Optical domain all-connected device and communication device

Abstract

The application provides an optical full-connection device and a communication device, and relates to the technical field of communication. The optical full-connection device comprises a hybrid coupler and a first type of delay unit. The hybrid coupler comprises a first type of coupler, a second type of delay unit and a second type of coupler. The number of input ports of the first type of coupler is less than or equal to the number of output ports of the first type of coupler. The number of input ports of the second type of coupler is the same as the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. In the application, the number of input ports of the second type of coupler in the hybrid coupler is equal to the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. There is no light signal combination in the hybrid coupler, so there is no loss. The optical full-connection device constructed by using the hybrid coupler and the first delay unit can reduce cascade loss, and is more suitable for the demand of large-scale antennas in the HBF architecture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an optical domain fully connected device and a communication device. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of wireless communication, enabling simultaneous access for multiple users through multi-beam generation using massive MIMO antennas has become an inevitable trend. Hybrid beamforming (HBF) architecture can be used to achieve multi-beam generation with massive MIMO antennas. Furthermore, employing a fully connected scheme in the HBF architecture can achieve full-array gain. Compared to traditional electrical domain architectures, the optical domain full connectivity in the HBF architecture can fully utilize the advantages of high bandwidth, low crosstalk, high isolation, and low transmission loss in optical systems, potentially overcoming the challenges of massive full connectivity.

[0003] Among them, the optical Butler matrix unit has the advantages of small size, low crosstalk, and static beam, making it an effective device for large-scale fully connected optical solutions. However, the cascaded coupler losses in current optical Butler matrix units are relatively large. How to further optimize the structure and reduce cascade losses is a pressing problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an optical domain fully connected device and a communication device to reduce the cascading loss of couplers.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an optical domain fully connected device, including a hybrid coupler and a first type of delay unit. The hybrid coupler includes a first type of coupler, a second type of delay unit, and a second type of coupler. The number of input ports of the first type of coupler is less than or equal to the number of output ports of the first type of coupler, and the number of input ports of the second type of coupler is the same as the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. The hybrid coupler is used to perform power equalization processing and delay processing on optical signals to obtain multiple optical signals. The first type of delay unit is used to perform delay processing on multiple optical signals to obtain multiple output optical signals.

[0006] In this application, the number of input ports of the second type of coupler in the hybrid coupler is equal to the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. Since there is no optical signal combining in the hybrid coupler, there is no loss. The optical domain fully connected device constructed using this hybrid coupler and the first delay unit can reduce cascading losses and is more adaptable to the needs of large-scale antennas in the HBF architecture.

[0007] In one alternative approach, the number of input ports of the hybrid coupler is 2, and the number of hybrid couplers is 2. N-1 N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0008] In one alternative embodiment, where N is greater than or equal to 2, the device further includes: a time-delay power divider unit, which includes a third type of time-delay unit and a third type of coupler, wherein the number of input ports of the third type of coupler is greater than or equal to the number of output ports of the third type of coupler; the time-delay power divider unit is used to perform time-delay processing and power equalization processing on multiple optical signals respectively to obtain multiple time-delay power-divided optical signals, and inputs the multiple time-delay power-divided optical signals to the first type of time-delay unit.

[0009] In this application, when N is greater than or equal to 2, the introduction of a delay power divider unit can realize the phase change of the modulated radio frequency signal, avoid the introduction of too many couplers, reduce cascading losses, and save device cost.

[0010] In one alternative approach, the number of delay power division units is N-1.

[0011] The system uses N-1 delay power dividers to construct a system with 2 input ports. N Optical fully connected devices can avoid introducing too many couplers, reduce cascade losses, and save on device costs.

[0012] In one alternative configuration, the third-type coupler has 2 input ports, 2 output ports, and a total of 2 third-type couplers. N *(N-1).

[0013] In one alternative approach, the reference value t for the delay amount of the first type of delay unit, the delay amount of the second type of delay unit, and the delay amount of the third type of delay unit is associated with N and the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and t is a positive number.

[0014] In one alternative approach, t satisfies the following formula:

[0015]

[0016] Where λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

[0017] The reference value t is determined based on the wavelength of the N-frequency signal, which facilitates the phase change of the modulated radio frequency signal.

[0018] In one alternative approach, when there are multiple delay power dividers, the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power divider is different from the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the second delay power divider.

[0019] The different delay amounts of the third type of delay unit in different delay power division units can ensure that the output of the fully connected optical domain device satisfies the Fourier transform phase gradient relationship.

[0020] In one alternative approach, the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power division unit includes P units, where P is twice the number of input ports of the optical domain fully connected device, and P is a positive integer.

[0021] This ensures that the phase gradient of the output port of the fully connected optical domain device is consistent.

[0022] In one alternative approach, the delay amount of the second type of delay unit corresponds to a 90° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal.

[0023] Based on this, the Fourier transform phase gradient relationship can be adapted.

[0024] In one alternative approach, the optical signal has already been modulated into a radio frequency signal.

[0025] In one alternative approach, the optical domain fully connected device is an optical domain incoherent Butler matrix unit.

[0026] In one alternative approach, one delay amount in the first type of delay unit corresponds to a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal.

[0027] This ensures that the phase gradient of the output port of the fully connected optical domain device is consistent.

[0028] In one alternative approach, the delay amount of the first type of delay unit is adjustable.

[0029] Based on this, the overall beam pointing direction can be adjusted to adapt to the needs of different scenarios, such as replacing traditional electric and mechanical tilt components.

[0030] In one alternative configuration, the first type of coupler has 1 input port and 2 output ports, while the second type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports.

[0031] In one alternative approach, the first type of coupler and the second type of coupler are cross-connected via a second type of delay unit.

[0032] In one alternative approach, the optical domain fully connected device has 2 input ports. N The number of output ports in the fully connected optical domain is 2. N or 2 N+1 N is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3.

