A transceiving bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module and a packaging structure thereof

Abstract

The application provides a transceiving bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module, which comprises an electric switch, an electro-optical modulator, a photoelectric detector, a numerical control electric attenuator, a numerical control electric delay, a serial-to-parallel driver, a numerical control optical delay and a laser. The numerical control electric delay and the numerical control optical delay are connected in cascade, so that the module has the characteristics of large delay, high precision and low loss. The transceiving bidirectional switching is realized through the electric switch, and only one set of photoelectric hybrid delay link is needed. The electric switch is controlled through the switching control level, and the switching speed is fast. The numerical control electric delay and the numerical control optical delay are controlled through the serial-to-parallel driver, and the number of control interfaces is small. The link attenuation control is realized through the numerical control electric attenuator, and the module has the link gain adjustment function. The module can be realized through the bare chip co-encapsulation, and has the characteristics of large delay, low loss, high precision, adjustable gain, integrable packaging and transceiving bidirectional delay.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of phased arrays, and in particular to a bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving and a packaging structure thereof. Background Art

[0002] Phased array systems achieve beamforming through adjustable true delay networks, offering wide scanning angles, wide instantaneous bandwidth, and no beam tilt, and possessing broad application prospects. As the operating frequency of phased array antennas continues to increase, the spacing between antenna elements is shrinking. To enhance the power of phased array radars, antenna apertures are increasing, leading to a continuous increase in array size. Consequently, the number of adjustable delay line bits in optically controlled beamforming networks is increasing, while the delay step size is shrinking.

[0003] Currently, adjustable true delay modules often use digitally controlled electrical delays or digitally controlled optical delays for true delay adjustment. However, due to the limited number of delay bits in digitally controlled electrical delays and the high loss during long delays, the maximum delay of these delays is relatively small. Digitally controlled optical delays have low loss, but the optical waveguide is susceptible to environmental influences, which limits delay accuracy. Therefore, a solution is to leverage the advantages of digitally controlled electrical delays and digitally controlled optical delays by cascading them together, leveraging the advantages of the digitally controlled electrical delay's low delay and high precision, and the digitally controlled optical delay's large delay and low loss. Digitally controlled electrical delays inherently have bidirectional transmit and receive capabilities, while digitally controlled optical delays require an electro-optical modulator and photodetector. Electrical signals can only be input through the electro-optical modulator and output through the photodetector, resulting in a one-way delay. Currently, two solutions are commonly used for bidirectional optical delay transmission and reception using digitally controlled optical delay devices. One solution uses two sets of optical delay links for receiving and transmitting delays respectively. This solution requires more delay components and is large in size, weight and cost. The other solution uses an optical circulator for optical path switching, multiplexing the same set of optical delay links. However, the isolation of the optical circulator is limited, and the optical circulator is not easy to integrate into chips, resulting in insufficient isolation and integration.

[0004] Phased array systems require not only multi-channel adjustable true delay modules for inter-channel delay adjustment but also for amplitude consistency across multiple channels. Therefore, it is particularly important to propose a bidirectional optoelectronic hybrid delay module for transmission and reception that features large delay, low loss, high precision, amplitude adjustment, and integrated packaging, suitable for phased array systems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the background technology, the present invention proposes a bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving and its packaging structure.

[0006] The present invention proposes a bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving, comprising an electric switch, an electro-optical modulator, a photodetector, a digitally controlled electric attenuator, a digitally controlled electric delay, a serial-to-parallel driver, a digitally controlled optical delay, and a laser.

[0007] The laser, electro-optical modulator, photodetector, digitally controlled electric attenuator, digitally controlled electric delay, serial-to-parallel driver and digitally controlled optical delay device together constitute an optoelectronic delay link, and the digitally controlled electric attenuator controls the link attenuation value according to the driving signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver, and the digitally controlled electric delay device and digitally controlled optical delay device control the link delay value according to the driving signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver;

[0008] The electric switch has four RF interfaces: the first port, the second port, the third port, and the fourth port. The first and third ports are connected to external input and output signals. The second port inputs the received RF signal into the optoelectronic delay link within the module. The fourth port outputs the RF signal output by the optoelectronic delay link through the electric switch. The electric switch switches between two working states according to the switch switching control signal:

[0009] Working state 1: the first port is connected to the second port, and the third port is connected to the fourth port;

[0010] Working state 2: the first port is connected to the fourth port, and the second port is connected to the third port.

[0011] This enables the sending and receiving switching function.

