Electronic device with high frequency multi-mode communication capability

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to "Electronic devices with high-frequency multi-mode communication capabilities." A wireless system can include a central processor and an access point. The central processor can generate an optical signal on an optical fiber. The optical signal can include an optical local oscillator (LO) signal and one or more carriers. The central processor can modulate different combinations of transverse optical modes, orbital angular momentum, polarization, and / or carrier frequencies of the optical signal to simultaneously transmit respective wireless data streams. The orthogonality of the transverse optical modes, the orbital angular momentum, the polarization, and the carrier frequencies can allow many wireless data streams to be modulated onto the optical signal and simultaneously transmitted and propagated on the optical fiber independent of one another for transmission to one or more external devices.

Description

[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 17 / 827,120 filed on May 27, 2022 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 246,719 filed on September 21, 2021, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices having wireless circuitry. Background Art

[0003] Electronic devices may have wireless capabilities. These devices have wireless circuitry including one or more antennas. The wireless circuitry is used to communicate using radio frequency signals transmitted by the antennas.

[0004] As software applications on electronic devices become more data-intensive over time, the demand for electronic devices that support wireless communications at higher data rates has increased. However, the maximum data rate supported by electronic devices is limited by the frequency of radio frequency signals. In addition, it may be desirable for electronic devices to be able to communicate using multiple data streams and / or to communicate with multiple external devices at once. Summary of the Invention

[0005] A wireless communication system may include a central optical processor and an access point. The central optical processor may generate an optical signal on an optical fiber. The optical signal may include an optical local oscillator (LO) signal and one or more carriers offset in frequency from the optical LO signal. The central optical processor may modulate different combinations of transverse optical modes, orbital angular momentum, polarization, and / or carrier frequency of the optical signal to simultaneously transmit corresponding wireless data streams. The orthogonality of the transverse optical modes, the orbital angular momentum, the polarization, and the carrier frequency may allow multiple wireless data streams to be modulated onto the optical signal and transmitted and propagated simultaneously and independently of each other on the optical fiber for transmission to one or more external devices.

[0006] The optical signal can be provided to the access point via an optical fiber. The optical signal can illuminate a photodiode at the access point. Each photodiode can generate a wireless signal using an antenna radiating element based on a corresponding combination of the optical LO signal and the transverse optical mode, orbital angular momentum, polarization, and / or carrier frequency of the optical signal. In other words, each photodiode can transmit a wireless signal that carries a corresponding one of the wireless data streams. The wireless signal can be at a frequency determined by the difference between the frequency of the optical LO signal and the corresponding carrier frequency. For example, the wireless signal can be transmitted at a frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system. The communication system may include optical components configured to generate an optical signal having a first data stream modulated onto a first transverse mode of the optical signal and a second data stream modulated onto a second transverse mode of the optical signal, the second transverse mode being orthogonal to the first transverse mode. The communication system may include a light source configured to add an optical local oscillator (LO) signal to the optical signal. The communication system may include a first antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal based on an optical LO signal and a first transverse mode of the optical signal through the first antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a second antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a second photodiode coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode configured to transmit a second wireless signal based on an optical LO signal and a second transverse mode of the optical signal through the second antenna radiating element.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system. The communication system may include an optical fiber. The communication system may include optical components configured to generate an optical signal on the optical fiber, the optical signal having a first data stream and a second data stream modulated onto the optical signal, the first data stream being carried by a first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, and the second data stream being carried by a second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, the second orbital angular momentum being opposite to the first orbital angular momentum. The communication system may include a light source configured to generate an optical local oscillator (LO) signal in the optical signal. The communication system may include a first antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal based on the optical LO signal and the first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal through the first antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a second antenna radiating element. The communication system may include a second photodiode coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode configured to transmit a second wireless signal based on the optical LO signal and the second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal through the second antenna radiating element.

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for operating a communication system. The method may include modulating a first wireless data stream onto a first transverse mode of an optical signal at a carrier frequency. The method may include modulating a second wireless data stream onto a second transverse mode of an optical signal at a carrier frequency, the second transverse mode being orthogonal to the first transverse mode. The method may include, using one or more optical fibers, illuminating a first photodiode using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and an optical local oscillator (LO) signal, and illuminating a second photodiode using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal. The method may include, using the first photodiode, transmitting the first wireless data stream to a first device at a frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal through a first antenna radiating element. The method may include, using the second photodiode, transmitting the second wireless data stream to a second device at the frequency using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal through a second antenna radiating element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative electronic device having wireless circuitry with at least one antenna that transmits wireless signals at frequencies greater than approximately 100 GHz, according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 2 is a top view of an illustrative antenna for transmitting wireless signals at frequencies greater than approximately 100 GHz based on an optical local oscillator (LO) signal, according to some implementations.

[0012] Figure 3 For illustration according to some embodiments Figure 2 Top view of how an exemplary antenna of the type shown may convert a received wireless signal at a frequency greater than approximately 100 GHz to an intermediate frequency signal based on an optical LO signal.

[0013] Figure 4 For illustration according to some embodiments Figure 2 and Figure 3 Top view of how multiple antennas of the type shown can be stacked to cover multiple polarizations.

[0014] Figure 5 To show how Figure 4 Top view of stacked antennas of the type shown integrated into a phased antenna array for transmitting wireless signals at frequencies greater than approximately 100 GHz within corresponding signal beams.

[0015] Figure 6is a circuit diagram of an illustrative wireless circuit having an antenna that transmits wireless signals at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz and receives wireless signals at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz for conversion to an intermediate frequency and then to the optical domain, according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 7 A circuit diagram of an illustrative phased antenna array for transmitting wireless signals at frequencies greater than approximately 100 GHz within corresponding signal beams, according to some implementations.

[0017] Figure 8 A diagram illustrating how an exemplary central optical controller may provide optical signals to one or more access points transmitting multiple wireless signal streams at frequencies greater than approximately 100 GHz, according to some embodiments.

[0018] Figure 9 is a diagram of an illustrative optical fiber propagating optical signals having different transverse optical modes, according to some embodiments.

[0019] Figure 10 is a diagram of an illustrative central optical controller that generates optical signals having different transverse optical modes for simultaneously transmitting different wireless data streams over the same optical fiber, according to some embodiments.

[0020] Figure 11 is a plot of signal power as a function of frequency for an exemplary optical signal having multiple transverse optical modes for transmitting different wireless data streams, according to some embodiments.

[0021] Figure 12 is a diagram of an illustrative access point that can transmit wireless signals using optical signals having different transverse optical modes, according to some embodiments.

[0022] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating how exemplary optical signals may be provided with different orbital angular momentum for simultaneously transmitting different wireless data streams, according to some embodiments.

[0023] Figure 14 is a flow chart of example operations according to some embodiments that may involve transmitting multiple wireless data streams at frequencies greater than or equal to approximately 100 GHz using optical signals having different orthogonal characteristics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1The electronic device 10 (sometimes referred to herein as the electro-optical device 10) may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device; a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses, goggles, or other equipment worn on a user's head; or other wearable or miniature devices, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system (such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is installed in a kiosk or car), a voice-controlled speaker connected to wireless Internet, a home entertainment device, a remote control device, a game controller, a peripheral user input device, a wireless base station or access point, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices; or other electronic equipment.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown in the functional block diagram in FIG, device 10 may include components located on or within an electronic device housing, such as housing 12. Housing 12 (sometimes referred to as a casing) may be formed from plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composite materials, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), other suitable materials, or combinations of these materials. In some cases, part or all of housing 12 may be formed from a dielectric or other low-conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other cases, housing 12 or at least some of the structures comprising housing 12 may be formed from metal elements.

[0026] Device 10 may include control circuitry 14. Control circuitry 14 may include storage, such as storage circuitry 16. Storage circuitry 16 may include hard drive storage, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory or dynamic random access memory), etc. Storage circuitry 16 may include storage integrated within device 10 and / or removable storage media.

[0027] The control circuit 14 can include processing circuitry, such as the processing circuitry 18. The processing circuitry 18 can be used to control operation of the device 10. The processing circuitry 18 can include one or more processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processors integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits, central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. The control circuit 14 can be configured to perform operations in the device 10 using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and / or software. Software code for performing operations in the device 10 can be stored on the storage circuitry 16 (e.g., the storage circuitry 16 can include a non-transitory (tangible) computer-readable storage medium that stores the software code). This software code can sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. The software code stored on the storage circuitry 16 can be executed by the processing circuitry 18.

[0028] The control circuit 14 can be used to run software on the device 10, such as a satellite navigation application, an Internet browsing application, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone call application, an email application, a media playback application, operating system functions, etc. To support interaction with external equipment, the control circuit 14 can be used to implement communication protocols. Communication protocols that can be implemented using the control circuit 14 include Internet Protocols, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols - sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi® protocols), Bluetooth® protocols or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols for other short-range wireless communication links, IEEE 802.1 lad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, Sixth Generation (6G) protocols, sub-THz protocols, THz protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) protocols, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols, optical communication protocols, or any other desired communication protocol. Each communication protocol can be associated with a corresponding Radio Access Technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection method used to implement the protocol. The control circuit 14 can be used to run software on the device 10, such as a satellite navigation application, an Internet browsing application, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone call application, an email application, a media playback application, operating system functions, etc. To support interaction with external equipment, the control circuit 14 can be used to implement communication protocols. Communication protocols that can be implemented using the control circuit 14 include Internet Protocols, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols - sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi® protocols), Bluetooth® protocols or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols for other short-range wireless communication links, IEEE 802.1 lad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, Sixth Generation (6G) protocols, sub-THz protocols, THz protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) protocols, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols, optical communication protocols, or any other desired communication protocol. Each communication protocol can be associated with a corresponding Radio Access Technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection method used to implement the protocol.

[0029] ​Device 10 may include input-output circuitry 20. Input-output circuitry 20 may include input-output devices 22. Input-output devices 22 may be used to allow data to be supplied to device 10 and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices. Input-output devices 22 may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices 22 may include touch sensors, displays (e.g., touch-sensitive displays and / or force-sensitive displays), light-emitting components such as displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons (mechanical, capacitive, optical, etc.), scroll wheels, touchpads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and / or compasses that detect motion), capacitive sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to a display to detect pressure applied to the display), temperature sensors, etc. In some configurations, keyboards, headsets, displays, pointing devices such as touchpads, mice, and joysticks, and other input-output devices may be coupled to device 10 using wired or wireless connections (e.g., some of input-output devices 22 may be peripheral devices coupled to a main processing unit or other portion of device 10 via a wired or wireless link).

[0030] Input-output circuitry 20 may include wireless circuitry 24 to support wireless communications. Wireless circuitry 24 (sometimes referred to herein as wireless communications circuitry 24 ) may include one or more antennas 30 .

