the wavelengths of at least one first signal light received by the first optical switch 421 are different, illustratively, Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of another first signal light generating device 600 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the signal light generating device includes M lasers 610 (i.e. Figure 6 Laser #1 to Laser #M in the embodiment and M modulators 620 (i.e. Figure 6Each of the M lasers 610 is used to generate a laser beam and output the laser beam to the corresponding modulator. The M modulators modulate the received laser beams and output them to Figure 4 The input port of the first optical switch 421 is shown.

[0096] Similarly, the M modulators can modulate the received light beam by electro-optical modulation, acousto-optical modulation, magneto-optical modulation, etc., which is not limited in the present application. The frequencies of the electrical signals loaded on the light waves by the M modulators can be the same or different, and the formats of the electrical signals can be the same or different, which is not limited in the present application.

[0097] It should be noted that when the signal light generating device 600 is used to generate one first signal light, the signal device 600 has only one laser and one modulator.

[0098] It can be understood that the first signal light generating device 600 can also be used to generate M first signal lights with the same wavelength. In this case, M lasers 610 are used to generate M first signal lights with the same wavelength.

[0099] In addition, the first signal light generating device in the beamforming system provided in the present application is not limited to the above Figure 5 or Figure 6 in the form of Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is only an exemplary embodiment of a device for generating the first signal light in the beamforming system provided in the present application. The device for generating the first signal light in the beamforming system provided in the present application may also be in other forms, which will not be enumerated in the present application.

[0100] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a radio frequency signal generating device 700 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. The radio frequency signal generating device 700 includes a photodetector array 710, a radio frequency amplifier array 720 and an antenna array 730. The beam generating device 700 is used to Figure 4In the beamforming system shown, the input ports of K*T photodetectors in the photodetector array 730 are connected to the output ports of K*T mixers, the output ports of K*T photodetectors are connected to the input ports of K*T RF amplifiers in the RF amplifier array 720, and the output ports of K*T RF amplifiers are connected to the K*T antenna units in the antenna array 730. Specifically, after each mixer outputs the generated mixing signal to the corresponding photodetector, each photodetector converts the received mixing signal into an electrical signal and outputs the converted electrical signal to the corresponding RF amplifier. Subsequently, each RF amplifier amplifies the received electrical signal and outputs the amplified electrical signal to the corresponding antenna unit. After receiving the electrical signal, the antenna unit radiates the electrical signal outward.

[0101] It should be noted that Figure 7 This is only an exemplary embodiment of a radio frequency signal generating device applicable to the beamforming system provided in the present application. The beamforming device applicable to the present application is not limited to Figure 7 In other embodiments, the beam generating device may also include other structures, such as filters, etc., which are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0102] It should also be noted that in the present application, the optical diffraction device may be a Rotman lens or a Blass lens, etc., which is not limited in the present application. Figures 8 to 10 and Figures 13 to 15 In the embodiments of various beamforming systems provided in the present application, the optical diffraction device is described in detail as a Rotman lens. Figures 8 to 10 and Figures 13 to 15 In the embodiments of various beamforming systems provided by the present application, the mixing operation is implemented by a mixer.

[0103] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application (including Figure 8 (a) Figure 8 (b) and Figure 8 (c)). It should be noted that the beamforming system 800 is applicable to a scenario where the wavelengths of the incident lights are the same and the first signal lights incident on the first optical switch 840 are multiple. That is, in the beamforming system 800, the wavelengths of the multiple first signal lights received by the first optical switch 840 are the same. Figure 8As shown, the beamforming system 800 is sequentially arranged along the transmission direction of the signal light with a laser 810, a 1:M power splitter 820, a modulator array 830, a first optical switch 840 with M input and N output, a first Rotman lens 850 with N input and K output, a second optical switch array 860 with 1 input and P output, a second Rotman lens array 870 with P input and T output, and a mixer array 880. Wherein, M is an integer greater than 1, N is an integer greater than 1, K is an integer greater than 1, P is an integer greater than 1, and T is an integer greater than 1. Specifically, the laser 810 generates one path of incident light and emits it to the 1:M power splitter 820. After receiving the incident light, the 1:M power splitter 820 splits one path of incident light into M paths of incident light with the same power, and respectively inputs them into the M modulators of the modulator array 830. The M modulators respectively change the radio frequency or signal format of the received incident light to complete the spatial shaping of the M incident lights, thereby modulating to generate M first signal lights, and outputting them to the M input ports of the first optical switch 840. After receiving the M first signal lights, the first optical switch 840 outputs the M first signal lights to the M input ports of the first Rotman lens 850. The first Rotman lens 850 changes the phase of the M first signal lights to generate K second signal lights with different phases, and outputs them to the K second optical switches of the second optical switch array 860. Each second optical switch of the K second optical switches outputs P second signal lights using one second signal light, and at the same time, each second optical switch of the K second optical switches respectively generates P second signal lights, and outputs the generated P second signal lights to the K second Rotman lenses in the second Rotman lens array 870. Each of the K second Rotman lenses changes the phase of the received P second signal lights and outputs T third signal lights to the T mixers in the mixer array 880. The K*T mixers in the mixer array 880 respectively mix the third signal light with the local oscillator light to generate a mixed signal light. It can be understood that the mixed signal generated by each mixer can be obtained by the above Figure 7 The radio frequency signal generating device shown converts it into an electrical signal, thereby completing two-dimensional beamforming.