[0033] In one alternative configuration, the optical domain fully connected device has 4 input ports and 8 output ports.

[0034] In one alternative configuration, the optical domain fully connected device has 8 input ports and 16 output ports.

[0035] In one alternative approach, the optical domain fully connected device has K*2 input ports in the horizontal direction. x The optical domain fully connected device has K*2 output ports in the horizontal direction. x Or K*2 x+1 The number of input ports in the vertical direction of the fully connected optical domain device is M*2. Y The optical domain fully connected device has M*2 output ports in the vertical direction. Y Or M*2 Y+1 X is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, Y is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, and K and M are positive integers.

[0036] In one alternative approach, the number of output ports in the horizontal direction of the fully connected optical domain device is the same as the number of input ports in the vertical direction, or the number of input ports in the horizontal direction of the fully connected optical domain device is the same as the number of output ports in the vertical direction.

[0037] Secondly, this application provides a communication device, including the optical domain fully connected device and the photoelectric converter of the first aspect; the photoelectric converter converts the optical signal output by the optical domain fully connected device into an electrical signal.

[0038] These or other aspects of this application will become more apparent from the description of the following embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication scenario is shown;

[0040] Figure 2A A schematic diagram of the structure of a network device is shown;

[0041] Figure 2B A schematic diagram of another network device is shown;

[0042] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an optically symmetric Butler matrix unit is shown;

[0043] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a 4x4 optical Butler matrix is ​​shown.

[0044] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a fully connected optical domain device provided in this application is shown;

[0045] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of another optical domain fully connected device provided in this application is shown;

[0046] Figure 7This application provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a 4*8 optical Butler matrix.

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the beam corresponding to a 4*8 optical Butler matrix provided in this application is shown;

[0048] Figure 9 This application provides a schematic diagram of the structure of a 4x4 optical Butler matrix.

[0049] Figure 10 This application provides a schematic diagram of the structure of an 8*16 optical Butler matrix.

[0050] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the beam corresponding to an 8*16 optical Butler matrix provided in this application is shown;

[0051] Figure 12 This application provides a schematic diagram of the structure of an 8*8 optical Butler matrix.

[0052] Figure 13 This paper presents a schematic diagram of the structure of a 32*128 optical Butler matrix provided in this application;

[0053] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the beam corresponding to a 32*128 optical Butler matrix provided in this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0054] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of this application, "at least one" refers to one or more, where "multiple" refers to two or more. Therefore, in the embodiments of this invention, "multiple" can also be understood as "at least two". "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Additionally, the character " / ", unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. Furthermore, the character "*", unless otherwise specified, generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in a "multiplicative" relationship. It should also be understood that in the description of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or order.

[0056] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to 5G systems, or to future communication systems or other similar communication systems. Furthermore, the technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to cellular links, public land mobile networks (PLMNs), machine-to-machine (M2M) networks, Internet of Things (IoT) networks, or other networks. They can also be applied to links between devices, such as device-to-device (D2D) links. D2D links can also be called sidelinks, which are also referred to as secondary links or auxiliary links. In this application, the above terms all refer to links established between devices of the same type, and their meanings are the same. The so-called "same type of devices" can be links between terminal devices, links between base stations, links between relay nodes, etc., and this application does not limit this. For links between terminal devices, there are D2D links defined in 3GPP Release (Rel) 12 / 13, and V2X links defined by 3GPP for vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-mobile, or vehicle-to-any-entity communication, including Rel-14 / 15. There are also V2X links based on the new radio (NR) system in Rel-18 and later versions.

[0057] refer to Figure 1 This is an application scenario used in the embodiments of this application, or a network architecture used in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 This includes network equipment and terminal equipment, and it should be understood that... Figure 1 The number of terminal devices in the network is not specifically limited, and the network architecture can also include other network devices, such as wireless repeaters and wireless backhaul devices. Figure 1Not shown in the diagram. A network device is an access device that enables a terminal device to wirelessly access a network, and can be a base station. The network device corresponds to different devices in different systems; for example, in a 4th-generation (4G) mobile communication system, it can correspond to an evolved Node B (eNB), and in a 5G system, it can correspond to a generation Node B (gNB). The terminal device can be a cellular phone, smartphone, laptop, handheld communication device, handheld computing device, satellite radio device, global positioning system, personal digital assistant (PDA), and / or any other suitable device for communication on a wireless communication system, and all can connect to the network device.

[0058] This application's embodiments can be applied to uplink signal transmission, downlink signal transmission, and D2D signal transmission. For downlink signal transmission, the transmitting device is a network device, and the corresponding receiving device is a terminal device; for uplink signal transmission, the transmitting device is a terminal device, and the corresponding receiving device is a network device; for D2D signal transmission, both the transmitting and receiving devices are terminal devices. This application's embodiments do not limit the direction of signal transmission.

[0059] Terminal devices can be wireless terminal devices capable of receiving network device scheduling and instruction information. They can be devices providing voice and / or data connectivity to users, handheld devices with wireless connectivity, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. Wireless terminal devices can communicate with one or more core networks or the Internet via a radio access network (e.g., radioaccess network, RAN). They can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones), computers, and data cards. For example, they can be portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-embedded, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the radio access network. Examples include personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, PDAs, tablets, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. Wireless terminal equipment can also be referred to as a system, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), remote station, access point (AP), remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, user agent, subscriber station (SS), customer premises equipment (CPE), terminal, UE, mobile terminal (MT), etc. Wireless terminal equipment can also be wearable devices and next-generation communication systems, such as terminal equipment in 5G networks, terminal equipment in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), and terminal equipment in NR communication systems.