[0031] Wireless circuitry 24 may also include transceiver circuitry 26. Transceiver circuitry 26 may include transmitter circuitry, receiver circuitry, modulator circuitry, demodulator circuitry (e.g., one or more modems), radio frequency circuitry, one or more radios, intermediate frequency circuitry, optical transmitter circuitry, optical receiver circuitry, an optical light source, other optical components, baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), amplifier circuitry, clock circuitry such as one or more local oscillators and / or phase-locked loops, memory, one or more registers, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry, digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry, radio frequency transmission lines, optical fibers, and / or any other circuitry for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using antenna 30. The components of transceiver circuitry 26 may be implemented on one integrated circuit, chip, system on a chip (SOC), die, printed circuit board, substrate, or package, or the components of transceiver circuitry 26 may be distributed across two or more integrated circuits, chips, SOCs, printed circuit boards, substrates, and / or packages.

[0032] Figure 1 The examples are merely illustrative. Although for the sake of clarity, Figure 1In the example of FIG, control circuitry 14 is shown as being separate from radio circuitry 24, but radio circuitry 24 may include processing circuitry (e.g., one or more processors) forming part of processing circuitry 18 and / or memory circuitry forming part of memory circuitry 16 of control circuitry 14 (e.g., portions of control circuitry 14 may be implemented on radio circuitry 24). As one example, control circuitry 14 may include baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), digital control circuitry, analog control circuitry, and / or other control circuitry forming part of radio circuitry 24. The baseband circuitry may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on control circuitry 14 (e.g., memory circuitry 20) to perform user plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and / or PDU layer; and / or perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC layer, and / or non-access stratum layer.

[0033] Transceiver circuitry 26 may be coupled to each antenna 30 in wireless circuitry 24 via a corresponding signal path 28. Each signal path 28 may include one or more radio frequency transmission lines, waveguides, optical fibers, and / or any other desired lines / paths for transmitting wireless signals between transceiver circuitry 26 and antenna 30. Antenna 30 may be formed using any desired antenna structure for transmitting wireless signals. For example, antenna 30 may include an antenna having a resonant element formed from a dipole antenna structure, a planar dipole antenna structure (e.g., a bowtie antenna structure), a slot antenna structure, a loop antenna structure, a patch antenna structure, an inverted-F antenna structure, a planar inverted-F antenna structure, a helical antenna structure, a monopole antenna, a dipole, a hybrid of these designs, or the like. Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and / or other antenna tuning components may be adjusted to adjust the frequency response and wireless performance of antenna 30 over time.

[0034] If desired, two or more of the antennas 30 may be integrated into a phased antenna array (sometimes referred to herein as a phased array antenna) in which each of the antennas transmits a wireless signal having a corresponding phase and magnitude that is adjusted over time, so that the wireless signals constructively and destructively interfere to produce (form) a signal beam in a given pointing direction. As used herein, the term "transmitting a wireless signal" means the transmission and / or reception of a wireless signal (e.g., for performing unidirectional and / or bidirectional wireless communication with external wireless communication equipment). The antenna 30 may transmit a wireless signal by radiating the signal into free space (or radiating into free space through an intervening device structure such as a dielectric cover layer). In addition to or alternatively, the antenna 30 may receive a wireless signal from free space (e.g., through an intervening device structure such as a dielectric cover layer). The transmission and reception of wireless signals by the antenna 30 each involve the excitation or resonance of an antenna current on an antenna resonant (radiating) element in the antenna by a wireless signal within the antenna's operating frequency band.

[0035] Transceiver circuitry 26 may use antenna 30 to transmit and / or receive wireless signals that communicate wireless communication data between device 10 and external wireless communication equipment (e.g., one or more other devices, such as device 10, a wireless access point or base station, etc.). Wireless communication data may be transmitted bidirectionally or unidirectionally. Wireless communication data may include, for example, data encoded into corresponding data packets, such as wireless data associated with a phone call, streaming media content, internet browsing, wireless data associated with a software application running on device 10, email messages, etc.

[0036] In addition or alternatively, wireless circuitry 24 can perform wireless sensing operations using antennas 30. Sensing operations can allow device 10 to detect (e.g., sense or identify) the presence, location, orientation, and / or velocity (motion) of objects external to device 10. Control circuitry 14 can use the detected presence, location, orientation, and / or velocity of external objects to perform any desired device operations. As examples, control circuitry 14 can use the detected presence, location, orientation, and / or velocity of external objects to identify corresponding user inputs for one or more software applications running on device 10, such as gesture inputs performed by a user’s hand or other body part or by an external stylus, game controller, headset, or other peripheral device or accessory, to determine when one or more antennas 30 need to be disabled or set with a reduced maximum transmit power level (e.g., to satisfy regulatory limits on radio frequency exposure), to determine how to steer (shape) radio frequency signal beams produced by antennas 30 for wireless circuitry 24 (e.g., in cases where antennas 30 include a phased array of antennas 30), to map or model an environment around device 10 (e.g., to produce a software model of a room in which device 10 is located for use by an augmented reality application, a game application, a mapping application, a home design application, an engineering application, etc.), to detect the presence of obstacles near (e.g., around) device 10 or in a direction of motion of a user of device 10, etc.

[0037] Wireless circuitry 24 can transmit and / or receive wireless signals within corresponding frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum (sometimes referred to herein as communication bands or simply “bands”). The frequency bands handled by communication circuitry 26 can include: wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX®), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11), or other WLAN communication bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN frequency band (e.g., 2400-2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN frequency band (e.g., 5180-5825 MHz), a 6E band (e.g., 5925-7125 MHz), and / or other bands (e.g., 1875-5160 MHz); wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as a 2.4 GHz WPAN frequency band (e.g., 2400-2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WPAN frequency band (e.g., 5150-5950 MHz), a 60 GHz WPAN frequency band (e.g., 57-71 GHz), and / or other bands; and / or cellular frequency bands such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) frequency band (e.g., 890-915 MHz / 935-960 MHz), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) frequency band (e.g., 2110-2170 MHz), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) frequency band (e.g., 746-798 MHz / 1572- 1606 MHz), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)2000 frequency band (e.g., 800-850 MHz / 900- 930 MHz / 1800-1900 MHz / 1900-1980 MHz), a Fifth Generation (5G) NR frequency band (e.g., 3300- 3600 MHz / 4800-5000 MHz), and / or other cellular frequency bands. band or other WPAN communication band; cellular telephone band (e.g., a band of about 600 MHz to about 5 GHz, a 3G band, a 4G LTE band, a 5G new radio frequency range 1 (FR1) band below 10 GHz, a 5G new radio frequency range 2 (FR2) band between 20 GHz and 60 GHz, etc.); other centimeter wave or millimeter wave bands between 10 GHz and 100 GHz; near field communication bands (e.g., 13.56 MHz); satellite navigation bands (e.g., a GPS band of 1565 MHz to 1610 MHz, a global satellite navigation system (GLONASS) band, a BeiDou satellite navigation system (BDS) band, etc.); an ultra-wideband (UWB) band operating under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and / or other ultra-wideband communication protocols; a communication band belonging to the 3GPP wireless communication standard series; a communication band belonging to the IEEE 802.XX standard series; and / or any other desired frequency band of interest.

[0038] Over time, software applications on electronic devices (such as device 10) have become increasingly data-intensive. Consequently, wireless circuitry on electronic devices needs to support data transmission at increasingly higher data rates. Generally speaking, the data rate supported by a wireless circuit is proportional to the frequency of the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless circuit (e.g., higher frequencies can support higher data rates than lower frequencies). Wireless circuitry 24 can transmit centimeter and millimeter wave signals to support relatively high data rates (e.g., because centimeter and millimeter wave signals are at relatively high frequencies between approximately 10 GHz and 100 GHz). However, the data rates supported by centimeter and millimeter wave signals still may not be sufficient to meet all data transmission needs of device 10. To support even higher data rates, such as data rates up to 5 Gbps-10 Gbps or higher, wireless circuitry 24 can transmit wireless signals at frequencies greater than 100 GHz.

[0039] like Figure 1As shown, wireless circuitry 24 can transmit wireless signals 32 at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz and can receive wireless signals 34 at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz. Wireless signals 32 and 34 may sometimes be referred to herein as extremely high frequency (THF) signals 32 and 34, sub-THz signals 32 and 34, THz signals 32 and 34, or sub-millimeter wave signals 32 and 34. THF signals 32 and 34 may be at sub-THz or THz frequencies, such as between 100 GHz and 1 THz, between 100 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 2 THz, between 200 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 2 THz, between 300 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 800 GHz, between 200 GHz and 1.5 THz, etc. (e.g., within a sub-THz, THz, THF, or sub-millimeter frequency band, such as the 6G band). The high data rates supported by these frequencies may be utilized by device 10 to perform cellular telephone voice and / or data communications (e.g., while supporting spatial multiplexing to provide additional data bandwidth), to perform spatial ranging operations such as radar operations to detect the presence, position, and / or velocity of objects external to device 10, to perform automotive sensing (e.g., with enhanced safety), to perform health / body monitoring of a user of device 10 or another person, to perform gas or chemical detection, to form a high data rate wireless connection between device 10 and another device or peripheral (e.g., to form a high data rate between a display driver on device 10 and a display showing ultra-high resolution video), to form a remote radio head (e.g., a flexible high data rate connection), to form a high data rate capable THF chip-to-chip connection within device 10 (e.g., where one antenna 30 on a first chip in device 10 transmits a THF signal 32 to another antenna 30 on a second chip in device 10), and / or to perform any other desired high data rate operation.

[0040] In electronic devices such as device 10, space is at a premium. In some cases, the antenna 30 used to transmit the THF signal 32 is different from the antenna 30 used to receive the THF signal 34. However, using different antennas 30 to handle the transmission of the THF signal 32 and the reception of the THF signal 34 can consume excess space and other resources within the device 10 because two antennas 30 and signal paths 28 will be required to handle both transmission and reception. To minimize space and resource consumption within the device 10, the same antenna 30 and signal path 28 can be used to transmit the THF signal 32 and receive the THF signal 34. If desired, multiple antennas 30 in the wireless circuit 24 can transmit the THF signal 32 and can receive the THF signal 34. The antennas can be integrated into a phased antenna array that transmits the THF signal 32 and receives the THF signal 34 within corresponding signal beams oriented in a selected beam pointing direction.

[0041] Incorporating components into wireless circuitry 24 that support wireless communications at these high frequencies can be challenging. If desired, transceiver circuitry 26 and signal path 28 may include optical components that transmit optical signals to support transmission of THF signal 32 and reception of THF signal 34 in a space- and resource-efficient manner. The optical signals may be used to transmit THF signal 32 at the THF frequency and to receive THF signal 34 at the THF frequency.

[0042] Figure 2 is a diagram of an exemplary antenna 30 that can be used to transmit a THF signal 32 and receive a THF signal 34 using an optical signal. Antenna 30 may include one or more antenna radiating (resonating) elements, such as radiating (resonating) element arms 36. Figure 2 In the example shown, antenna 30 is a planar dipole antenna (sometimes referred to as a "butterfly" antenna) having two opposing radiating element arms 36 (e.g., butterfly arms or dipole arms). This is illustrative only, and in general, antenna 30 can be any type of antenna having any desired antenna radiating element architecture.