[0104] It is understandable that each mixer may use a homodyne scheme or a heterodyne scheme to mix the received third signal light with the local oscillator light, which is not limited in the present application. For example, when each mixer uses a homodyne scheme to mix the third signal light with the local oscillator light, in some embodiments, the homodyne local oscillator light may be a low-power incident light separated from the incident light emitted by the laser 810 by a beam splitter (not shown in the figure), such as Figure 8Or in some other embodiments, the homodyne local oscillator light can also be realized by using the laser 811 to generate a heterodyne local oscillator light with the same wavelength as the incident light. In this case, the system also includes a heterodyne laser 811, and the laser 811 is used to generate a homodyne local oscillator light with the same wavelength as the laser 810, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 In some other embodiments, when each mixer uses a heterodyne scheme to mix the third signal light with the local oscillator light, the system further includes a laser 812, and the heterodyne local oscillator light is generated by the laser 812, such as Figure 8 As shown in (c) in .

[0105] Fig. 9 FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 900 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 9 As shown, the beamforming system 900 is sequentially arranged along the transmission direction of the signal light with a laser 910, a modulator 930, a first optical switch 940 with 1 input and N output, a first Rotman lens 950 with N input and K output, a second optical switch array 960 with 1 input and P output, a second Rotman lens array 970 with P input and T output, and a mixer array 980. Wherein, N is an integer greater than 1, K is an integer greater than 1, P is an integer greater than 1, and T is an integer greater than 1.

[0106] It is understandable that Figure 8 Compared with the system shown in FIG. 1 , the beamforming system 900 is suitable for a single-beam two-dimensional scanning scenario. That is, in the beamforming system 900, the first optical switch 940 receives a first signal light. For the sake of simplicity, the specific functions of each component can be referred to in the above Figure 8 The functions of each component in the system, and other related descriptions of the system can also refer to the above Figure 8 , I will not go into details here.

[0107] In addition, the system 900 can also adopt a homodyne solution or a heterodyne solution. Fig. 9 This is just an example of a homodyne solution. When a heterodyne solution is used, the system also includes a heterodyne laser for generating heterodyne local oscillator light. For details, please refer to the above Figure 8 The relevant parts of are not repeated here.

[0108] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the structure of the beamforming system 1000 provided in the embodiment of the present application. Fig. 9 Compared with the system 900 shown in FIG. 1 , the beamforming system 1000 is suitable for a two-dimensional scanning scenario of multiple beams. It can be understood that Fig.10 The system 1000 shown can be viewed as Fig. 9The multi-beam system is generated when the system 900 is expanded to M beams. Therefore, the specific role of each component, the mixing scheme ( Fig.10 Only the homodyne mixing scheme is shown, and the heterodyne mixing scheme is not shown) and other related instructions can also refer to the above Figure 8 or Fig. 9 , I will not go into details here.