[0012] Preferably, the second port inputs the received RF signal into the electro-optical modulator, the laser output laser passes through the electro-optical modulator to complete electro-optical conversion, the electro-optical modulator outputs the optical signal and passes through the digitally controlled optical delay device to complete optical delay, the delayed optical signal is input into the photodetector to complete photoelectric conversion, the output electrical signal passes through the digitally controlled electrical attenuator for gain adjustment, the electrical signal after gain adjustment is input into the digitally controlled electrical delay device for electrical delay, the electrical signal after delay is input into the fourth port of the electrical switch, and finally the RF signal is output through the electrical switch.

[0013] Preferably, the minimum electrical delay step of the digital controlled electrical delay device is Δt, the number of electrical delay bits is m, and the minimum optical delay step of the digital controlled optical delay device is 2 m Δt, the number of optical delay bits is n, the delay step of the entire optoelectronic delay link is Δt, and the number of delay bits is (m+n).

[0014] Preferably, the electric switch, electro-optical modulator, photodetector, digitally controlled electric attenuator, digitally controlled electric delay and serial-to-parallel driver are independently packaged devices and are connected to the digitally controlled optical delay and the laser.

[0015] Preferably, the electric switch, the electro-optical modulator, the photoelectric detector, the digital controlled electric attenuator, the digital controlled electric delay and the serial-to-parallel driver are co-packaged as bare chips and connected with the digital controlled optical delay and the laser.

[0016] The application provides a packaging structure of a transceiving bidirectional optoelectronic hybrid delay module.

[0017] The packaging structure further comprises an optical chip, an optical fiber, a bias control chip, a transimpedance amplification chip, a first seat, a second seat, an inner cover plate, solder balls, a bottom plate and a tube shell.

[0018] The optical chip is integrated with functional units of the electro-optical modulator and the photoelectric detector, the optical chip is connected with the optical fiber through end face optical coupling for optical signal connection, and the optical chip is welded with the first seat through flip-chip welding for electrical signal interconnection.

[0019] The bias control chip is attached to the first seat and connected with surface wiring of the first seat through wire bonding, and connected with the optical chip through a metal via in the first seat for closed-loop control of bias voltage of the electro-optical modulator in the optical chip.

[0020] The transimpedance amplification chip is attached to the first seat and connected with surface wiring of the first seat through wire bonding, and connected with the optical chip through a metal via in the first seat for transimpedance amplification of an output signal of the photoelectric detector in the optical chip.

[0021] The electric switch, the digital controlled electric attenuator, the digital controlled electric delay and the serial-to-parallel driver are attached to the second seat and connected with surface wiring of the second seat through wire bonding, and electrically interconnected through a metal via in the second seat.

[0022] The first seat, the second seat and the bottom plate are connected and signal-transmitted through the solder balls, and the internal cavities of the first seat and the second seat are partially sealed through the inner cover plate; the optical fiber is welded on the tube shell, and the tube shell is welded on the bottom plate to form a co-packaged module.

[0023] The co-packaged module is electrically connected with external electrical signals through the solder balls; the co-packaged module, the digital controlled optical delay and the laser are welded on the same printed board, optically connected through the optical fiber, and electrically connected through the bottom solder balls and internal wiring of the printed board.

[0024] The application has the characteristics of large delay, high precision and low loss by cascading the small delay amount high precision numerical control electric delay and the large delay amount low loss numerical control optical delay, and the receiving and transmitting bidirectional switching is realized by the electric switch, and only one set of optical and electrical hybrid delay link is needed, the extinction ratio of the electric switch is high, the electric switch chip is easy to be co-packaged with the optical and electrical hybrid, the electric switch is controlled by the switch switching control level, the switching speed is fast, the numerical control electric delay and the numerical control optical delay are controlled by the serial to parallel driver, the control interface quantity is small, the link attenuation control is realized by the numerical control electric attenuator, the gain adjustment function is provided, the module internal composition unit can be realized by the bare chip co-packaging, and the whole module has the characteristics of large delay amount, low loss, high precision, adjustable gain, integrable packaging and receiving and transmitting bidirectional delay.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the application has the following advantages:

[0026] 1. The application cascades the small delay amount high precision numerical control electric delay and the large delay amount low loss numerical control optical delay, and has the characteristics of large delay, high precision and low loss.

[0027] 2. The application realizes the receiving and transmitting bidirectional delay function by the electric switch, and only one set of optical and electrical hybrid delay link is needed, the extinction ratio of the electric switch is high, the electric switch chip is easy to be co-packaged with the optical and electrical hybrid, and the module size is further reduced.