[0043] like Figure 2As shown, antenna 30 includes a photodiode (PD) 42 coupled between radiating element arms 36. An electronic device (such as device 10) that includes antenna 30 with photodiode 42 may also sometimes be referred to as an electro-optical device (e.g., electro-optical device 10). Photodiode 42 may be a programmable photodiode. For example, examples are described herein in which photodiode 42 is a programmable single-line carrier photodiode (UTC PD). Therefore, photodiode 42 may sometimes be referred to herein as UTCPD 42 or programmable UTC PD 42. This is merely illustrative, and in general, photodiode 42 may include any desired type of adjustable / programmable photodiode or component that converts electromagnetic energy at an optical frequency into an electric current at a THF frequency on radiating element arms 36 and / or vice versa. Each radiating element arm 36 may, for example, have a first edge located at UTC PD 42 and a second edge, opposite the first edge, that is wider than the first edge (e.g., in a specific embodiment in which antenna 30 is a bowtie antenna). Other radiating elements may be used if desired.

[0044] The UTC PD 42 may have a function of receiving one or more control signals V 偏置 Bias terminal 38. Control signal V 偏置 The control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can provide (eg, apply, supply, assert, etc.) a control signal V at different settings (eg, values, magnitudes, etc.) 偏置 , to dynamically control (eg, program or adjust) the operation of the UTC PD 42 over time. For example, the control signal V 偏置 It can be used to control whether the antenna 30 transmits the THF signal 32 or receives the THF signal 34. 偏置 When the bias voltage is asserted at a first level or magnitude, the antenna 30 may be configured to transmit the THF signal 32. 偏置 When the bias voltage is asserted at a second level or magnitude, the antenna 30 may be configured to receive the THF signal 34. Figure 2 In the example, the control signal V 偏置 The bias voltage is included to be asserted at a first level to configure the antenna 30 to transmit the THF signal 32. If desired, the control signal V 偏置 Adjustments may also be made to control the waveform of the THF signal (eg, as a square function, a linear function, etc. that preserves modulation of the incident optical signal) to perform gain control on the signal transmitted by antenna 30 and / or to adjust the output impedance of UTC PD 42 .

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the UTC PD 42 can be optically coupled to the optical path 40. The optical path 40 can include one or more optical fibers or waveguides. The UTC PD 42 can be received from the transceiver circuit 26 ( Figure 1 ) receives an optical signal. The optical signal may include a first optical local oscillator (LO) signal LO1 and a second optical local oscillator signal LO2. The optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 may be received by the transceiver circuit 26 ( Figure 1 ) is generated by a light source in the optical local oscillator. The optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 may be at an optical wavelength (e.g., between 400 nm and 700 nm), an ultraviolet wavelength (e.g., a near-ultraviolet wavelength or an extreme ultraviolet wavelength), and / or an infrared wavelength (e.g., a near-infrared wavelength, a mid-infrared wavelength, or a far-infrared wavelength). The optical local oscillator signal LO2 may be offset in wavelength from the optical local oscillator signal LO1 by a wavelength offset X. The wavelength offset X may be equal to the wavelength of the THF signal transmitted by the antenna 30 (e.g., between 100 GHz and 1 THz (1000 GHz), between 100 GHz and 2 THz, between 300 GHz and 800 GHz, between 300 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 400 GHz, etc.).

[0046] During signal transmission, wireless data (e.g., wireless data packets, symbols, frames, etc.) can be modulated onto the optical local oscillator signal LO2 to generate a modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2'. If desired, the optical local oscillator signal LO1 can be provided with an optical phase shift S. The optical path 40 can illuminate the UTC PD 42 with the optical local oscillator signal LO1 (plus the applied optical phase shift S) and the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2'. If desired, a lens or other optical component can be interposed between the optical path 40 and the UTC PD 42 to help focus the optical local oscillator signal onto the UTC PD 42.

[0047] The UTC PD 42 can convert the optical local oscillator signal LO1 and the modulated local oscillator signal LO2' (e.g., the beat between the two optical local oscillator signals) into an antenna current that flows along the periphery of the radiating element arm 36. The frequency of the antenna current is equal to the frequency difference between the local oscillator signal LO1 and the modulated local oscillator signal LO2'. The antenna current can radiate (transmit) the THF signal 32 into free space. The control signal V 偏置The UTC PD 42 can be controlled to convert the optical local oscillator signal into an antenna current on the radiating element arm 36 while preserving the modulation and, therefore, the wireless data, on the modulated local oscillator signal LO2' (e.g., by applying a square function to the signal). The THF signal 32 will thus carry the modulated wireless data for reception and demodulation by external wireless communication equipment.

[0048] Figure 3 For example, when the control signal V 偏置 The settings from Figure 2 FIG. 3 shows how the antenna 30 can receive the THF signal 34 after the transmitting state is changed to the receiving state. Figure 3 As shown, the THF signal 34 may be incident on the antenna radiating element arm 36. The incident THF signal 34 may generate an antenna current that flows around the periphery of the radiating element arm 36. The UTC PD 42 may use the optical local oscillator signal LO1 (plus the optical phase shift S when applied), the optical local oscillator signal LO2 (e.g., without modulation), and the control signal V 偏置 (eg, the bias voltage asserted at the second level) converts the received THF signal 34 into an intermediate frequency signal SIGIF that is output onto the intermediate frequency signal path 44 .

[0049] The frequency of the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF may be equal to the frequency of the THF signal 34 minus the difference between the frequencies of the optical local oscillator signal LO1 and the optical local oscillator signal LO2. For example, the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF may be at a lower frequency than the THF signals 32 and 34, such as a centimeter or millimeter wave frequency between 10 GHz and 100 GHz, between 30 GHz and 80 GHz, about 60 GHz, etc. If desired, when switching from transmission to reception or vice versa, the transceiver circuit 26 ( Figure 1 ) can change the frequency of the optical local oscillator signal LO1 and / or the optical local oscillator signal LO2. The UTC PD 42 can store the data modulation of the THF signal 34 in the intermediate signal SIGIF. The transceiver circuit 26 ( Figure 1 ) may demodulate the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF (e.g., after further down-conversion) to recover the wireless data from the THF signal 34. For another example, the wireless circuitry 24 may convert the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF to the optical domain before recovering the wireless data. For another example, the intermediate frequency signal path 44 may be omitted, and the UTCPD 42 may convert the THF signal 34 to the optical domain for subsequent demodulation and data recovery (e.g., in a sideband of the optical signal).

[0050] Figure 2 and Figure 3The antennas 30 can utilize a given polarization (e.g., a linear polarization such as a vertical polarization) to support transmission of THF signals 32 and reception of THF signals 34. If desired, the radio circuitry 24 Figure 1 may include multiple antennas 30 for covering different polarizations. Figure 4 is one example of how the radio circuitry 24 can include multiple antennas 30 for covering different polarizations.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4 , the radio circuitry can include a first antenna 30, such as an antenna 30V for covering a first polarization (e.g., a first linear polarization such as a vertical polarization), and can include a second antenna 30, such as an antenna 30H for covering a second polarization (e.g., a second linear polarization such as a horizontal polarization) that is different from or orthogonal to the first polarization. The antenna 30V can have a UTC PD 42, such as a UTC PD 42V coupled between a corresponding pair of radiating element arms 36. The antenna 30H can have a UTC PD 42, such as a UTC PD 42H coupled between a corresponding pair of radiating element arms 36 that are oriented non-parallel (e.g., orthogonal) to the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30V. This can allow the antennas 30V and 30H to transmit THF signals 32 in the respective (orthogonal) polarizations, and can allow the antennas 30V and 30H to receive THF signals 32 in the respective (orthogonal) polarizations.

[0052] To minimize space within the device 10, the antenna 30V can be vertically stacked above or below the antenna 30H (e.g., with the UTC PD 42V partially or completely overlapping the UTC PD 42H). In this example, both the antennas 30V and 30H can be formed on the same substrate, such as a rigid or flexible printed circuit board. The substrate can include multiple stacked dielectric layers (e.g., layers of ceramic, epoxy, flexible printed circuit board material, rigid printed circuit board material, etc.). The radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30V can be formed on separate substrate layers from the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30H, or the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30V can be formed on the same substrate layers as the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30H. The UTC PD 42V can be formed on the same substrate layers as the UTC PD 42H, or the UTC PD 42V can be formed on separate substrate layers from the UTC PD 42H. The UTC PD 42V can be formed on the same substrate layers as the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30V, or can be formed on separate substrate layers from the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30V. The UTC PD 42H can be formed on the same substrate layers as the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30H, or can be formed on separate substrate layers from the radiating element arms 36 in the antenna 30H.

[0053] If desired, the antennas 30 or Figure 4 Antennas 30H and 30V are integrated into a phased antenna array. Figure 5 FIG is a diagram showing one example of how antennas 30H and 30V may be integrated into a phased antenna array. Figure 5 As shown, device 10 may include a phased antenna array 46 of stacked antennas 30H and 30V arranged in a rectangular grid of rows and columns. Each of these antennas in phased antenna array 46 may be formed on the same substrate. This is merely illustrative. In general, phased antenna array 46 (sometimes referred to as a phased array antenna) may include any desired number of antennas 30V and 30H (or non-stacked antennas 30) arranged in any desired pattern. Each of these antennas in phased antenna array 46 may be provided with a corresponding optical phase shift S ( Figure 2 and Figure 3 ), the corresponding optical phase shifts configure the antennas to collectively transmit THF signals 32 and / or receive THF signals 34, which are summed to form a signal beam of the THF signal in a desired beam pointing direction. The beam pointing direction can be selected to direct the signal beam toward external communication equipment, toward a desired external object, away from an external object, etc.

[0054] Phased antenna array 46 can occupy a relatively small space within device 10. For example, each antenna 30V / 30H can have a length 48 (e.g., as measured from the end of one radiating element arm to the opposite end of an opposing radiating element arm). Length 48 can be approximately equal to half the wavelength of THF signals 32 and 34. For example, length 48 can be as small as 0.5 mm or less. Each UTC-PD 42 in phased antenna array 46 can occupy a lateral area of ​​100 square microns or less. This can allow phased antenna array 46 to occupy a very small area within device 10, thereby allowing the phased antenna array to be integrated into different portions of device 10 while still allowing other space for device components. Figures 2 to 5 The examples are illustrative only, and in general, each antenna may have any desired antenna radiating element architecture.

[0055] Figure 6 To illustrate a given antenna 30 and signal path 28 ( Figure 1 ) can be used to transmit a THF signal 32 and receive a THF signal 34 based on an optical local oscillator signal. Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 4 , the UTC PD 42 converts the received THF signal 34 into intermediate frequency signals SIGIF, which are then converted into the optical domain for recovering the wireless data from the received THF signal.

[0056] like Figure 6As shown, wireless circuitry 24 may include transceiver circuitry 26 coupled to antenna 30 via signal path 28 (e.g., an optical signal path sometimes referred to herein as optical signal path 28). UTC PD 42 may be coupled between radiating element arm 36 of antenna 30 and signal path 28. Transceiver circuitry 26 may include optical components 68, amplifier circuitry such as power amplifier 76, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 74. Optical components 68 may include an optical receiver such as optical receiver 72 and an optical local oscillator (LO) light source (emitter) 70. LO light source 70 may include two or more light sources, such as laser light sources, laser diodes, optical phase-locked loops, or other optical emitters that emit light at corresponding wavelengths (e.g., optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2). If desired, LO light source 70 may include a single light source and may include optical components for splitting the light emitted by the light source into different wavelengths. Signal path 28 may be coupled to optical components 68 via optical path 66. Optical path 66 may include one or more optical fibers and / or waveguides.