[0109] From the above description, it can be seen that the mixed signal emitted by the mixer needs to be input to Figure 7 In the RF signal generating device shown in FIG. 1 , when the beamforming system adopts Fig.10 In the system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 , the mixed signals emitted by the M groups of K*T mixers need to be input into the detector for photoelectric conversion to generate electrical signals. In order to reduce the device scale of the system, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, M groups of K*T mixers can share K*T detectors. In some embodiments, Fig.11 The several types of space-division optical fibers shown receive M mixed signal lights output by M mixers and convert the M mixed signal lights into M electrical signals. Fig.11 middle, Fig.11 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-core optical fiber. Fig.11 (b) is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a few-mode fiber. Fig.11 (c) is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a multi-core few-mode optical fiber. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the K*T detectors are segmented photoelectric detectors for receiving M mixed signal lights output by M mixers and converting the M mixed signal lights into M electrical signals, such as Fig.12 Alternatively, in some other embodiments, a wavelength division multiplexer array 1310 consisting of K*T wavelength division multiplexers may be arranged in the system, and the mixed signal light emitted by M groups of K*T mixers is first generated into a wavelength division multiplexed signal light, and then the mixed signal light is converted into an electrical signal through a detector. In this case, the system is as follows: Fig.13 shown.

[0110] It should be noted that Fig.10 The beamforming system 1000 shown can be used in scenarios where the wavelengths of the M-channel first signal lights are the same, or can be used in scenarios where the wavelengths of the M-channel first signal lights are different. When the wavelengths of the M-channel first signal lights are different, the M-channel third signals received by each detector through the space-divided optical fiber or the segmented detector are M-channel third signals with different wavelengths.

[0111] Fig.13 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a beamforming system 1300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. It can be understood that the system 1300 is Fig.10A wavelength division multiplexer array 1310 is introduced on the basis of the system 1000 shown. Specifically, the input port of each wavelength division multiplexer in the wavelength division multiplexer array 1310 corresponds one-to-one to the output ports of the M mixers, and the output port of each wavelength division multiplexer corresponds one-to-one to an input port of the K*T detectors, so as to generate one wavelength division multiplexed signal light from the M mixed signal lights with different wavelengths output by the M mixers, and transmit the same to a corresponding detector.

[0112] It is understandable that in the system 1300, the mixing scheme can still adopt a homodyne scheme or a heterodyne scheme. Fig.13 The homodyne scheme is shown in FIG. 1 . For related descriptions, reference can be made to the above embodiments (such as Figure 8 Embodiment), no further details are given here.

[0113] Fig.14 Schematic diagram of the structure of the beamforming system 1400 provided in the embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that the beamforming system 1400 is applicable to scenarios where multiple incident light wavelengths are different. That is, in the beamforming system 1400, the wavelengths of the multiple first signal lights received by the first WSS 1440 are different. Fig.14 As shown, the beamforming system 1400 is sequentially arranged along the transmission direction of the signal light with a laser array 1410, a modulator array 1430, a first WSS 1440 with M input and N output, a first Rotman lens 1450 with N input and K output, a second WSS array 1460 with 1 input and P output, a second Rotman lens array 1470 with P input and T output, a wavelength division multiplexer array 1420, and a mixer array 1480. Wherein, M is an integer greater than 1, N is an integer greater than 1, K is an integer greater than 1, P is an integer greater than 1, and T is an integer greater than 1. The laser array 1410 includes M lasers, which correspond to the M modulators in the modulator array 1430 respectively. The first WSS 1440 can select different output ports (i.e., different input ports of the first Rotman lens 1450) for first signal lights of different wavelengths according to the wavelength of the received incident light. Each second WSS in the 1-input P-output second WSS array 1460 can select a corresponding output port for the second signal light according to the wavelength of the received second signal light. The wavelength division multiplexer array 1420 includes K*T wavelength division multiplexers, and the input port of each wavelength division multiplexer is respectively used to receive one of the K*T third signal lights emitted by the K*T second Rotmans. The mixer array 1480 includes M groups of mixers, and each group of mixers includes K*T mixers. Each group of mixers is used to receive the fourth signal light of the same wavelength output from the K*T wavelength division multiplexers, that is, the M output ports of each wavelength division multiplexer correspond to the input port of one mixer in the M groups of mixers. Exemplarily, for Fig.14For the wavelength division multiplexer #1 in the example, the wavelength division multiplexer #1 includes M output ports, each of which is used to output a fourth signal light of a wavelength. Therefore, the wavelength division multiplexer #1 can output fourth signal lights of λ1-λM, and output the fourth signal lights of λ1-λM to the mixer #1 of each group in the M groups of mixers, respectively.