[0060] Network equipment is an entity on the network side used to transmit or receive signals, such as a transmission reception point (TRP) or gNB. Network equipment can be devices used to communicate with mobile devices. Network equipment can be an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a base transceiver station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communication (GSM) or code division multiple access (CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in long term evolution (LTE), a relay station or access point, or in-vehicle equipment, wearable devices, and network equipment in future 5G networks or future evolved PLMNs, or gNodeB / gNB in ​​NR systems, etc. In some deployments, gNB can include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB can also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU and DU implement some of the gNB's functions. For example, the CU handles non-real-time protocols and services, such as implementing radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer functions. The DU handles physical layer protocols and real-time services, such as implementing radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC), and physical (PHY) layer functions. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and active antenna-related functions. Since RRC layer information ultimately becomes PHY layer information, or is derived from PHY layer information, in this architecture, higher-layer signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered as being sent by the DU, or by both the DU and AAU.It is understood that the network device can be one or more of the following: CU node, DU node, and AAU node. Furthermore, the CU can be classified as a network device in the radio access network (RAN) or in the core network (CN); this application does not limit this. Additionally, in the embodiments of this application, the network device provides services to a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the network device through the transmission resources (e.g., frequency domain resources, or spectrum resources) used by the cell. This cell can be the cell corresponding to the network device (e.g., a base station). The cell can belong to a macro base station or a base station corresponding to a small cell. Small cells can include: metro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. These small cells have the characteristics of small coverage area and low transmission power, making them suitable for providing high-speed data transmission services. Furthermore, in other possible cases, the network device can be other devices that provide wireless communication functions for the terminal device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used by the network device. For ease of description, in the embodiments of this application, the device that provides wireless communication function for the terminal device is referred to as a network device.

[0061] This application mainly relates to the internal structure of network devices, wherein the network device may consist of... Figure 2A It consists of an active antenna unit (AAU) and an indoor baseband unit (BBU). Or it can be composed of... Figure 2B The communication device comprises a remote radio unit (RRU), a phased array antenna connection, and a base station (BBU). The BBU is used for centralized management of the network equipment's communication system, performing uplink or downlink data processing, signaling processing, resource management, and operation and maintenance. The array antenna unit (AAU) performs some physical layer baseband processing and all radio frequency processing. This application provides a communication device including an optical domain fully connected device and an optoelectronic converter, such as an AAU or a BBU, wherein the optoelectronic converter can convert the optical signal output by the optical domain fully connected device into an electrical signal. The optical domain fully connected device can be understood with reference to the description below.

[0062] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the terms or processing flows involved in the embodiments of this application will be briefly explained below.

[0063] 1) Optical domain fully connected device

[0064] The optical domain fully connected device can assign corresponding weights to the input signal to form multiple output signals. These multiple output signals can form corresponding beam pointing after being transmitted through an antenna.

[0065] The fully connected optical domain device may include devices such as phase shifters and couplers. Depending on the specific application, other devices may also be included, but this is not specifically limited here.

[0066] In this application, the fully connected optical domain device is an optically incoherent Butler matrix unit (i.e., the optical signal processed by the fully connected optical domain device is incoherent light). Exemplarily, the fully connected optical domain device can be implemented using either an optically symmetric Butler matrix unit or an optically asymmetric Butler matrix unit. The optically symmetric Butler matrix unit has the same number of input ports and output ports. The optically asymmetric Butler matrix unit has fewer input ports than output ports.

[0067] 2) Optical symmetric Butler matrix unit

[0068] An optically symmetric Butler matrix unit (or simply optically symmetric Butler matrix) modulates a radio frequency (RF) signal onto an optical carrier, converting it into an RF optical signal. The RF optical signal is input through one input port of the optically symmetric Butler matrix, and the RF optical signals at each output port satisfy the output phase relationship defined by the optically symmetric Butler matrix. After photoelectric signal conversion, the signal is output by a phased array antenna with a single beam direction. By inputting RF optical signals into different input ports of the optically symmetric Butler matrix, beams with different directions can be formed, achieving beam scanning. Figure 3 Let's take an optical symmetric Butler matrix unit (8x8 optical Butler matrix) with 8 input ports and 8 output ports as an example. The input ports of the 8x8 optical Butler matrix are 1L, 4R, 3L, 2R, 2L, 3R, 4L, and 1R, and the output ports are 1 to 8. The optical signals output from each output port satisfy an arithmetic progression phase gradient. For example, the beam signal phase corresponding to the optical signal output from output port 1 is 0, and the beam signal phase corresponding to output port 2 is... The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 3 is The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 4 is The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 5 is The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 6 is The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 7 is The phase of the beam signal corresponding to output port 8 is Among them, the phase difference between adjacent antenna elements The delay between the optical signal and the signal satisfies the following formula 1:

[0069]

[0070] Where Δτ indicates the time delay of the optical signal, and ω indicates the angular frequency of the radio frequency signal transmitted by the phased array antenna.

[0071] Phase difference between adjacent antenna elements The beam pointing angle satisfies the following formula 2:

[0072]

[0073] Where d indicates the distance between adjacent array elements, θ indicates the beam pointing angle, and k = 2π / λ, where λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal transmitted by the phased array antenna.

[0074] The beam pointing angle satisfies the following formula 3:

[0075]

[0076] An optically symmetric Butler matrix unit can only achieve one-dimensional beam scanning (i.e., beams in the same plane). To form a two-dimensional beam (i.e., beams in different planes), multiple optically symmetric Butler matrix units need to be combined.

[0077] 3) Optical asymmetric Butler matrix unit

[0078] An optical asymmetric Butler matrix unit (or simply optical asymmetric Butler matrix) modulates a radio frequency (RF) signal onto an optical carrier, converting it into an RF optical signal. The RF optical signals at each output port of the optical asymmetric Butler matrix satisfy the output phase relationship defined for an optical asymmetric Butler matrix, which is the same as that of the optical symmetric Butler matrix described above. Refer to the above... Figure 3 To understand this, in the HBF (Hypermask Full Array) architecture, the number of antennas (transmitting or receiving antennas) is greater than the number of analog-to-digital converters (or digital-to-analog converters). Therefore, an optical asymmetric Butler matrix unit with fewer input ports than output ports is more suitable for the application requirements.