[0057] Signal path 28 may include an optical splitter such as optical splitter (OS) 54, optical paths such as optical path 64 and optical path 62, an optical combiner such as optical combiner (OC) 52, and optical path 40. Optical path 62 may be an optical fiber or a waveguide. Optical path 64 may be an optical fiber or a waveguide. Optical splitter 54 may have a first (e.g., input) port coupled to optical path 66, a second (e.g., output) port coupled to optical path 62, and a third (e.g., output) port coupled to optical path 64. Optical path 64 may couple optical splitter 54 to the first (e.g., input) port of optical combiner 52. Optical path 62 may couple optical splitter 54 to the second (e.g., input) port of optical combiner 52. Optical combiner 52 may have a third (e.g., output) port coupled to optical path 40.

[0058] An optical phase shifter, such as optical phase shifter 80, may be (optically) interposed on or along optical path 64. An optical modulator, such as optical modulator 56, may be (optically) interposed on or along optical path 62. Optical modulator 56 may be, for example, a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM), and therefore may sometimes be referred to as MZM 56. MZM 56 includes a first optical arm (branch) 60 and a second optical arm (branch) 58 interposed in parallel along optical path 62. Propagating an optical local oscillator signal LO2 along arms 60 and 58 of MZM 56 may allow, in the presence of a voltage signal applied to one or both arms, a different optical phase shift to be imparted to each arm before the signals are recombined at the output of the MZM (e.g., where the optical phase modulation produced on the arms is converted into intensity modulation at the output of MZM 56). When the voltage applied to MZM 56 includes wireless data, MZM 56 can modulate the wireless data onto optical local oscillator signal LO2. If desired, the phase shifting performed at MZM 56 can be used to perform beamforming / steering in addition to or in lieu of optical phase shifter 80. MZM 56 can receive one or more bias voltages W applied to one or both of arms 58 and 60. 偏置 (Sometimes referred to herein as bias signal W 偏置 ). Control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can provide bias voltages with different values 偏置 , to place the MZM 56 into different operating modes (eg, an operating mode that suppresses the optical carrier signal, an operating mode that does not suppress the optical carrier signal, etc.).

[0059] The intermediate frequency signal path 44 can couple the UTC PD 42 to the MZM 56 (e.g., arm 60). An amplifier (such as a low noise amplifier 82) can be inserted into the intermediate frequency signal path 44. The intermediate frequency signal path 44 can be used to pass the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF from the UTC PD 42 to the MZM 56. The DAC 74 can have an input coupled to an upconversion circuit, a modulator circuit, and / or a baseband circuit in a transmitter of the transceiver circuit 26. The DAC 74 can receive digital data for transmission via the antenna 30 and can convert the digital data into an analog domain (e.g., as data DAT). The DAC 74 can have an output coupled to a transmit data path 78. The transmit data path 78 can couple the DAC 74 to the MZM 56 (e.g., arm 60). Each of the components along signal path 28 may allow the same antenna 30 to transmit THF signal 32 and receive THF signal 34 (eg, using the same components along signal path 28 ), thereby minimizing space and resource consumption within device 10 .

[0060] LO light source 70 can generate (emit) optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 (e.g., at different wavelengths separated by the wavelength of THF signals 32 / 34). Optical components 68 can include lenses, waveguides, optical couplers, optical fibers, and / or other optical components that direct the emitted optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 toward optical splitter 54 via optical path 66. Optical splitter 54 can split the optical signal on optical path 66 (e.g., by wavelength) to output optical local oscillator signal LO1 onto optical path 64 while outputting optical local oscillator signal LO2 onto optical path 62.

[0061] Control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can provide a phase control signal CTRL to an optical phase shifter 80. The phase control signal CTRL can control the optical phase shifter 80 to apply an optical phase shift S to the optical local oscillator signal LO1 on the optical path 64. The phase shift S can be selected to steer the signal beam of the THF signal 32 / 34 in a desired pointing direction. The optical phase shifter 80 can pass the phase-shifted optical local oscillator signal LO1 (referred to as LO1+S) to the optical combiner 52. Signal beam steering is performed in the optical domain (e.g., using the optical phase shifter 80) rather than in the THF domain because there are no satisfactory phase shifting circuit components that operate at frequencies as high as the frequencies of the THF signals 32 and 34. The optical combiner 52 can receive the optical local oscillator signal LO2 via the optical path 62. The optical combiner 52 can combine the optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 onto the optical path 40, which directs these optical local oscillator signals to the UTC PD 42 for use during signal transmission or reception.

[0062] During transmission of the THF signal 32, the DAC 74 may receive digital wireless data (e.g., data packets, frames, symbols, etc.) for transmission via the THF signal 32. The DAC 74 may convert the digital wireless data into the analog domain and output (transmit) the data as data DAT onto the transmit data path 78 (e.g., for transmission via the antenna 30). The power amplifier 76 may amplify the data DAT. The transmit data path 78 may pass the data DAT to the MZM 56 (e.g., arm 60). The MZM 56 may modulate the data DAT onto the optical local oscillator signal LO2 to generate a modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2′ (e.g., an optical local oscillator signal at the frequency / wavelength of the optical local oscillator signal LO2 but modulated to include the data identified by the data DAT). The optical combiner 52 may combine the optical local oscillator signal LO1 with the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2′ at the optical path 40.

[0063] The optical path 40 may illuminate the UTC PD 42 using the optical local oscillator signal LO1 (eg, and the phase shift S applied by the optical phase shifter 80) and the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2'. Figure 1 ) can apply a control signal V to UTCPD 42 偏置 , which configures the antenna 30 to transmit the THF signal 32. The UTC PD 42 may convert the optical local oscillator signal LO1 and the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2' into antenna currents on the radiating element arms 36 at the frequency of the THF signal 32 (e.g., when programmed to use the control signal V 偏置 When transmitting). The antenna current on the radiating element arm 36 can radiate the THF signal 32. The frequency of the THF signal 32 is given by the frequency difference between the optical local oscillator signal LO1 and the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2'. 偏置 The UTC PD 42 may be controlled to preserve the modulation from the modulated optical local oscillator signal LO2′ in the radiated THF signal 32. External equipment receiving the THF signal 32 will thereby be able to extract the data DAT from the THF signal 32 transmitted by the antenna 30.

[0064] During reception of the THF signal 34, the MZM 56 does not modulate any data onto the optical local oscillator signal LO2. The optical path 40 thus illuminates the UTC PD 42 with the optical local oscillator signal LO1 (eg, and the phase shift S) and the optical local oscillator signal LO2. The control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can apply a control signal V to the UTC PD 42 偏置 (e.g., bias voltage), which configures the antenna 30 to receive the THF signal 32. The UTC PD 42 may use the optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 to convert the received THF signal 34 into an intermediate frequency signal SIGIF output to the intermediate frequency signal path 44 (e.g., when programmed to use the bias voltage V 偏置 34 ). The intermediate frequency signal SIGIF may include modulated data from the received THF signal 34. The low noise amplifier 82 may amplify the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF, which is then provided to the MZM 56 (e.g., arm 60). The MZM 56 may convert the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF into the optical domain as an optical signal LOrx (e.g., by modulating the data in the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF onto one of the optical local oscillator signals), and may pass these optical signals to the optical receiver 72 in the optical component 68, as shown by arrow 63 (e.g., via optical paths 62 and 66 or other optical paths). The control circuit 14 ( Figure 1) can use the optical receiver 72 to convert the optical signal LOrx into another format and recover (demodulate) the data carried by the THF signal 34 from the optical signal. In this way, the same antenna 30 and signal path 28 can be used to transmit and receive THF signals while also performing beam steering operations.

[0065] Figure 6 The example in which the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF is converted to the optical domain is merely illustrative. If desired, the transceiver circuit 26 can receive and demodulate the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF without first transferring these signals to the optical domain. For example, the transceiver circuit 26 can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the intermediate frequency signal path 44 can be coupled to the input of the ADC instead of being coupled to the MZM 56, and the ADC can convert the intermediate frequency signal SIGIF to the digital domain. For another example, the intermediate frequency signal path 44 can be omitted, and the control signal V 偏置 The UTC PD 42 may be controlled to sample the THF signal 34 directly into the optical domain along with the optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2. For example, the UTC PD 42 may use the received THF signal 34 and the control signal V 偏置 An optical signal is generated on optical path 40. The optical signal may have an optical carrier with sidebands separated from the optical carrier by a fixed frequency offset (e.g., 30 GHz-100 GHz, 60 GHz, 50 GHz-70 GHz, 10 GHz-100 GHz, etc.). The sidebands may be used to carry modulated data from the received THF signal 34. Signal path 28 may direct (propagate) the optical signal generated by UTC PD 42 to an optical receiver 72 in optical component 68 (e.g., via optical paths 40, 64, 62, 66, 63 and / or other optical paths). Control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) may use an optical receiver 72 to convert the optical signal into another format and to recover (demodulate) the data carried by the THF signal 34 from the optical signal (eg, from a sideband of the optical signal).

[0066] Figure 7 A circuit diagram illustrating one example of how multiple antennas 30 may be integrated into a phased antenna array 88 that transmits THF signals via corresponding signal beams. Figure 7 For clarity, in the example Figure 6 The MZM 56, the IF signal path 44, the data path 78, and the optical receiver 72 have been omitted. Each of these antennas in the phased antenna array 88 may alternatively sample the received THF signal directly into the optical domain, or may pass the IF signal SIGIF to an ADC in the transceiver circuit 26.

[0067] like Figure 7As shown, the phased antenna array 88 includes N antennas 30, such as a first antenna 30-0, a second antenna 30-1, and an Nth antenna 30-(N-1). Each of the antennas 30 in the phased antenna array 88 can be connected via a corresponding optical signal path (e.g., Figure 6 The optical signal paths 28 of the antenna 30 and the optical components 68 are coupled to the optical components 68. Each of the N signal paths may include a respective optical combiner 52 that is coupled to the UTC PD 42 of the corresponding antenna 30 (e.g., the UTC PD 42 in the antenna 30-0 may be coupled to the optical combiner 52-0, the UTC PD 42 in the antenna 30-1 may be coupled to the optical combiner 52-1, the UTC PD 42 in the antenna 30-(N-1) may be coupled to the optical combiner 52-(N-1) and so on). Each of the N signal paths may also include a corresponding optical path 62 and a corresponding optical path 64 that are coupled to a corresponding optical combiner 52 (e.g., optical paths 64-0 and 62-0 may be coupled to optical combiner 52-0, optical paths 64-1 and 62-1 may be coupled to optical combiner 52-1, optical paths 64-(N-1) and 62-(N-1) may be coupled to optical combiner 52-(N-1), etc.).