[0028] 3. The electric switch of the application is controlled by the switch switching control level, and the switching speed is fast. The numerical control electric delay and the numerical control optical delay are controlled by the serial to parallel driver, the control interface quantity of the numerical control electric delay and the numerical control optical delay is reduced by the delay attenuation control code.

[0029] 4. The numerical control electric attenuator of the application can realize the link attenuation control according to the driving signal output by the serial to parallel driver, and has the multi-channel optical and electrical delay amplitude consistency adjustment function.

[0030] 5. The electric switch, the electro-optical modulator, the photoelectric detector, the numerical control electric attenuator, the numerical control electric delay and the serial to parallel driver in the application can be connected with the numerical control optical delay and the laser with independent packaging. They can also be co-packaged with the bare chip, and the module bottom solder balls are electrically interconnected with the numerical control optical delay and the laser after packaging, and the module top optical fiber interface is optically interconnected with the numerical control optical delay and the laser. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 The application provides a receiving and transmitting bidirectional optical and electrical hybrid delay module, and a structure schematic diagram of the module is shown in the figure.

[0032] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the signal flow of a bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module proposed by the present invention when receiving a signal;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the signal flow of a bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module proposed in the present invention when transmitting a signal;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the packaging structure of the bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving proposed by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference Figure 1 The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving proposed in the present invention includes an electric switch 1, an electro-optical modulator 2, a photodetector 3, a digitally controlled electric attenuator 4, a digitally controlled electric delay 5, a serial-to-parallel driver 6, a digitally controlled optical delay 7 and a laser 8.

[0036] The laser 8, electro-optical modulator 2, photodetector 3, digitally controlled electric attenuator 4, digitally controlled electric delay 5, serial-to-parallel driver 6, and digitally controlled optical delay 7 together constitute an optoelectronic delay link. The digitally controlled electric attenuator 4 can control the link attenuation value according to the drive signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver 6, which is conducive to adjusting the amplitude consistency between channels in a multi-channel optoelectronic delay scenario. The digitally controlled electric delay 5 and the digitally controlled optical delay 7 jointly complete the link delay setting. The digitally controlled electric delay 5 and the digitally controlled optical delay 7 can control the link delay value according to the drive signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver 6. The minimum electric delay step of the digitally controlled electric delay 5 is Δt, the number of electric delay bits is m, and the minimum optical delay step of the digitally controlled optical delay 7 is 2 m Δt, the number of optical delay bits is n, the delay step of the entire optoelectronic delay link is Δt, and the number of delay bits is (m+n), which combines the advantages of 5 small delay and high precision of digital control electric delay device and 7 large delay and low loss of digital control optical delay device.

[0037] The electric switch 1 has four radio frequency interfaces: a first port 11, a second port 12, a third port 13, and a fourth port 14. The first port 11 and the third port 13 are connected to external input and output signals. The second port 12 inputs the received radio frequency signal into the optoelectronic delay link in the module, and the fourth port 14 outputs the radio frequency signal output by the optoelectronic delay link through the electric switch 1. Specifically, the second port 12 inputs the received radio frequency signal into the electro-optical modulator 2, the laser 8 outputs the laser through the electro-optical modulator 2 to complete the electro-optical conversion, the electro-optical modulator 2 outputs the optical signal through the digitally controlled optical delay device 7 to complete the optical delay, and after the delay, the optical signal is input to the photodetector 3 to complete the photoelectric conversion, the output electrical signal is gain adjusted through the digitally controlled electrical attenuator 4, and after the gain adjustment, the electrical signal is input to the digitally controlled electrical delay device 5 for electrical delay, and the electrical signal is input to the fourth port 14 of the electric switch 1, and finally the radio frequency signal is output through the electric switch 1.

[0038] Reference Figure 2-3 Taking the first port 11 receiving an external signal and the third port 13 transmitting an external signal as a receiving state, and taking the first port 11 transmitting an external signal and the third port 13 receiving an external signal as a transmitting state as an example, the electric switch 1 switches between two working states according to the switch switching control signal:

[0039] Working state 1: the first port 11 is connected to the second port 12, and the third port 13 is connected to the fourth port 14. Figure 2 As shown, the delay of receiving signal is realized;

[0040] Working state 2: the first port 11 is connected to the fourth port 14, and the second port 12 is connected to the third port 13. Figure 3 As shown, the transmission signal delay is realized;

[0041] This enables the bidirectional switching function of sending and receiving.