[0079] An optically symmetric Butler matrix unit based on incoherent light, such as Figure 4As shown, this optical symmetric Butler matrix unit has 4 input ports and 4 output ports (referred to as a 4*4 optical Butler matrix). This optical symmetric Butler matrix unit consists of hybrid couplers and delayers. The hybrid coupler consists of two optical couplers with one input port and two output ports each, a delayer, and two optical couplers with two input ports and one output port. The hybrid coupler can achieve a 90° phase shift of the modulated RF signal. The 4*4 optical Butler matrix consists of four of the aforementioned hybrid couplers and delayers. Since the hybrid couplers all perform combining of the optical signals, a 3dB loss is generated. The cascading of multiple hybrid couplers results in significant losses, which is not conducive to large-scale interconnection of the HBF architecture.

[0080] Based on this, this application provides an optical domain fully connected device to reduce the cascading loss of hybrid couplers and adapt to the large-scale connection requirements of the HBF architecture. (Refer to...) Figure 5 The optical domain fully connected device includes a hybrid coupler and a first type of delay unit. Figure 5 Taking a hybrid coupler as an example, the hybrid coupler includes a first type of coupler, a second type of delay unit, and a second type of coupler. The number of input ports of the first type of coupler is less than or equal to the number of output ports of the first type of coupler. The number of input ports and the number of output ports of the second type of coupler are the same. For example, the first type of coupler may have 1 input port and 2 output ports, or 2 input ports and 2 output ports. This is only an example and not a specific limitation on the number of input and output ports of the first type of coupler. For example, the second type of coupler may have 2 input ports and 2 output ports. This is only an example and not a specific limitation on the number of input and output ports of the second type of coupler. In the hybrid coupler of this application, the first type of coupler and the second type of coupler are cross-connected through the second type of delay unit. For example, as described above. Figure 5The hybrid coupler shown includes two first-type couplers (first-type coupler 1 and first-type coupler 2) and two second-type couplers (second-type coupler 1 and second-type coupler 2). Each first-type coupler has one input port and two output ports, while each second-type coupler has two input ports and two output ports. Output port 1 of first-type coupler 1 is connected to output port 1 of second-type coupler 1. Output port 2 of first-type coupler 1 is delayed by a second-type delay unit and then connected to input port 1 of second-type coupler 2. Output port 1 of first-type coupler 2 is delayed by a second-type delay unit and then connected to input port 2 of second-type coupler 1. Output port 2 of first-type coupler 2 is connected to input port 2 of second-type coupler 2. The first-type delay unit delays the signal output from output port 1 of second-type coupler 1 before outputting it, and it also delays the signal output from output port 1 of second-type coupler 2 before outputting it. The first-type delay unit does not perform any delay processing on the signals output from output ports 2 of second-type coupler 1 and second-type coupler 2.

[0081] In this system, the input ports of the first type of coupler correspond to the input ports of the fully connected optical domain device. For example, the number of output ports of the first type of coupler is the same as the number of input ports of the second type of coupler. The delay amount of the second type of delay unit corresponds to a 90° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal. The hybrid coupler is used to perform power equalization and delay processing on the optical signal to obtain multiple optical signals. The optical signal processed by the hybrid coupler has already undergone modulated radio frequency signal processing. The multiple optical signals processed by the hybrid coupler are then delayed by the first type of delay unit to obtain multiple output optical signals. The delay amount of the first type of delay unit is the same as the number of output ports of the fully connected optical domain device. One delay amount in the first type of delay unit corresponds to a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal. This ensures that the phase gradient of the output ports of the fully connected optical domain device is consistent.

[0082] In this application, the number of input ports of the second type of coupler in the hybrid coupler is equal to the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. Since there is no optical signal combining in the hybrid coupler, there is no loss. The optical domain fully connected device constructed using this hybrid coupler and the first delay unit can reduce coupler cascading losses and is more adaptable to large-scale requirements in the HBF architecture.

[0083] In one possible implementation, the number of input ports of the hybrid coupler is 2, and the number of hybrid couplers in the optical domain fully connected device is 2. N-1N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, where N can also be referred to as the number of coupler stages in the fully connected optical device. For example, if N is 1, the number of hybrid couplers in the fully connected optical device is 1, the number of input ports is 2, and the number of output ports is 2 or 4. If N is 2, the number of hybrid couplers in the fully connected optical device is 2, the number of input ports is 4 (the number of input ports of the hybrid coupler is multiplied by the number of hybrid couplers, 2*2), and the number of output ports is 4 or 8.

[0084] To achieve phase changes in modulated radio frequency signals and avoid introducing too many couplers, when N is greater than or equal to 2, a delay power divider unit is introduced into the fully connected optical domain device, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the optical domain fully connected device has 2 input ports. N The number of output ports in the fully connected optical domain is 2. N (i.e., optically symmetric Butler matrix unit) or 2 N+1 (That is, optical asymmetric Butler matrix unit), the delay power divider unit includes a third type of delay unit and a third type of coupler. The number of input ports of the third type of coupler is greater than or equal to the number of output ports of the third type of coupler. For example, the third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports, or 2 input ports and 1 output port. This is only an example and not a specific limitation on the number of input and output ports of the third type of coupler. The delay power divider unit can be used to perform delay processing and power equalization processing on the multiple optical signals output by the coupler, obtaining multiple delayed power-divided optical signals, and then inputting these multiple delayed power-divided optical signals to the first type of delay unit for delay processing.

[0085] The number of delay power divider units is N-1. The third type of coupler has 2 input ports, 2 output ports, and a total of 2 third type couplers. N *(N-1). For example, if N is 2, the number of delay power dividers in the fully connected optical domain device is 1(N-1), and the number of third-type couplers is 4(2). N *(N-1)). If N is 3, the number of delay power dividers in the fully connected optical domain device is 2(N-1), and the number of third-type couplers is 16(2). N *(N-1)).