[0068] The optical components 68 may include LO light sources 70, such as first and second LO light sources 70A and 70B. The optical signal paths for each of the antennas 30 in the phased antenna array 88 may share one or more optical splitters 54, such as first and second optical splitters 54A and 54B. LO light source 70A may generate (e.g., produce, emit, transmit, etc.) a first optical local oscillator signal LO1 and may provide the first optical local oscillator signal LO1 to optical splitter 54A via optical path 66A. Optical splitter 54A may distribute the first optical local oscillator signal LO1 to each of the UTC PDs 42 in the phased antenna array 88 via optical paths 64 (e.g., optical paths 64-0, 64-1, 64-(N-1), etc.). Similarly, LO light source 70B may generate (e.g., produce, emit, transmit, etc.) a second optical local oscillator signal LO2 and may provide the second optical local oscillator signal LO2 to optical splitter 54B via optical path 66B. The optical splitter 54B may distribute the second optical local oscillator signal LO2 to each UTC PD in the UTCPD 42 in the phased antenna array 88 through the optical paths 62 (eg, optical paths 62 - 0 , 62 - 1 , 62 -(N− 1 ), etc.).

[0069] A corresponding optical phase shifter 80 may be inserted along (on) each optical path 64 (e.g., a first optical phase shifter 80-0 may be inserted along the optical path 64-0, a second optical phase shifter 80-1 may be inserted along the optical path 64-1, an Nth optical phase shifter 80-(N-1) may be inserted along the optical path 64-(N-1) and so on). Each optical phase shifter 80 may receive a control signal CTRL that controls the phase S provided by the optical phase shifter to the optical local oscillator signal LO1 (e.g., the first optical phase shifter 80-0 may apply an optical phase shift of zero degrees / radians to the optical local oscillator signal LO1 provided to the antenna 30-0, the second optical phase shifter 80-1 may apply an optical phase shift of Δφ to the optical local oscillator signal LO1 provided to the antenna 30-1, and the Nth optical phase shifter 80-(N-1) may apply an optical phase shift of (N-1)Δφ to the optical local oscillator signal LO1 provided to the antenna 30-(N-1). By adjusting the phase S applied by each of the N optical phase shifters 80, the control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can control each of the antennas 30 in the phased antenna array 88 to transmit the THF signal 32 and / or receive the THF signal 34 within the formed signal beam 83. The signal beam 83 can be oriented in a particular beam pointing direction (angle) 84 (e.g., the direction of the peak gain of the signal beam 83). The THF signal transmitted by the phased antenna array 88 can have a wavefront 86 that is orthogonal to the beam pointing direction 84. For example, the control circuit 14 can adjust the beam pointing direction 84 over time to point toward or away from external communication equipment or an external object.

[0070] The phased antenna array 88 may be capable of operating in an active mode in which the array transmits and / or receives THF signals using the optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2 (e.g., using a phase-shifted steering signal beam 83 provided to each antenna element). If desired, the phased antenna array 88 may also be capable of operating in a passive mode in which the array does not transmit or receive THF signals. Conversely, in the passive mode, the phased antenna array 88 may be configured to form a passive reflector that reflects THF signals or other electromagnetic waves incident on the device 10. In the passive mode, the UTCPDs 42 in the phased antenna array 88 are not illuminated by the optical local oscillator signals LO1 and LO2, and the transceiver circuitry 26 does not perform modulation / demodulation, mixing, filtering, detection, modulation, and / or amplification on the incident THF signals.

[0071] Antenna radiating element arm 36 and UTC PD 42 ( Figure 6) may sometimes be collectively referred to herein as an access point (AP) 45 (e.g., a THF access point). In some embodiments, a single access point 45 is used to communicate with a single external device (e.g., another device such as device 10, a wireless base station or access point, or other wireless (THF) communication means). If desired, transceiver 26 may use multiple access points distributed across one or more locations to communicate via one or more wireless signal streams (e.g., Figure 1 The THF signals 32 and 34) are communicated with one or more external devices simultaneously.

[0072] like Figure 8 As shown, wireless communication system 95 (sometimes referred to herein as THF system 95, wireless system 95, communication system 95, or simply system 95) may include one or more access points, such as access point 45. Access point 45 may include at least one photodiode 42 coupled to a corresponding antenna 30.

[0073] The wireless communication system 95 may also include a centralized optical controller, such as a central optical controller 90. The central optical controller 90 may also sometimes be referred to as a central mechanism 90, a central chip 90, an optical controller 90, or an optical processor 90. The central optical controller 90 may include control circuits, such as Figure 1 control circuit 14. Figure 6 The components of the wireless circuit 24 may be distributed in Figure 8 between the access point 45 and the central optical controller 90. For example, the central optical controller 90 may include Figure 6 The central optical controller 90 may be communicatively coupled to the access points 45 via optical signal paths, such as optical path 92. For example, the optical path 92 may include one or more optical fibers.

[0074] The central optical controller 90 may be co-located with the access point 45, or may be provided at a location separate from the access point 45. For example, the central optical controller 90, the optical path 92, and the access point 45 may all be enclosed in an electronic device housing such as the housing 102 (e.g., a housing such as Figure 1When configured in this manner, the central optical controller 90, the optical pathways 92, and the access points 45 may all form components of a corresponding device 10 (e.g., a single laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a wristwatch device, a portable media player, a home entertainment console, a desktop computer, a game controller, a head-mounted device, etc.). In these examples, the access points 45 may be distributed across multiple locations on the device 10 (e.g., distributed in corresponding corners of the device housing, on different sides of the device housing, etc.). For example, a single device such as a tablet computer or a cellular telephone may include the central optical controller 90, one or more access points (e.g., one or more antennas) at each corner, and a dielectric waveguide or other optical pathway coupling the central optical controller 90 to the one or more access points. As another example, the central optical controller 90 may be enclosed in a first housing such as housing 96 (e.g., a housing such as Figure 1 12), and the access point 45 is enclosed in a second housing 100 (e.g., a housing such as Figure 1 When configured in this manner, the central optical controller 90 may be located within the first device 10, while the access point 45 is located within the second device 10.

[0075] In other words, the wireless communication system 95 may be located within a single device 10 or may be distributed across multiple devices 10. In examples where the components of the wireless communication system 95 are located within a single device 10, the access point 45 may be separate from or co-located with the central optical controller 90 within the device, and the optical path 92 may have a length on the order of inches, centimeters, or meters. In examples where the components of the wireless communication system 95 are located within different devices 10, the central optical controller 90 may be located in the same room as the access point 45, in a different room of the same building, or in a different building, or may be located in a different geographic area than the access point 45 (e.g., the length of the optical path 92 may be as long as several kilometers, tens of kilometers, hundreds of kilometers, or thousands of kilometers). If desired, the optical path 92 may include multiple optical fibers coupled together in series using optical couplers, optical boosters / amplifiers, optical relays, etc.

[0076] The central optical controller 90 may generate an optical signal (eg, an optical LO signal) for the access point 45. The central optical controller 90 may transmit the optical signal via an optical path 92. The access point 45 may use the optical signal to transmit a wireless signal 94 (eg, Figure 1 To maximize the overall data rate and / or flexibility of THF communications performed using device 10, device 10 may use THF signals 32 / 34 ( Figure 1) to simultaneously transmit multiple wireless data streams. To support the simultaneous transmission of multiple wireless data streams (sometimes referred to herein as wireless data streams), the optical signal used to control the access point 45 to transmit the THF signal needs to have two or more orthogonal degrees of freedom (e.g., to prevent interference between the data streams before reaching the THF domain at the access point). Each degree of freedom can be associated with a separate wireless data stream. As examples, the degrees of freedom may include wavelength (frequency), electromagnetic polarization (e.g., vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization, other polarizations, etc.), transverse optical mode, and orbital angular momentum.

[0077] The one or more access points in the wireless communication system 95 can simultaneously transmit multiple wireless data streams using M sets of different THF signals 94 (e.g., a first THF signal 94-1, an Mth THF signal 94-M, etc.). For example, the access point 45 can perform multi-user (MU) and / or single-user (SU) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communications. In MU MIMO, the access point uses wireless signals 94 to simultaneously transmit multiple wireless data streams to multiple external devices 98 (e.g., M external devices 98, such as the first device 98-1, the Mth device 98-M, etc.) in parallel. In SU MIMO, the access point uses wireless signals 94 to simultaneously transmit multiple wireless data streams to a single external device 98. Each external device 98 can be another device, such as the device 10, a wireless base station, or an access point.

[0078] Each of the M THF signals 94 transmitted by access point 45 can carry a corresponding wireless data stream from a plurality of wireless data streams. This means that each of the M THF signals 94 is generated by wireless communication system 95 using a corresponding combination of orthogonal degrees of freedom (DOFs) of optical signals on optical path 92. For example, THF signal 94-1 (e.g., a THF signal transmitted to a first external device 98-1) can be generated using an optical signal on optical fiber 92 having a first carrier wavelength λ1, a first polarization POL1, a first (transverse) optical mode MOD1, and / or a first orbital angular momentum OAM1, while THF signal 94-M (e.g., a THF signal transmitted to an Mth external device 98-M) can be generated using an optical signal on optical path 92 having an Mth carrier wavelength λM, an Mth polarization POL1, an Mth (transverse) optical mode MODM, and / or an Mth orbital angular momentum OAMM. In general, the more degrees of freedom used to transmit optical signals via optical path 92, the more simultaneous / parallel wireless data streams supported by wireless communication system 95. One or more of these orthogonal degrees of freedom (e.g., optical wavelength, polarization, transverse optical mode, orbital angular momentum, etc.) can be used to support additional parallel wireless data streams to maximize the data rate and / or number of external devices 98 that can communicate at one time. Figure 8The example of is merely illustrative. The wireless communication system 95 may also receive THF signals that convey parallel wireless data streams and are generated by one or more external devices 98 using similar optical degrees of freedom.

[0079] Figure 9 To illustrate how optical fibers in a wireless communication system 95 can support the use of different transverse optical modes (e.g., Figure 8 Figure 1 shows the optical signal propagated by the optical mode MOD). Figure 9 As shown, the wireless communication system 95 may include optical fibers, such as optical fibers 110. The optical fibers 110 may be used to form the optical paths 92 ( Figure 8 ) and / or other optical paths.

[0080] Optical fiber 110 may include a high refractive index core, such as core 114, and may include a low refractive index cladding, such as cladding 112, wrapped (coated) around core 114. Cladding 112 may have a first refractive index n1. Core 114 may have a second refractive index n2. Refractive index n2 may be greater than refractive index n1. This may configure optical fiber 110 to propagate light (optical signal 124) along the length of the optical fiber via total internal reflection.

[0081] In a step-index fiber with a uniform distribution of refractive index n1 over the core 114, the propagation constant β of any guided mode is defined by (n1k0, n2, k0), where k0 is the propagation constant of light in a vacuum. The relative refractive index difference Δ between the core and cladding is defined as Δ = (n1 – n2) / n1. For optical communications, the relative refractive index difference Δ is typically less than 10 -2 Therefore, the fiber modes are weakly guided. According to the weak guiding approximation, the linear polarization (LP) modes can be used to simplify the vector modes of the fiber.