[0042] As can be seen from the above, the present invention has the characteristics of large delay, high precision and low loss by cascading a small delay, high-precision digitally controlled electrical delay device 5 with a large delay, low loss digitally controlled optical delay device 7. The bidirectional switching of transmission and reception is performed through the electric switch 1, and only one set of optoelectronic hybrid delay link is needed to realize the bidirectional transmission and reception delay function. In addition, the extinction ratio of the electric switch 1 is high, and the electric switch 1 chip is easy to be optoelectronically hybrid co-packaged. The electric switch 1 is controlled by switching the control level, and the switching speed is fast. The digitally controlled electrical delay device 5 and the digitally controlled optical delay device 7 are controlled by a serial-to-parallel driver 6, and the number of control interfaces is small. Link attenuation control is performed through the digitally controlled electric attenuator 4, and a gain adjustment function is provided. The component units in the module can be realized by co-packaging the bare chip. The entire module has the characteristics of large delay, low loss, high precision, adjustable gain, integrated packaging and bidirectional transmission and reception delay.

[0043] In addition, in this embodiment, the electric switch 1, the electro-optical modulator 2, the photodetector 3, the digitally controlled electric attenuator 4, the digitally controlled electric delay 5 and the serial-to-parallel driver 6 can be independently packaged devices connected to the digitally controlled optical delay 7 and the laser 8, or they can all be bare chips that are co-packaged and then connected to the digitally controlled optical delay 7 and the laser 8 after co-packaging.

[0044] Reference Figure 4 The present invention proposes a packaging structure for a bidirectional optoelectronic hybrid delay module, comprising: the bidirectional optoelectronic hybrid delay module described above, as well as an optical chip 20, an optical fiber 21, a bias control chip 22, a transimpedance amplifier chip 23, a first base 24, a second base 25, an inner cover 26, solder balls 27, a base plate 28, and a tube shell 29, wherein:

[0045] The optical chip 20 integrates the function units of the electro-optical modulator 2 and the photoelectric detector 3, and is connected with the optical fiber 21 through end face optical coupling to realize optical signal connection, and is welded with the first seat 24 through flip-chip to realize electrical signal interconnection. The bias control chip 22 is bonded on the first seat 24, and is connected with the surface wiring of the first seat 24 through wire bonding, and is connected with the optical chip 20 through the internal metal via of the first seat 24 to realize closed-loop control of the bias voltage of the electro-optical modulator 2 in the optical chip 20. The transimpedance amplification chip 23 is bonded on the first seat 24, and is connected with the surface wiring of the first seat 24 through wire bonding, and is connected with the optical chip 20 through the internal metal via of the first seat 24 to realize transimpedance amplification of the output signal of the photoelectric detector 3 in the optical chip 20. The electrical switch 1, the digital controlled electrical attenuator 4, the digital controlled electrical delay 5 and the serial-to-parallel driver 6 are bonded on the second seat 25, and are connected with the surface wiring of the second seat 25 through wire bonding, and are electrically interconnected through the internal metal via of the second seat 25. The first seat 24, the second seat 25 and the bottom plate 28 are connected and signal-transmitted through the soldering balls 27. The internal cavities of the first seat 24 and the second seat 25 are partially sealed through the inner cover plate 26, the optical fiber 21 is welded on the tube shell 29, and the tube shell 29 is welded on the bottom plate 28 to seal the whole module, thereby forming the co-packaged module 9.

[0046] The co-packaged module 9 is connected with external electrical signals through the soldering balls 27. The co-packaged module 9, the digital controlled optical delay 7 and the laser 8 are welded on the same printed board, are connected with each other through the optical fiber 21, and are connected with each other through the bottom soldering balls 27 and the internal wiring of the printed board.

[0047] The above is only the preferred specific embodiment of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can make equivalent replacement or change according to the technical scheme and the inventive concept of the present application within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving, characterized in that: include: An electric switch (1), an electro-optical modulator (2), a photodetector (3), a digitally controlled electric attenuator (4), a digitally controlled electric delay (5), a serial-to-parallel driver (6), a digitally controlled optical delay (7) and a laser (8); The laser (8), the electro-optical modulator (2), the photodetector (3), the digitally controlled electric attenuator (4), the digitally controlled electric delay device (5), the serial-to-parallel driver (6) and the digitally controlled optical delay device (7) together form a photoelectric delay link, and the digitally controlled electric attenuator (4) controls the link attenuation value according to the driving signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver (6) to achieve link gain adjustment, and the digitally controlled electric delay device (5) and the digitally controlled optical delay device (7) control the link delay according to the driving signal output by the serial-to-parallel driver (6); The electric switch (1) has four radio frequency interfaces: a first port (11), a second port (12), a third port (13), and a fourth port (14). The first port (11) and the third port (13) are connected to external input and output signals. The second port (12) inputs the received radio frequency signal into the photoelectric delay link. The fourth port (14) outputs the radio frequency signal output by the photoelectric delay link through the electric switch (1). The electric switch (1) switches between two working states according to the switch switching control signal: Working state 1: the first port (11) is connected to the second port (12), and the third port (13) is connected to the fourth port (14); Working state 2: the first port (11) is connected to the fourth port (14), and the second port (12) is connected to the third port (13).