[0086] When there are multiple delay power dividers, the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power divider is different from the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the second delay power divider. Based on this, it can be ensured that the output of the fully connected optical domain device satisfies the Fourier transform phase gradient relationship. For example, the number of delay power dividers in the fully connected optical domain device is 2, namely delay power divider 1 and delay power divider 2, wherein the delay amounts of delay power divider 1 and delay power divider 2 are different.

[0087] In one possible implementation, the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power divider unit includes P units, where P is twice the number of input ports of the fully connected optical device, and P is a positive integer. This ensures that the phase gradient of the output ports of the fully connected optical device is consistent. For example, if the number of output ports of the fully connected optical device is 4, then the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the delay power divider unit is 8 (4*2). For example, the P delay amounts of delay power divider unit 1 are not the same as the P delay amounts of delay power divider unit 2; they can be understood as all being different, or partially the same.

[0088] In one possible implementation, the reference values ​​t for the delay amounts of the first type of delay unit, the second type of delay unit, and the third type of delay unit are related to N and the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and t is a positive number. Wherein, t satisfies the following formula 4:

[0089]

[0090] Where λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

[0091] For example, N is 2, t = λ / 8, λ corresponds to a phase of 2π, which is 360°, and t corresponds to a phase of π / 4, which is 45°. Since the delay amount of the second type of delay unit corresponds to a 90° (i.e., π / 2) phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal, the delay amount of the second type of delay unit is 2t. The delay amount of one channel in the first type of delay unit corresponds to a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal, so the delay amount of the first type of delay unit is 4t.

[0092] For example, N is 3, t = λ / 16, λ corresponds to a phase of 2π, which is 360°, and t corresponds to a phase of π / 8, which is 22.5°. Since the delay amount of the second type of delay unit corresponds to a 90° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal, the delay amount of the second type of delay unit is 4t. The delay amount of one channel in the first type of delay unit corresponds to a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal, so the delay amount of the first type of delay unit is 8t.

[0093] Furthermore, the delay amount of the first type of delay unit is adjustable (also known as gradient adjustable), meaning the delay amount of the first type of delay unit changes according to a fixed gradient. Based on this, the overall beam pointing direction can be adjusted to adapt to the needs of different scenarios, such as replacing traditional electrical downtilt and mechanical downtilt functional components. For example, the first type of delay unit includes four delay amounts: delay amount 1, delay amount 2, delay amount 3, and delay amount 4. If adjusted according to a gradient of 1t, delay amount 1 can increase by 0t, delay amount 2 can increase by 1t, delay amount 3 can increase by 2t, and delay amount 4 can increase by 3t. For example, the first type of delay unit includes four delay values: delay value 1, delay value 2, delay value 3, and delay value 4. If delay value 1 and delay value 3 correspond to a 180° phase shift in the modulated radio frequency signal, with a delay value of 4t, then according to gradient 1, delay value 1 can be increased by 0t to a delay value of 4t, delay value 2 can be increased by 1t to a delay value of 1t, delay value 3 can be increased by 3t to a delay value of 6t, and delay value 4 can be increased by 4t to a delay value of 3t. The above is only an example and does not specifically limit how the delay values ​​are adjusted.

[0094] In the fully connected optical domain device mentioned in this application, cross-connections between or within devices can be achieved through cross-junctions (for example, in a hybrid coupler, the connection between a first-type coupler and a second-type coupler can be achieved using a cross-junction). Cross-connections can also be achieved through other wiring methods; the wiring connections between devices in the fully connected optical domain device are not specifically limited here. Furthermore, the devices constructing the fully connected optical domain device can be housed on one or more chips; this application does not specifically limit this. For example, a hybrid coupler, a delay power divider unit, and a first-type delay unit can be housed on one chip. For example, the hybrid coupler and the delay power divider unit can be housed on the same chip, while the first-type delay unit is housed on another chip. This is merely illustrative and not specifically limiting.

[0095] The value of N can be greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3. To better illustrate the scheme of this application, the following uses an optical domain fully connected device (i.e., a 4*8 optical Butler matrix) with 4 input ports and 8 output ports and an optical domain fully connected device (i.e., an 8*16 optical Butler matrix) with 8 input ports and 16 output ports as examples.

[0096] like Figure 7As shown, the 4*8 optical Butler matrix includes two hybrid couplers (hybrid coupler A and hybrid coupler B), one delay power divider unit, and a first-type delay unit. N is 2, and the number of coupler stages in the 4*8 optical Butler matrix is ​​2. Hybrid coupler A includes two first-type couplers (first-type coupler 1 and first-type coupler 2) and two second-type couplers (second-type coupler 1 and second-type coupler 2). Hybrid coupler B includes two first-type couplers (first-type coupler 3 and first-type coupler 4) and two second-type couplers (second-type coupler 3 and second-type coupler 4). The first-type couplers in the hybrid coupler have 1 input port and 2 output ports, the second-type couplers have 2 input ports and 2 output ports, and the delay amount of the second-type delay unit is 2t. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 1 is connected to output port 1 of the second type coupler 1. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 1 is connected to input port 1 of the second type coupler 2 after a delay of 2t via the second type delay unit. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 2 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 1 after a delay of 2t via the second type delay unit. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 2 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 2. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 3 is connected to output port 1 of the second type coupler 3. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 3 is connected to input port 1 of the second type coupler 4 after a delay of 2t via the second type delay unit. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 4 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 3 after a delay of 2t via the second type delay unit. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 4 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 4. Specifically, the input port of the first type coupler 1 is equivalent to input port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix or input port 1 of hybrid coupler A; the input port of the first type coupler 2 is equivalent to input port 2 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix or input port 2 of hybrid coupler A; the input port of the first type coupler 3 is equivalent to input port 3 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix or input port 1 of hybrid coupler B; and the input port of the first type coupler 4 is equivalent to input port 4 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix or input port 2 of hybrid coupler B. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 1 is equivalent to output port 1 of hybrid coupler A; the output port 2 of the second type coupler 1 is equivalent to output port 2 of hybrid coupler A; the output port 1 of the second type coupler 2 is equivalent to output port 3 of hybrid coupler A; and the output port 2 of the second type coupler 2 is equivalent to output port 4 of hybrid coupler A. Output port 1 of the second type coupler 3 is equivalent to output port 1 of the hybrid coupler B, output port 2 of the second type coupler 3 is equivalent to output port 2 of the hybrid coupler B, output port 1 of the second type coupler 4 is equivalent to output port 3 of the hybrid coupler B, and output port 2 of the second type coupler 4 is equivalent to output port 4 of the hybrid coupler B.