[0114] It is understandable that each mixer may use a homodyne scheme or a heterodyne scheme to mix the received fourth signal light with the local oscillator light, and this application does not limit this. Exemplarily, when each mixer uses a homodyne scheme to mix the fourth signal light with the local oscillator light, the homodyne local oscillator light may be a low-power incident light separated from the incident light emitted by each laser in the laser array 1410 by a beam splitter, or may be achieved by using a heterodyne laser to generate a heterodyne local oscillator light of the same wavelength as the incident light. When each mixer uses a heterodyne scheme to mix the fourth signal light with the local oscillator light, the system also includes a heterodyne laser array 1411. Among them, the heterodyne laser array 1411 includes M heterodyne lasers (such as Fig.14 In the example of heterodyne laser #1 and heterodyne laser #M, when each group of mixers adopts a heterodyne scheme for mixing, a heterodyne local oscillator light can be obtained from a corresponding heterodyne laser. Exemplarily, for mixer group #1, when a heterodyne scheme is adopted, heterodyne laser #1 generates a heterodyne local oscillator light, and the heterodyne local oscillator light is input into K*T mixers in mixer group #1, so that the K*T mixers in mixer group #1 generate K*T mixing signals.

[0115] It is also understandable that the mixed signals output by the M groups of mixers can also be obtained by Fig.11 At least one of the spatial division optical fibers shown is input into a photodetector to complete the conversion of optical signals into electrical signals. Alternatively, K*T segmented photodetectors can be used in the system to complete the conversion of mixed optical signals into electrical signals. Alternatively, a wavelength division multiplexer array 1510 (such as K*T wavelength division multiplexers) consisting of K*T wavelength division multiplexers can be arranged in the system. Fig.15 As shown), the mixing signal of λ1-λM is first generated into a wavelength division multiplexing signal, and then input into the detector ( Fig.15 Not shown, please refer to Fig.13 ). For example, in Fig.15 In the embodiment, the wavelength division multiplexer array 1510 includes M wavelength division multiplexers, each wavelength division multiplexer has M input ports, and each port is used to receive a mixing signal from each of the M groups of mixers. Exemplarily, for wavelength division multiplexer #1, its M input ports can correspond to mixer #1 in each of the M groups of mixers, and receive mixing signals of λ1-λM from the M mixers #1.

[0116] In addition, the functions of the laser array 1410, the modulator array 1430, the N-input K-output first Rotman lens 1450, and the P-input T-output second Rotman lens array 1470 in the system 1400 can correspond to the above-mentioned other embodiments, for example, Figure 8 The relevant descriptions in the system 800 shown are not repeated here.

[0117] Fig.16 A communication device 1600 is provided for an embodiment of the present application, and the device 1600 may be a base station or a chip. The AAU of the device 1600 includes the above-mentioned beamforming system.

[0118] When the communication device 1600 is a base station, Fig.16 A simplified schematic diagram of the structure of a base station is shown. The base station includes a part 1610 and a part 1620. The part 1610 includes an antenna and a radio frequency circuit, the antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, and the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting radio frequency signals into baseband signals. The part 1620 includes a memory and a processor, which are mainly used for baseband processing, controlling network equipment, etc. The part 1610 can generally be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc. The part 1620 is generally the control center of the network equipment, which can generally be referred to as a processing unit, and is used to control the network equipment to perform the processing operations on the network equipment side in the above method embodiment.

[0119] Optionally, the device for implementing the receiving function in part 1610 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device for implementing the sending function may be regarded as a sending unit, that is, part 1610 includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. The receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc., and the sending unit may be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0120] When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the RF circuit. The RF circuit performs RF processing on the baseband signal and then sends the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to a network device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0121] Part 1620 may include one or more boards, each of which may include one or more processors and one or more memories. Fig.16Only one memory and processor are shown. The processor is used to read and execute the program in the memory to realize the baseband processing function and the control of the network device. If there are multiple boards, each board can be interconnected to enhance the processing capability. As an optional implementation, multiple boards can also share one or more processors, or multiple boards can share one or more memories.

[0122] It should be understood that Fig.16 This is only an example and not a limitation. The base station including the transceiver unit and the processing unit may not rely on Fig.16 The structure shown.