2. The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving according to claim 1 is characterized in that the second port (12) inputs the received radio frequency signal into the electro-optical modulator (2); the laser (8) outputs laser light and passes through the electro-optical modulator (2) to complete electro-optical conversion; the electro-optical modulator (2) outputs an optical signal and passes through a digitally controlled optical delay device (7) to complete optical delay; after delay, the optical signal is input into the photodetector (3) to complete photoelectric conversion, and the output electrical signal passes through a digitally controlled electrical attenuator (4) for gain adjustment; after gain adjustment, the electrical signal is input into the digitally controlled electrical delay device (5) for electrical delay, and after delay, the electrical signal is input into the fourth port (14) of the electrical switch (1), and finally the radio frequency signal is output through the electrical switch (1).

3. The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving according to claim 2 is characterized in that the minimum electrical delay step of the digitally controlled electrical delay device (5) is Δt, and the number of electrical delay bits is m; the minimum optical delay step of the digitally controlled optical delay device (7) is 2 m Δt, the number of optical delay bits is n, the delay step of the entire optoelectronic delay link is Δt, and the number of delay bits is (m+n).

4. The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving according to claim 1 is characterized in that the electric switch (1), the electro-optical modulator (2), the photodetector (3), the digitally controlled electric attenuator (4), the digitally controlled electric delay (5) and the serial-to-parallel driver (6) are independently packaged devices and are connected to the digitally controlled optical delay (7) and the laser (8).

5. The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving according to claim 1 is characterized in that the electric switch (1), the electro-optical modulator (2), the photodetector (3), the digitally controlled electric attenuator (4), the digitally controlled electric delay (5) and the serial-to-parallel driver (6) are bare chips that are co-packaged and then connected to the digitally controlled optical delay (7) and the laser (8).

6. A packaging structure of a bidirectional optoelectronic hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving, comprising: The bidirectional photoelectric hybrid delay module for transmitting and receiving according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises an optical chip (20), an optical fiber (21), a bias control chip (22), a transimpedance amplifier chip (23), a first base (24), a second base (25), an inner cover (26), solder balls (27), a bottom plate (28) and a tube shell (29); The optical chip (20) integrates the functional units of the electro-optic modulator (2) and the photodetector (3). The optical chip (20) is connected to the optical fiber (21) by end-face optical coupling for optical signal connection, and is welded to the first base (24) by flip-chip welding for electrical signal interconnection. The bias control chip (22) is bonded to the first base (24) and connected to the surface wiring of the first base (24) by wire bonding, and is connected to the optical chip (20) through the metal vias inside the first base (24) to perform closed-loop control on the bias of the electro-optical modulator (2) inside the optical chip (20); The transimpedance amplifier chip (23) is bonded to the first base (24) and connected to the surface wiring of the first base (24) by wire bonding, and is connected to the optical chip (20) through the metal vias inside the first base (24) to perform transimpedance amplification on the output signal of the photodetector (3) inside the optical chip (20); The electric switch (1), the digitally controlled electric attenuator (4), the digitally controlled electric delay device (5) and the serial-to-parallel driver (6) are bonded to the second base (25) and respectively connected to the surface wiring of the second base (25) by wire bonding, and are electrically connected to each other through metal vias inside the second base (25); The first base body (24), the second base body (25) and the bottom plate (28) are connected and signal transmitted through solder balls (27), and the internal cavities of the first base body (24) and the second base body (25) are partially sealed by an inner cover plate (26); the optical fiber (21) is welded to the tube shell (29), and the tube shell (29) is welded to the bottom plate (28) to form a co-encapsulated module (9); The co-packaged module (9) is connected to an external electrical signal via a solder ball (27); the co-packaged module (9), a digitally controlled optical delay device (7) and a laser (8) are welded on the same printed circuit board, and optical signals are connected via an optical fiber (21), and electrical signals are connected via a bottom solder ball (27) and wiring within the printed circuit board.

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