[0097] The delay amounts of the third type of delay unit in the delay power division unit are t, 3t, 0, 2t, 2t, 0, 3t, t in sequence. The third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports. The third type of coupler includes 4 types: third type coupler X, third type coupler Y, third type coupler Z and third type coupler W. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 1 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time t and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler X. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 1 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 3t and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler Y. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 2 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler Z. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 2 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 2t and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler W. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 3 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 2t and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler X. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 3 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler Y. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 4 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 3t and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler Z. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 4 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time t and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler W.

[0098] The delay values ​​of the first type of delay unit are 4t, 0, 4t, 0, 4t, 0, 4t, 0. The output port 1 of the third type coupler X is delayed by 4t by the first type of delay unit and then outputs; this output signal is also the signal output from port 5 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third type coupler X is delayed by 0 by the first type of delay unit and then outputs; this output signal is also the signal output from port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third type coupler Y is delayed by 4t by the first type of delay unit and then outputs; this output signal is also the signal output from port 7 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third type coupler Y is delayed by 0 by the first type of delay unit and then outputs; this output signal is also the signal output from port 3 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third type coupler Z is delayed by 4t by the first type of delay unit and then outputs; this output signal is also the signal output from port 6 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler Z is delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from port 2 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler W is delayed by 4t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from port 8 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler W is delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from port 4 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix.

[0099] In the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, t = λ / 8, which can be understood by referring to Formula 4 above. The four optical signals that have already undergone modulation and RF signal processing are split into eight optical signals after passing through two hybrid couplers. These eight optical signals are input to the delay power divider unit, and after being output, they are delayed by the first type of delay unit before being output.

[0100] The power distribution and delay processing of the optical signal in hybrid coupler A can be understood with reference to the following formula 5:

[0101]

[0102] Among them, I A1 Indicates the optical signal input at input port 1 of the 4x8 optical Butler matrix, I A2 This indicates the optical signal input to input port 2 of the 4x8 optical Butler matrix. A1 Indicates the optical signal output from output port 1 of hybrid coupler A, O A2 Indicates the optical signal output from output port 2 of hybrid coupler A, O A3 The optical signal output from port 3 of the hybrid coupler A is indicated. A4The output port 4 of the hybrid coupler A indicates the optical signal output. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 2t indicates the delay amount of the second type of delay unit.

[0103] The delay processing of the third type of delay unit can be understood with reference to the following formula 6:

[0104]

[0105] Among them, I A1 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of hybrid coupler A, I A2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of hybrid coupler A, I A3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of hybrid coupler A, I A4 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of hybrid coupler A, I B1 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of hybrid coupler B, I B2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of hybrid coupler B, I B3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of hybrid coupler B, I B4 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of hybrid coupler B. X1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler X is indicated. X2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler X is indicated. Y1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated. Y2 The output signal of port 2 of the third coupler Y is indicated. Z1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated. Z2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by O. W1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler W is indicated. W2 The output signal at output port 2 of the third-type coupler W is indicated. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and t, 3t, 0, 2t, 2t, 0, 3t, t indicate the delay amount of the third-type delay unit.

[0106] The delay processing of the first type of delay unit can be understood with reference to the following formula 7:

[0107]

[0108] Among them, I X1 The output signal at port 1 of the third-class coupler X is indicated by I. X2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler X is indicated by I. Y1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated by I.Y2 The output signal at port 2 of the third coupler Y, I Z1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by I. Z2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by I. W1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler W is indicated by I. W2 O1 indicates the output signal of port 2 of the third type coupler W. O2 indicates the output signal of port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O3 indicates the output signal of port 3 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O4 indicates the output signal of port 4 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O5 indicates the output signal of port 5 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O6 indicates the output signal of port 6 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O7 indicates the output signal of port 7 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, and O8 indicates the output signal of port 8 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 4t, 0, 4t, 0, 4t, 0, 4t, 0 indicate the delay amount of the first type delay unit.

[0109] The power distribution and delay processing of the optical signal in a 4*8 optical Butler matrix can be understood with reference to the following formula 8:

[0110]

[0111] Among them, I A1 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 1 of the 4x8 optical Butler matrix. A2 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 2 of the 4x8 optical Butler matrix. B1 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 3 of the 4x8 optical Butler matrix. B2 O1 indicates the input signal of input port 4 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix. O2 indicates the output signal of output port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O2 indicates the output signal of output port 2 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O3 indicates the output signal of output port 3 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O4 indicates the output signal of output port 4 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O5 indicates the output signal of output port 5 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O6 indicates the output signal of output port 6 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, O7 indicates the output signal of output port 7 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix, and O8 indicates the output signal of output port 8 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix.

[0112] In Formula 8 above, the delay amounts corresponding to the input and output ports of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix are understood with reference to Table 1 below. For example, the delay amount of the optical signal input at input port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix after delay is 1t. The delay amount of the optical signal output at output port 2 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix after delay is 2t.