[0082] like Figure 9 As shown, optical fiber 110 can be a step-index optical fiber having a circular cross-sectional area that increases along the length of the optical fiber. This can configure optical fiber 110 to transmit optical signals 124 that propagate using multiple transverse (orthogonal) optical modes such as linear polarization modes LP (sometimes referred to herein as optical modes LP, orthogonal optical modes LP, transverse optical modes LP, or propagation modes LP). Each optical mode LP is transverse to other optical modes LP (e.g., optical modes such as LP) in optical fiber 110. 02 LP 11 LP 12 LP 21 LP 22 LP 23 LP 13 LP 03 LP 04 LP31 LP 32 LP 41 LP 42 LP 51 LP 61 LP 71 and / or higher order modes) and are therefore mathematically orthogonal to these other optical modes LP. The first and second subscripts of the optical modes LP describe the radial and azimuthal variations, respectively. Thus, each optical mode can be used to transmit a corresponding wireless data stream (e.g., to generate Figure 8 The corresponding wireless signal among the M wireless signals 94).

[0083] The optical fiber 110 may support the fundamental (transverse) optical mode LP for the optical signal 124 01 . Figure 9 The graph 116 shows the optical signal 124 propagating along the optical fiber 110 in the fundamental optical mode LP- 01 The cross-sectional energy (intensity) distribution under (eg, as viewed in the direction of arrow 122). As shown in graph 116, in physical space, the fundamental optical mode LP 01 It involves a single intensity symmetric lobe centered at the center of the optical fiber 110. In the fundamental optical mode LP 01 The optical signal 124 transmitted along the optical fiber 110 can be measured by the corresponding propagation constant β 01 and the normalized mode distribution ψ 01 (r,θ) is used to characterize the power A contained in this mode. 01 ψ 01 (r,θ)exp(-j(ωt-β 01 z) is equal to |A 01 | 2 , where A 01 is a constant, r and θ are polar coordinates, j is the square root of -1, t is time, ω is the angular frequency, and z is the propagation distance.

[0084] When the diameter of the optical fiber 110 increases to the point where the number of optical fibers V (defined by Equation 1) is greater than 2.405, the optical fiber can operate in the fundamental mode LP. 11 The light is guided in the next higher order optical mode.

[0085]

[0086] In Equation 1, a is the radius of the core 114. Higher order optical modes LP 11 Through its propagation constant β 11 and the normalized mode distribution ψ 11 (r,θ) is used to characterize the optical mode LP. 11Has double degeneracy. That is, the optical fiber 110 can support two orthogonal optical modes LP 11 Such as (lateral) optical mode LP 11a and optical mode LP 11b , where the optical mode LP 11b Relative to optical mode LP 11a Rotated by 90 degrees (e.g., where the optical mode LP 10 LP 11a and LP 11b All are mathematically and geometrically orthogonal to each other).

[0087] Figure 9 The graph 118 shows the optical signal 124 in the (transverse) optical mode LP- 11a The cross-sectional energy (intensity) distribution under FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 1 , and the graph 120 shows the energy distribution of the optical signal 124 in the (transverse) optical mode LP- as it propagates along the optical fiber 110. 11b 120 ). As shown in graphs 118 and 120 , in physical space, the optical mode LP 11 Each involves two symmetrical intensity lobes of opposite polarity (denoted as + and -) centered about the center of the optical fiber 110. As shown in graphs 118 and 120, the optical mode LP 11a Oriented perpendicular (orthogonal) to the optical mode LP 11b In other words, the fundamental optical mode LP 01 , Optical Mode LP 11a and optical mode LP 11b Each is orthogonal to each other. The optical signal 124 can be in the transverse optical mode LP 01 LP 11a and LP 11b Each of the optical modes LP propagates simultaneously along the optical fiber 110 (eg, wherein the optical mode LP 01 LP 11a and LP 11b are superimposed within the same volume of optical fiber 110). Therefore, the optical mode LP 01 LP 11a and LP 11b Each may be used to transmit a corresponding wireless data stream to the access point 45 (eg, the central optical controller 90 may modulate the individual data streams into the transverse mode LP 01 LP 11a and LP 11b to generate at least three different THF signals 94 for transmission to one or more external devices 98). Figure 9The example of is merely illustrative, and the optical fiber 110 may support more than three optical modes LP, only two optical modes LP, and / or other optical modes LP (eg, even higher-order modes), if desired.

[0088] Figure 10 To illustrate the central optical processor 90 ( Figure 8 ) is a diagram of one example of how an optical signal 124 having multiple simultaneous optical modes LP may be generated (eg, for transmitting multiple orthogonal wireless data streams). Figure 10 As shown, the central optical controller 90 may include light sources such as light sources 130, 132, and 134 (e.g., light sources such as Figure 6 As an example, light sources 130, 132, and 134 may include light emitting diodes or lasers.

[0089] Light source 130 may emit light 142, light source 132 may emit light 140, and light source 134 may emit light 154 (e.g., an optical local oscillator signal). For example, light may be emitted by each of the light sources at the same wavelength. Central optical controller 90 may include optical combiners 146 and 150 (e.g., partially reflecting mirrors). A phase plate, such as phase plate 144, may be optically interposed between light source 130 and optical combiner 146. A collimating lens, such as lens 136, may be optically interposed between phase plate 144 and light source 130. An optical modulator, such as optical modulator 135, may be optically interposed between lens 136 and light source 130. A collimating lens, such as lens 138, may be optically interposed between optical combiner 146 and light source 132. An optical modulator, such as optical modulator 137, may be optically interposed between lens 138 and light source 132. The optical combiner 150 may be optically interposed between the optical combiner 146 and an output lens, such as lens 160. A phase plate, such as phase plate 156, may be optically interposed between the light source 134 and the optical combiner 150. A collimating lens, such as lens 152, may be optically interposed between the light source 134 and the phase plate 156. An optical modulator, such as optical modulator 139, may be optically interposed between the lens 152 and the light source 134.

[0090] Optical modulator 135 may modulate a first wireless data stream onto light 142. Optical modulator 137 may modulate a second wireless data stream onto light 140. Optical modulator 139 may modulate a third wireless data stream onto light 154. As an example, optical modulators 135, 137, and 139 may include an MZM. Light 140 emitted by light source 132 (and modulated by optical modulator 137) may be in a fundamental optical mode LP. 01 Collimating lens 138 may direct light 140 onto optical combiner 146 .

[0091] For example, the light emitted by the light source 130 (and modulated by the optical modulator 135) may be in a fundamental optical mode. The collimating lens 136 may direct the light 142 onto the phase plate 144. The phase plate 144 may transform the fundamental optical mode of the light 142 into a higher order mode, thereby outputting a light in a mode similar to the fundamental optical mode, such as the optical mode LP. 11b The phase plate 144 can be, for example, a thin glass plate with a predetermined refractive index spatial distribution and / or thickness, so that the light 142 is transmitted through the phase plate while being output in the optical mode LP. 11b The phase structure of the phase plate matches the spatial phase distribution of the desired mode distribution. Because the fiber mode distribution is similar to its Fourier transform, the phase plate can be placed at the image plane or Fourier plane of the lens 136. The optical combiner 146 can combine the optical fiber (in the fundamental optical mode LP) with the optical fiber (in the fundamental optical mode LP). 01 ) light 140 and (in optical mode LP 11b The combined light 148 may include the light generated by the optical modulator 135 in the optical mode LP. 11b The first wireless data stream propagates under the optical mode LP, and the first wireless data stream is transmitted by the optical modulator 137 in the optical mode LP. 01 The wireless data streams generated under these conditions are superimposed. Since the optical modes are orthogonal, the wireless data streams will not interfere with each other.

[0092] Meanwhile, for example, the light emitted by the light source 134 (and modulated by the optical modulator 139) may be in a fundamental optical mode. The collimating lens 152 may direct the light 154 onto the phase plate 156. The phase plate 156 may transform the fundamental optical mode of the light 154 into a higher-order mode, thereby outputting a higher-order mode that is orthogonal to the fundamental optical mode and is in phase with the optical mode LP. 11b Such as optical mode LP 11a The phase plate 156 can be oriented perpendicular to the phase plate 144, or the lamp 154 ​​can be operated perpendicular to the operation of the phase plate 144. The phase plate 156 can be, for example, a thin glass plate having a predetermined spatial distribution of refractive index and / or thickness, so that the light 154 is transmitted through the phase plate while being output in the optical mode LP. 11a The phase structure of the phase plate matches the spatial phase distribution of the desired mode distribution. Because the fiber mode distribution is similar to its Fourier transform, the phase plate can be placed at the image plane or Fourier plane of lens 152. Figure 10 The examples are merely illustrative. If desired, the phase plate 144 and / or the phase plate 156 may be a tunable spatial light modulator, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel, and / or a device configured to impart a specific transverse optical mode (e.g., optical mode LP) to the incident light. 11a and LP11b ) can be replaced with any other desired optical components.

[0093] The optical combiner 150 can be (in optical mode LP 11a ) light 154 and (in optical mode LP 01 and LP 11b The combined light 148 is combined to produce the output light 124. The output light 124 may include the optical mode LP generated by the optical modulator 135. 11b The first wireless data stream propagates under the optical mode LP, and the first wireless data stream is transmitted by the optical modulator 137 in the optical mode LP. 01 The second wireless data stream generated by the optical modulator 139 in the optical mode LP is superimposed and 11a The output light 124 can be coupled to an optical fiber (e.g., Figure 8 on an optical path 92) for distribution to one or more access points 45.

[0094] Figure 10 The example of is merely illustrative. More than three light sources and / or additional optical paths can be used to generate even higher-order optical modes for transmitting additional wireless data streams (e.g., the optical fiber in optical path 92 can be a few-mode fiber (FMF) having M optical modes, thereby allowing M wireless data streams to be transmitted simultaneously). Different polarizations and / or carrier frequencies (wavelengths) can also be used to transmit additional simultaneous and orthogonal wireless data streams. If desired, other multiplexers such as spot-based multiplexers can be used instead of optical combiners 146 and 150 to reduce insertion loss from the optical combiner.

[0095] Figure 11 For the Figure 10 The central optical controller 90 is Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a graph of an exemplary output signal 124 (eg, an optical local oscillator signal) generated on the optical path 92 of FIG. Figure 11 The graph plots the signal power as a function of frequency. Figure 11 As shown, the central optical controller 90 can (for example, using an additional light source) be at a corresponding local oscillator frequency f_ LO The optical LO signal 170 is added to the output signal 124. The output signal 124 may include a carrier frequency A (For example, by Figure 10 A modulated carrier 174 having a frequency of light 142, 140 and 154 emitted by light sources 130, 132 and 134.

[0096] The modulated carrier 174 can simultaneously carry (transmit) the optical signals in the fundamental optical mode LP. 01 The first wireless data stream (eg, as generated by the light source 132 and the optical modulator 137) is in the transverse optical mode LP. 11b The second wireless data stream (eg, generated by the light source 130, the optical modulator 135, and the phase plate 144), and the optical mode LP 11a The modulated carrier 174 may be coupled to a local oscillator frequency f LO The phase difference is frequency THF1. An access point 45 that transmits a THF signal using one of the optical modes of the optical LO signal 170 and the modulated carrier 174 will thereby transmit a THF signal at frequency THF1.