[0123] When the communication device 1600 is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit, wherein the transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; and the processing unit may be a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

[0124] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes the base station in the above embodiment. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0125] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0126] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0127] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0128] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A beamforming system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a first optical diffraction module and a second optical diffraction module array, wherein the first optical diffraction module comprises at least one input port and a plurality of output ports, and each second optical diffraction module in the second optical diffraction module array comprises an input port and a plurality of output ports, wherein: The first optical diffraction module is used to receive at least one first signal light and generate multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the at least one first signal light; Each of the second optical diffraction modules is used to receive one of the multiple second signal lights, and generate multiple third signal lights with different phases based on the one second signal light, and the multiple third signal lights are used to generate multiple first radio frequency signals.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The first optical diffraction module includes a first optical switch and a first optical diffraction device, the second optical diffraction module array includes a second optical switch array and a second optical diffraction device array, each of the second optical diffraction modules includes a second optical switch and a second optical diffraction device, a plurality of output ports of the first optical switch correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of the first optical diffraction device, a plurality of output ports of the first optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of second optical switches in the second optical switch array, a plurality of output ports of each second optical switch correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of the corresponding second optical diffraction device, wherein: The first optical switch is used to receive the at least one first signal light and output the at least one first signal light to at least one input port of the first optical diffraction device; The first optical diffraction device generates the multiple second signal lights with different phases based on the at least one first signal light received by at least one input port, and outputs the multiple second signal lights to the input ports of the multiple second optical switches of the multiple second diffraction modules; Each of the second optical switches is used to receive the one-way second signal light and output the one-way second signal light to a plurality of input ports of the corresponding second optical diffraction device; Each of the second optical diffraction devices generates multiple paths of third signal lights with different phases based on the multiple paths of second signal lights received by the multiple input ports.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that The system also includes a first mixer array, Each mixer in the first mixer array generates a first mixing signal light based on a third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device and the local oscillator light, and the first mixing signal light is used to generate the first radio frequency signal.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The multiple output ports of each second optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of multiple first mixers in the first mixer array, and each of the first mixers is specifically used for: The third signal light is received from the corresponding second optical diffraction device, and the third signal light is mixed with the local oscillator light to generate the first mixed signal light.

5. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The first optical switch is a wavelength selective switch, and the second optical switch array is a wavelength selective switch array.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The system further comprises: a wave division multiplexer array, wherein the wave division multiplexer array is located between the second optical diffraction device array and the first mixer array, wherein a plurality of output ports of each second optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to input ports of a plurality of wave division multiplexers in the wave division multiplexer array, and a plurality of output ports of each wave division multiplexer in the wave division multiplexer array correspond one-to-one to input ports of a plurality of second mixers in the first mixer array, Each wavelength division multiplexer is used to receive the third signal light from the corresponding second optical diffraction device, and demultiplex the third signal light into multiple fourth signal lights with different wavelengths; Each of the second mixers is specifically configured to: The fourth signal light is received from the corresponding wavelength division multiplexer, and the fourth signal light is mixed with the local oscillator light to generate the first mixed signal light.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The system further comprises: a first photodetector array, wherein an input port of each first photodetector in the first photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of the plurality of second mixers, Each of the first photoelectric detectors is used to receive the multiple first mixing signal lights output by the multiple second mixers through the space division optical fiber, and convert the multiple first mixing signal lights into multiple first electrical signals; or, Each of the first photodetectors is a segmented photodetector, which is used to receive the multiple first mixing signal lights output by the multiple second mixers and convert the multiple first mixing signal lights into multiple first electrical signals.

8. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The system further comprises: a first wavelength division multiplexer array, wherein an input port of each first wavelength division multiplexer in the first wavelength division multiplexer array corresponds one-to-one to output ports of the plurality of second mixers, Each of the first wavelength division multiplexers is used to receive multiple channels of the first frequency mixing signal lights from the corresponding multiple second frequency mixers, and generate one channel of the first wavelength division multiplexed signal light based on the multiple channels of the first frequency mixing signal lights.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that The system further comprises: a second photodetector array, wherein an input port of each second photodetector in the second photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of each first wavelength division multiplexer, Each of the second photodetectors is used to receive the first wavelength division multiplexing signal light from the corresponding first wavelength division multiplexer, and convert the first wavelength division multiplexing signal light into a second electrical signal.

10. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The first optical diffraction module is used to receive a first signal light, and the system further includes: a third optical diffraction module and a fourth optical diffraction module array, the third optical diffraction module includes at least one input port and multiple output ports, and each fourth optical diffraction module in the fourth optical diffraction module array includes an input port and multiple output ports, wherein: The third optical diffraction module is used to receive one path of fifth signal light, and generate multiple paths of sixth signal light with different phases based on the one path of fifth signal light; Each of the fourth optical diffraction modules is used to receive one of the multiple sixth signal lights, and generate multiple seventh signal lights with different phases based on the one sixth signal light, and the multiple seventh signal lights are used to generate multiple second radio frequency signals.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that The third optical diffraction module includes a third optical switch and a third optical diffraction device, the fourth optical diffraction module array includes a fourth optical switch array and a fourth optical diffraction device array, each of the fourth optical diffraction modules includes a fourth optical switch and a fourth optical diffraction device, a plurality of output ports of the third optical switch correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of the third optical diffraction device, a plurality of output ports of the third optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of fourth optical switches in the fourth optical switch array, a plurality of output ports of each fourth optical switch correspond one-to-one to a plurality of input ports of the corresponding fourth optical diffraction device, wherein: The third optical switch is used to receive the fifth signal light and output the fifth signal light to at least one input port of the third optical diffraction device; The third optical diffraction device generates the multiple sixth signal lights with different phases based on the at least one fifth signal light received by at least one input port, and outputs the multiple sixth signal lights to the input ports of the multiple fourth optical switches of the multiple fourth diffraction modules; Each of the fourth optical switches is used to receive the sixth signal light and output the sixth signal light to a plurality of input ports of the corresponding third optical diffraction device; Each of the fourth optical diffraction devices generates multiple paths of seventh signal lights with different phases based on the multiple paths of sixth signal lights received by the multiple input ports.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that The system further comprises a second mixer array, wherein the plurality of output ports of each fourth optical diffraction device correspond one-to-one to the input ports of the plurality of mixers in the second mixer array, Each mixer in the second mixer array receives one of the seventh signal lights from the corresponding fourth optical diffraction device, and mixes the one of the seventh signal lights with the local oscillator light to generate one of the second mixed signal lights, and the one of the second mixed signal lights is used to generate one of the second radio frequency signals.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that The system further comprises: a third photodetector array, wherein an input port of each third photodetector in the third photodetector array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the first mixer array, and at the same time, an input port of each third photodetector corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the second mixer array, Each of the third photodetectors is used to receive one channel of the first mixing signal light and one channel of the second mixing signal light through the space division optical fiber, and convert the one channel of the first mixing signal light into one channel of the third electrical signal, and convert the one channel of the second mixing signal light into one channel of the fourth electrical signal; or, Each of the third photodetectors is a segmented photodetector, used for receiving one of the first mixing signal lights and one of the second mixing signal lights, and converting the one of the first mixing signal lights into one of the third electrical signals, and converting the one of the second mixing signal lights into one of the fourth electrical signals.

14. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that The system further comprises a second wavelength division multiplexer array, wherein an input port of each second wavelength division multiplexer in the second wavelength division multiplexer array corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the first mixer array, and at the same time, an input port of each second wavelength division multiplexer corresponds one-to-one to an output port of a mixer in the second mixer array, Each of the second wavelength division multiplexers is used to receive one of the first frequency mixing signal lights and one of the second frequency mixing signal lights, and convert the one of the first frequency mixing signal lights and the one of the second frequency mixing signal lights into one of the second wavelength division multiplexed signal lights.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that The system further comprises a fourth photodetector array, wherein input ports of a plurality of photodetectors in the fourth photodetector array correspond one-to-one to output ports of a plurality of second wavelength division multiplexers in the second wavelength division multiplexer array, Each of the fourth photodetectors is used to receive the one-way second wavelength division multiplexing signal light from the corresponding second wavelength division multiplexer, and convert the one-way second wavelength division multiplexing signal light into one-way fifth electrical signal.

16. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that The first optical diffraction device includes a first Rotman lens, and the second optical diffraction device array includes a second Rotman lens array.

17. A wireless communication base station, characterized in that: The base station comprises: an active antenna processing unit AAU, and the AAU comprises the beamforming system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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