[0113] Table 1

[0114]

[0115] As shown in Table 1, after the optical signal input to input port 1 of the 4*8 optical Butler matrix is ​​output from each of the output ports, the delay gradient between adjacent output ports is 1t, meaning the difference in delay is 1t. For any input port, the delay difference between output port 5 and output port 1 is 4t. For any input port, the delay difference between output port 6 and output port 2 is 4t. For any input port, the delay difference between output port 7 and output port 3 is 4t. For any input port, the delay difference between output port 8 and output port 4 is 4t. Based on this, a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal can be achieved.

[0116] When the 4*8 optical Butler matrix of this application is used in an HBF architecture, it can form four beams. The angle range covered by these four beams is [-60°, 60°], which can be determined with reference to Formulas 1 to 3 above. The four beams are as follows: Figure 8As shown in the figure. In this application, the 4*8 optical Butler matrix uses asymmetric couplers instead of existing symmetric couplers. The asymmetric coupler refers to a hybrid coupler consisting of two couplers with one input port and two output ports, two couplers with two input ports and two output ports, and two delay units corresponding to a 2t delay. The symmetric coupler refers to a hybrid coupler consisting of two couplers with one input port and two output ports, two couplers with two input ports and one output port, and two delay units corresponding to a 2t delay. Compared to the existing 4*4 optical Butler matrix constructed with two-stage couplers, the 4*8 optical Butler matrix constructed with two-stage couplers in this application eliminates the losses generated by the couplers with two input ports and one output port, resulting in zero coupler cascading loss and a reduction of 6dB in cascading loss. Furthermore, the 4*8 optical Butler matrix in this application reduces the number of couplers used compared to the existing 4*4 optical Butler matrix (the existing 4*4 optical Butler matrix requires 16 couplers, while the 4*8 optical Butler matrix in this application requires 12 couplers).

[0117] Furthermore, if a 4*4 optical Butler matrix is ​​constructed using the hybrid coupler, delay power divider unit, and first-type delay unit provided in this application, it can be referred to... Figure 9 To understand. Relative. Figure 7 In other words, Figure 9 The third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 1 output port. The output signal of the third type of coupler X is delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit before being output. The output signal of the third type of coupler Y is delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit before being output. The output signal of the third type of coupler Z is delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit before being output. The output signal of the third type of coupler W is delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit before being output. The delay power division processing in the hybrid coupler A can be understood with reference to Formula 5 above, and the delay processing of the third type of delay unit in the delay power division unit can be understood with reference to Formula 6 above. It will not be elaborated here. Compared with the existing 4*4 optical Butler matrix constructed by the 2-stage coupler used in this application, the coupler cascading loss of the 4*4 optical Butler matrix constructed by the 2-stage coupler is 3dB, which is 3dB less than the existing 4*4 optical Butler matrix cascading loss of 6dB.

[0118] like Figure 10As shown, the 8*16 optical Butler matrix includes four hybrid couplers (hybrid coupler A, hybrid coupler B, hybrid coupler C, and hybrid coupler D), two delay power divider units (delay power divider unit 1 and delay power divider unit 2), and a first-class delay unit. N is 3, and the number of coupler levels in the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​3. Hybrid coupler A includes two first-class couplers (first-class coupler 1 and first-class coupler 2) and two second-class couplers (second-class coupler 1 and second-class coupler 2). Hybrid coupler B includes two first-class couplers (first-class coupler 3 and first-class coupler 4) and two second-class couplers (second-class coupler 3 and second-class coupler 4). Hybrid coupler C includes two first-class couplers (first-class coupler 5 and first-class coupler 6) and two second-class couplers (second-class coupler 5 and second-class coupler 6). The hybrid coupler D includes two first-type couplers (first-type coupler 7 and first-type coupler 8) and two second-type couplers (second-type coupler 7 and second-type coupler 8). Each first-type coupler has one input port and two output ports, and each second-type coupler has two input ports and two output ports. The delay time of the second-type delay unit is 4t. Output port 1 of first-type coupler 1 is connected to output port 1 of second-type coupler 1. Output port 2 of first-type coupler 1 is delayed by 4t by the second-type delay unit and then connected to input port 1 of second-type coupler 2. Output port 1 of first-type coupler 2 is delayed by 4t by the second-type delay unit and then connected to input port 2 of second-type coupler 1. Output port 2 of first-type coupler 2 is connected to input port 2 of second-type coupler 2. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 3 is connected to output port 1 of the second type coupler 3. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 3 is connected to input port 1 of the second type coupler 4 after a 4t delay via the second type delay unit. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 4 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 3 after a 4t delay via the second type delay unit. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 4 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 4. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 5 is connected to output port 1 of the second type coupler 5. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 5 is connected to input port 1 of the second type coupler 6 after a 4t delay via the second type delay unit. Output port 1 of the first type coupler 6 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 5 after a 4t delay via the second type delay unit. Output port 2 of the first type coupler 6 is connected to input port 2 of the second type coupler 6.The output port 1 of the first type coupler 7 is connected to the output port 1 of the second type coupler 7. The output port 2 of the first type coupler 7 is connected to the input port 1 of the second type coupler 8 after being delayed by 4t through the second type delay unit. The output port 1 of the first type coupler 8 is connected to the input port 2 of the second type coupler 7 after being delayed by 4t through the second type delay unit. The output port 2 of the first type coupler 8 is connected to the input port 2 of the second type coupler 8.

[0119] Among them, the input port of the first type of coupler 1 is equivalent to the input port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or the input port 1 of the hybrid coupler A; the input port of the first type of coupler 2 is equivalent to the input port 2 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or the input port 2 of the hybrid coupler A; the input port of the first type of coupler 3 is equivalent to the input port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or the input port 1 of the hybrid coupler B; and the input port of the first type of coupler 4 is equivalent to the input port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or the input port 2 of the hybrid coupler B. The input port of the first type coupler 5 is equivalent to input port 5 in the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or input port 1 of the hybrid coupler C. The input port of the first type coupler 6 is equivalent to input port 6 in the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or input port 2 of the hybrid coupler C. The input port of the first type coupler 7 is equivalent to input port 7 in the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or input port 1 of the hybrid coupler D. The input port of the first type coupler 8 is equivalent to input port 8 in the 8*16 optical Butler matrix or input port 2 of the hybrid coupler D.