[0097] If desired, the central optical controller 90 may include a frequency comb generator that generates optical signals at frequencies f A 、f B 、f C 、f D A set 172 of n uniformly spaced carriers (spectral lines) of equal lengths may be provided. Modulated carrier 174 may be, for example, one of the carriers in set 172 that has been modulated with wireless data. Set 172 may also sometimes be referred to as an optical frequency comb 172. Each carrier in optical frequency comb 172 may be at a respective carrier frequency and may differ from one or two adjacent carriers by a frequency f. r The carriers in optical frequency comb 172 may also sometimes be referred to herein as optical carriers, frequency comb carriers, frequency comb components, spectral peaks, lines, or optical tones (e.g., set 172 may form a comb pattern of optical tones, each at a corresponding carrier frequency, and differing from one or two other optical tones in set 172 by the same frequency f). r ).

[0098] If desired, more than one carrier from the optical frequency comb 172 can be modulated with additional wireless data streams (e.g., to perform wavelength multiplexing). If desired, each carrier can be modulated with wireless data in two or more transverse optical modes, similar to the modulated carrier 174. Each carrier in the modulated optical frequency comb 172 can be used to increase the number of carriers conveyed by the output signal 124 and used to generate the optical frequency comb 172. Figure 8 The total number of simultaneous wireless data streams of the wireless signal is 94.

[0099] The number of simultaneous wireless data streams can be further increased by multiplexing different optical polarizations onto one or more of the carriers and / or one or more of the different optical modes in the optical frequency comb 172. The number of simultaneous wireless data streams can be increased even further by multiplexing different orbital angular momentum onto one or more of the carriers, one or more of the optical modes, and / or one or more of the different polarizations. Time division duplexing can also be used. If desired, the optical LO signal 170 can be added to the output signal 124 using the light source in the access point 45 (e.g., after the output signal has traversed the optical path 92).

[0100] Optical path 92( Figure 8 ) can transmit the output signal 124 to one or more access points 45 for transmitting the wireless signal 94. Figure 12 FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating one example of how access point 45 may use output signal 124 to transmit multiple wireless data streams. Figure 12 In the example of FIG, the output signal 124 includes six parallel wireless data streams, which use two different polarizations POL1 and POL2 (eg, linear horizontal polarization and vertical polarization, respectively) and three optical modes (eg, the fundamental optical mode LP 01 , Optical Mode LP 11a , Optical Mode LP 11b ) to multiplex onto a single modulated carrier frequency (e.g., Figure 11 on the modulated carrier 174).

[0101] like Figure 12 As shown, access point 45 may include optical splitters 188 and 198, phase plates 202 and 210, lenses 186, 204, and 212, and optical paths 206, 214, and 194. Lens 186 may receive output signal 124 from central optical processor 90 via optical path 92. Lens 186 may direct output signal 124 to optical splitter 188. Optical splitter 188 may separate the fundamental optical mode LP from the output signal 124. 01 Two polarizations and higher order optical modes LP 11a and LP 11b The beam splitter 188 can direct the fundamental optical mode LP toward the lens 192. 01 , as shown by arrow 190. The optical splitter 188 can convert the higher order optical mode LP 11a and LP 11b The light is directed to the beam splitter 98 as indicated by arrow 196. The lens 192 can 01 is guided onto an optical fiber 194 (eg, a single-mode fiber (SMF)).

[0102] The optical splitter 198 can convert the optical mode LP 11a Two polarizations and optical mode LP 11a The beam splitter 198 can direct the optical (transverse) mode LP through the phase plate 202 toward the lens 204. 11a , as shown by arrow 200. The beam splitter 198 can direct the optical (transverse) mode LP through the phase plate 210 toward the lens 212. 11b , as shown by arrow 208. The phase plate 202 can 11a The light is converted into the fundamental optical mode LP 01 The lens 204 can convert the optical mode LP 01 is guided onto the optical path 206 (eg, SMF). Similarly, the phase plate 210 can guide the optical mode LP 11b The light is converted into the fundamental optical mode LP 01 The lens 212 can convert the optical mode LP 01 In this way, the access point 45 can reverse the optical mode multiplexing performed by the central optical processor 90 to produce three optical signals on the optical paths 206, 214 and 194, each in a corresponding independent primary optical mode LP. 01 .

[0103] exist Figure 12 In the example of FIG. 1 , each of the optical signals on the optical paths 206 , 214 , and 194 further includes a signal multiplexed into the fundamental optical mode LP. 01 The two optical polarizations POL1 and POL2 are as follows. Figure 12 As shown, the access point 45 may include one or more polarization splitters, such as polarization splitter (PS) 216. Polarization splitter 216 may receive the optical signal in base mode LP on optical path 214. 01 The optical signal may be separated into a first polarization POL1 optical signal on optical path 218 and a second polarization POL2 optical signal on optical path 220 (eg, wherein the first optical signal and the second optical signal convey respective independent wireless data streams).

[0104] The optical signal on the optical path 218 may illuminate the photodiode 182 (eg, a UTC PD such as Figure 6 This may cause the photodiodes 182 to transmit corresponding THF signals (e.g., Figure 8 The frequency of the THF signal can be determined by the optical LO signal 170 at a frequency f_LO and the optical LO signal at a frequency f_LO. A (For example, Figure 11 The frequency difference (eg, frequency gap) between the modulated carriers 174 of the frequency THF1 is given. A set of antennas 180 may include one or more antenna radiating element arms 36 ( Figure 6 If desired, a group of antennas 180 may form a phased antenna array.

[0105] Similarly, the optical signal on optical path 220 may illuminate photodiode 184 (eg, a UTC PD such as Figure 6 This may cause the photodiodes 184 to transmit corresponding THF signals (e.g., Figure 8 The frequency of the THF signal can be determined by the optical LO signal 170 at a frequency f_LO and the optical LO signal at a frequency f_LO. A (For example, Figure 11 The frequency difference (eg, frequency gap) between the modulated carriers 174 of the frequency THF1 is given. A set of antennas 180 may include one or more antenna radiating element arms 36 ( Figure 6 If desired, a set of antennas 180 coupled to photodiodes 182 may form Figure 4 The antenna 30V, and a set of antennas 180 coupled to the photodiode 184 form Figure 4 The THF signal emitted by the photodiode 182 may be in a first polarization, while the THF signal emitted by the photodiode 184 may be in a second polarization.

[0106] Access point 45 may include similar photodiodes and antennas for transmitting THF signals based on the two polarizations of the optical signals on optical paths 206 and 194 (e.g., access point 45 may include a total of six photodiodes for transmitting six independent wireless data streams, one photodiode each corresponding to polarization POL1 / POL2 and optical mode LP). 01 / LP 11a / LP 11b For example, the optical signal on optical path 206 may be used to transmit the THF signal to the first external device 98, the optical signal on optical path 214 may be used to transmit the THF signal to the second external device 98, and the optical signal on optical path 194 may be used to transmit the THF signal to the third external device 98.

[0107] Figure 12The example of is illustrative only. Access point 45 may use output signal 124 to equivalently receive the THF signal in a simultaneous parallel wireless data stream (e.g., where the output signal is not modulated with wireless data). Output signal 124 may include any desired number of frequencies (e.g., Figure 11 frequencies in the optical frequency comb 172), polarizations (eg, polarizations POL1 and POL2), and / or optical modes (eg, optical mode LP 01 LP 11a LP 11b 1 and / or higher-order modes). Each combination may correspond to a respective wireless data stream that may be transmitted in parallel by access point 45. Typically, access point 45 may include a respective photodiode and a set of antennas 180 for each wireless data stream. If desired, optical paths 206, 214, and 194 may include waveguides. For example, offloading optical multiplexing for the parallel wireless data streams to a central optical controller 90 may be used to minimize the resources and power consumed by access point 45.

[0108] If desired, the number of simultaneous wireless data streams (optical degrees of freedom) handled by the wireless communication system 95 can be further increased by multiplexing different orbital angular momentum (OAM, sometimes also referred to as AOM) onto the optical signal (e.g., using OAM multiplexing alone or in combination with wavelength, polarization, and / or optical mode multiplexing). OAM beams can have an infinite number of states and are sometimes referred to as twisted OAM beams. If desired, the wireless data can be mapped to higher-order modulation formats, such as quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

[0109] Due to orthogonality, the superposition of OAM with another mode of opposite topological charge can allow the generation of new modes with lobe-like transverse intensity distributions that are orthogonal to the other OAM states. Composites of OAM modes with different |l| can further be used as independent data carriers orthogonal to the other states. OAM fiber modes can be denoted as OAM l,m , where l is the azimuthal index and m is the number of concentric radial rings in the transverse intensity distribution of these modes. OAM fiber modes can be expressed as a function of the hybrid HE or EH modes, as shown in Equations 2 and 3.

[0110]

[0111]

[0112] In Equations 2 and 3, the subscripts refer to the handedness of the rotation of the circular polarization state. and are degenerate (i.e., have the same effective refractive index), which means that the linear combination mode It is also an inherent mode of optical fiber and can be used as an independent data carrier.

[0113] OAM is simply a subspace of the complete Laguerre Gaussian (LG) mode basis. LG beams form a complete orthogonal basis and are characterized by an azimuthal index l and a radial index p, with the former being responsible for the OAM. The LG mode is described by Equation 4.

[0114]

[0115] Figure 13 is available along the optical path 92 ( Figure 8 ) is a perspective view of two exemplary orthogonal OAM modes simultaneously transmitting corresponding wireless data streams. Figure 13 As shown, optical signal 230 has a first OAM of l = -1, wherein the intensity of the signal follows a right-handed spiral shape around the propagation direction (axis) 232, as indicated by arrow 234. Optical signal 236 has a second OAM of l = +1, wherein the intensity of the signal follows a left-handed spiral shape around the propagation direction 232, as indicated by arrow 238. Optical signals 230 and 236 are orthogonal and can be superimposed on the same volume of optical fiber (e.g., in optical path 92) to independently transmit respective wireless data streams. Access point 45 may include optical structures that separate optical signal 230 from optical signal 236 (e.g., by OAM separation of the optical signals) to generate respective THF signals (e.g., Figure 8 Such OAM multiplexing may be the only multiplexing used by the wireless communication system 95 or may be combined with wavelength multiplexing, polarization multiplexing, and / or optical mode multiplexing to increase the number of parallel wireless data streams supported by the system.

[0116] Figure 14 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by the wireless communication system 98 and one or more external devices 10 to communicate using multiple wireless data streams.

[0117] At operation 240, the central optical controller 90 may output an optical signal on the optical path 92. The optical signal may include signals for transmission to one or more external devices 98 (e.g., Figure 8 The central optical controller 90 can utilize multiplexing of one or more orthogonal degrees of freedom of the optical fiber in the optical path 92 to independently transmit the wireless data streams. For example, the central optical controller 90 can generate output signals 124 having a plurality of optical modes modulated to an optical mode (e.g., optical mode LP). 01 LP 11a LP 11b etc.), (e.g., Figure 11 ) carrier wavelength, polarization (e.g., within the optical frequency comb 172) Figure 12 POL1 and POL2) and / or orbital angular momentum (e.g., using Figure 13 The central optical controller 90 can be configured to transmit wireless data streams on different corresponding combinations of optical signals 230 with l = -1 and optical signals 236 with l = +1 (as shown). In other words, the central optical controller 90 can perform optical mode multiplexing, wavelength multiplexing, OAM multiplexing, and / or polarization multiplexing on the output signal 124. If desired, each combination of these factors can have its own corresponding modulation sequence. If desired, the central optical controller 90 can also perform time division duplexing (TDD) of the wireless data. The central optical controller 90 can provide the output signal 124 to one or more access points 45 via the optical path 92.

[0118] At operation 242, one or more access points 45 may transmit a wireless signal 94 at a THF frequency given by the frequency difference between the optical LO signal frequency f_LO and one or more carrier frequencies in the output signal 124 ( Figure 8 ). Access point 45 may transmit corresponding wireless signals carrying each of the wireless data streams (in the THF domain) corresponding to each combination of optical mode, carrier wavelength, polarization, and / or orbital angular momentum (in the optical domain) in output signal 124. Access point 45 may transmit the wireless signals to one or more external devices 98 (e.g., using a SU MIMO scheme or a MU MIMO scheme). In other words, the access point may transmit each wireless data stream (from the optical domain) in the THF domain using a corresponding photodiode and a corresponding antenna and a corresponding combination of wavelength, polarization, and / or time resources.

[0119] At operation 246, one or more external devices 98 may receive each of the wireless data streams transmitted by one or more access points 45. For example, there may be M external devices 98 that each receive a respective wireless signal 94 conveying a respective wireless data stream. One or more external devices 98 may receive multiple wireless data streams. Figure 14 The example of is merely illustrative, and the optical signal may not be modulated if desired (eg, to receive multiple THF signal streams at the wireless communication system 95).

[0120] Device 10 may collect and / or use personally identifiable information. As is well known, the use of personally identifiable information should comply with privacy policies and practices recognized to meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly stated to the user. If desired, the optical components described herein (e.g., MZM modulators, waveguides, phase shifters, UTC PDs, etc.) can be implemented in plasmonic technology.

[0121] Combined with the above Figures 1 to 13 The methods and operations described (e.g., Figure 10 and Figure 13 The operations of the present invention may be performed by the components of device 10 using software, firmware, and / or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuitry or hardware). The software code for performing these operations may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a tangible computer-readable storage medium) stored on one or more of the components of device 10 (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium). Figure 1 The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media may include a drive, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), a removable flash drive or other removable media, other types of random access memory, etc. The software stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage media may be executed by processing circuitry on one or more of the components of device 10 (e.g., Figure 1 The processing circuit may include a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit with a processing circuit, or other processing circuits.

[0122] According to an embodiment, a communication system is provided, which includes: an optical component configured to generate an optical signal having a first data stream modulated onto a first optical mode of the optical signal and a second data stream modulated onto a second optical mode of the optical signal, the second optical mode being orthogonal to the first optical mode; a light source configured to add an optical local oscillator (LO) signal to the optical signal; a first antenna radiating element; a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal through the first antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the first optical mode of the optical signal; a second antenna radiating element; and a second photodiode coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode configured to transmit a second wireless signal through the second antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the second optical mode of the optical signal.

[0123] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode comprises a fundamental mode of the optical signal, and the second optical mode comprises a higher order mode of the optical signal than the fundamental mode.

[0124] According to another embodiment, the optical signal has a third data stream modulated onto a third optical mode of the optical signal, the third optical mode being orthogonal to the first optical mode and the second optical mode.

[0125] According to another embodiment, the third optical mode comprises the mode of the optical signal that is higher order than the fundamental mode.

[0126] According to another embodiment, the communication system includes a third antenna radiating element and a third photodiode, wherein the third photodiode is coupled to the third antenna radiating element, and the third photodiode is configured to transmit a third wireless signal based on the optical LO signal and the third optical mode of the optical signal through the third antenna radiating element.

[0127] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode and the second optical mode of the optical signal are modulated onto a carrier wave that differs in frequency from the optical LO signal by a gap frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz, the first photodiode is configured to transmit the first wireless signal at the gap frequency, and the second photodiode is configured to transmit the second wireless signal at the gap frequency.

[0128] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal is modulated onto a first carrier wave that differs in frequency from the optical LO signal by a first gap frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz, and the second optical mode of the optical signal is modulated onto a second carrier wave that is greater in frequency than the first carrier wave.

[0129] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal and the first wireless signal are in a first polarization, and the second optical mode of the optical signal and the second wireless signal are in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization.

[0130] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

[0131] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

[0132] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal and the first wireless signal are in a first polarization, and the second optical mode of the optical signal and the second wireless signal are in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization.

[0133] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

[0134] According to another embodiment, the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

[0135] According to another embodiment, the optical components include: a first additional light source and a phase plate, which are configured to generate the first optical mode of the optical signal; a second additional light source, which is configured to generate the second optical mode of the optical signal; and an optical combiner, which is configured to combine the first optical mode of the optical signal with the second optical mode of the optical signal.

[0136] According to an embodiment, a communication system is provided, which includes: an optical path; optical components configured to generate an optical signal on the optical path, the optical signal having a first data stream and a second data stream modulated onto the optical signal, the first data stream being carried by a first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, and the second data stream being carried by a second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, the second orbital angular momentum being opposite to the first orbital angular momentum; a light source configured to generate an optical local oscillator (LO) signal in the optical signal; a first antenna radiating element; a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal through the first antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal; a second antenna radiating element; and a second photodiode coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode configured to transmit a second wireless signal through the second antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal.

[0137] According to another embodiment, the first data stream and the second data stream are modulated onto a carrier wave of the optical signal, the carrier wave being offset in frequency from the optical LO signal by at least 100 GHz.

[0138] According to another embodiment, the first photodiode comprises a first single line carrier photodiode (UTCPD), and the second photodiode comprises a second UTC PD.

[0139] According to an embodiment, a method of operating a communication system is provided, the method comprising: modulating a first wireless data stream onto a first transverse mode of an optical signal at a carrier frequency; modulating a second wireless data stream onto a second transverse mode of the optical signal at the carrier frequency, the second transverse mode being orthogonal to the first transverse mode; utilizing one or more optical paths, illuminating a first photodiode using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and an optical local oscillator (LO) signal, and illuminating a second photodiode using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal; utilizing the first photodiode, transmitting the first wireless data stream to a first device at a frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz through a first antenna radiating element using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal; and utilizing the second photodiode, transmitting the second wireless data stream to a second device at the frequency through a second antenna radiating element using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal.

[0140] According to another embodiment, the first transverse mode comprises a fundamental mode of the optical path, and the second transverse mode comprises a higher order mode of the optical path than the fundamental mode.

[0141] According to another embodiment, the first transverse mode of the optical signal has a polarization and the second transverse mode of the optical signal has the polarization.

[0142] The foregoing is merely exemplary and various modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising: An optical component configured to generate an optical signal having a first data stream modulated onto a first optical mode of the optical signal and having a second data stream modulated onto a second optical mode of the optical signal, the second optical mode being orthogonal to the first optical mode, the optical component comprising: a first light source configured to emit light and a phase plate configured to generate the first optical mode of the optical signal; a second light source configured to generate the second optical mode of the optical signal; an optical combiner configured to combine the first optical mode of the optical signal with the second optical mode of the optical signal; a third light source configured to add an optical local oscillator (LO) signal to the optical signal; a first antenna radiating element; a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal based on the optical LO signal and the first optical mode of the optical signal through the first antenna radiating element; a second antenna radiating element; and A second photodiode is coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode being configured to transmit a second wireless signal through the second antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the second optical mode of the optical signal. 2 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical mode comprises a fundamental mode of the optical signal, and the second optical mode comprises a higher-order mode of the optical signal than the fundamental mode. 3 . The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the optical signal has a third data stream modulated onto a third optical mode of the optical signal, the third optical mode being orthogonal to the first optical mode and the second optical mode. 4 . The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the third optical mode comprises the mode of the optical signal that is higher in order than the fundamental mode.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, further comprising: a third antenna radiating element; and A third photodiode is coupled to the third antenna radiating element, the third photodiode being configured to transmit a third wireless signal through the third antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the third optical mode of the optical signal.

6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical mode and the second optical mode of the optical signal are modulated onto a carrier wave that differs in frequency from the optical LO signal by a gap frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz, the first photodiode is configured to transmit the first wireless signal at the gap frequency, and the second photodiode is configured to transmit the second wireless signal at the gap frequency.

7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal is modulated onto a first carrier wave that differs in frequency from the optical LO signal by a first gap frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz, and the second optical mode of the optical signal is modulated onto a second carrier wave that is greater in frequency than the first carrier wave.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal and the first wireless signal are in a first polarization, and the second optical mode of the optical signal and the second wireless signal are in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. 9 . The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

10. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal and the first wireless signal are in a first polarization, and the second optical mode of the optical signal and the second wireless signal are in a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. 12 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum. 13 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first optical mode of the optical signal has a first orbital angular momentum, and the second optical mode of the optical signal has a second orbital angular momentum opposite to the first orbital angular momentum.

14. A communication system, comprising: Optical path; an optical component configured to generate an optical signal on the optical path, the optical signal having a first data stream and a second data stream modulated onto the optical signal, the first data stream being carried by a first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, and the second data stream being carried by a second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal, the second orbital angular momentum being opposite to the first orbital angular momentum; a light source configured to generate an optical local oscillator (LO) signal in the optical signal; a first antenna radiating element; a first photodiode coupled to the first antenna radiating element, the first photodiode configured to transmit a first wireless signal through the first antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the first orbital angular momentum of the optical signal; a second antenna radiating element; and A second photodiode is coupled to the second antenna radiating element, the second photodiode being configured to transmit a second wireless signal through the second antenna radiating element based on the optical LO signal and the second orbital angular momentum of the optical signal.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the first and second data streams are modulated onto a carrier wave of the optical signal, the carrier wave being offset in frequency from the optical LO signal by at least 100 GHz. 16 . The communication system of claim 14 , wherein the first photodiode comprises a first single line carrier photodiode (UTC PD), and the second photodiode comprises a second UTC PD.

17. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising: modulating a first wireless data stream onto a first transverse mode of an optical signal at a carrier frequency; generating a second transverse mode of the optical signal at the carrier frequency based on light emitted by a light source using a phase plate, the second transverse mode being orthogonal to the first transverse mode; modulating a second wireless data stream onto the second transverse mode of the optical signal at the carrier frequency; illuminating a first photodiode using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and an optical local oscillator (LO) signal, and illuminating a second photodiode using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal, using one or more optical paths; transmitting, using the first photodiode, the first wireless data stream to a first device via a first antenna radiating element using the first transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal at a frequency greater than or equal to 100 GHz; as well as The second wireless data stream is transmitted to a second device at the frequency using the second transverse mode of the optical signal and the optical LO signal via a second antenna radiating element with the second photodiode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first transverse mode comprises a fundamental mode of the optical path, and the second transverse mode comprises a higher-order mode of the optical path than the fundamental mode.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first transverse mode of the optical signal has a polarization, and the second transverse mode of the optical signal has the polarization.

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