[0120] Output port 1 of type 2 coupler 1 is equivalent to output port 1 of hybrid coupler A; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 1 is equivalent to output port 2 of hybrid coupler A; output port 1 of type 2 coupler 2 is equivalent to output port 3 of hybrid coupler A; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 2 is equivalent to output port 4 of hybrid coupler A. Output port 1 of type 2 coupler 3 is equivalent to output port 1 of hybrid coupler B; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 3 is equivalent to output port 2 of hybrid coupler B; output port 1 of type 2 coupler 4 is equivalent to output port 3 of hybrid coupler B; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 4 is equivalent to output port 4 of hybrid coupler B. Output port 1 of type 2 coupler 5 is equivalent to output port 1 of hybrid coupler C; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 5 is equivalent to output port 2 of hybrid coupler C; output port 1 of type 2 coupler 6 is equivalent to output port 3 of hybrid coupler C; output port 2 of type 2 coupler 6 is equivalent to output port 4 of hybrid coupler C. Output port 1 of the second type coupler 7 is equivalent to output port 1 of the hybrid coupler D, output port 2 of the second type coupler 7 is equivalent to output port 2 of the hybrid coupler D, output port 1 of the second type coupler 8 is equivalent to output port 3 of the hybrid coupler D, and output port 2 of the second type coupler 8 is equivalent to output port 4 of the hybrid coupler D.

[0121] The delay values ​​of the third type of delay unit in delay power distribution unit 1 are 3t, 7t, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5t, t, t, 5t, 0, 0, 0, 0, 7t, and 3t in sequence. The third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports. There are 8 third type couplers in delay power distribution unit 1, namely third type coupler X, third type coupler Y, third type coupler Z, third type coupler W, third type coupler U, third type coupler V, third type coupler R, and third type coupler S. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 1 is delayed by 3t by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third type coupler X. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 1 is delayed by 7t by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third type coupler Y. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 2 is delayed by 0 by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third type coupler Z. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 2 is delayed by 0 by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third type coupler W. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 3 is delayed by 0 by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third type coupler X. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 3 is delayed by 0 by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third type coupler Y. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 4 is delayed by 5t by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third type coupler Z. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 4 is delayed by t by the third type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third type coupler W. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 5 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time t and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler U. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 5 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 5t and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler V. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 6 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler R. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 6 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 1 of the third type coupler S. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 7 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler U. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 7 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 0 and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler V. The output port 1 of the second type coupler 8 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time 7t and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler R. The output port 2 of the second type coupler 8 is delayed by the third type delay unit for a time t and then input to the input port 2 of the third type coupler S.

[0122] The delay values ​​of the third type of delay unit in delay power divider unit 2 are 2t, 6t, 0, 4t, 2t, 6t, 0, 4t, 4t, 0, 6t, 2t, 4t, 0, 6t, 2t in sequence. The third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports. There are 8 third type couplers in delay power divider unit 2, namely third type coupler O, third type coupler P, third type coupler Q, third type coupler J, third type coupler K, third type coupler L, third type coupler M and third type coupler N. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler X is delayed by 2t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler O. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler X is delayed by 6t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler P. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler Y is delayed by 0t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler K. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler Y is delayed by 4t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler L. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler Z is delayed by 2t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler Q. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler Z is delayed by 6t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler J. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler W is delayed by 0t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler M. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler W is delayed by 4t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 1 of the third-type coupler N. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler U is delayed by 4t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler O. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler U is delayed by 0t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler P. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler V is delayed by 6t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler K. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler V is delayed by 2t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler L. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler R is delayed by 4t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler Q. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler R is delayed by 0t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler J. The output port 1 of the third-type coupler S is delayed by 6t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler M. The output port 2 of the third-type coupler S is delayed by 2t by the third-type delay unit and then inputs to the input port 2 of the third-type coupler N.

[0123] The delay values ​​of the first type of delay unit are 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t. Output port 1 of the third type of coupling O can be delayed by 0 times by the first type of delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from output port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 2 of the third type of coupling O can be delayed by 8 times by the first type of delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from output port 9 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 1 of the third type of coupling P can be delayed by 0 times by the first type of delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from output port 5 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 2 of the third type of coupling P can be delayed by 8 times by the first type of delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output from output port 13 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third-type coupling Q can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 2 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third-type coupling Q can be delayed by 8t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 10 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third-type coupling J can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 6 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third-type coupling J can be delayed by 8t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 14 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 1 of the third-type coupling K can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. The output port 2 of the third-type coupling K can be delayed by 8t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is also the signal output by output port 11 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 1 of the third-type coupling L can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is the same as the signal output by output port 7 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 2 of the third-type coupling L can be delayed by 8t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is the same as the signal output by output port 15 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 1 of the third-type coupling M can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is the same as the signal output by output port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 2 of the third-type coupling M can be delayed by 8t seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is the same as the signal output by output port 12 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. Output port 1 of the third-type coupling N can be delayed by 0 seconds by the first-type delay unit, and this output signal is the same as the signal output by output port 8 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix.The output port 2 of the third type of coupling N can be delayed by 8t by the first type of delay unit and then output. This output signal is also the signal output by the output port 16 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix.

[0124] Furthermore, the first type of delay unit can also be adjustable, that is, the optical signal gradient output from each output port of the third type coupler O to the third type coupler N can be adjusted, as illustrated in the description above. Figure 10 The variable delay unit in the first type of delay unit is illustrated by the dashed box.

[0125] In the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, t = λ / 16, which can be understood with reference to Formula 4 above. The 8 optical signals that have been modulated and processed by radio frequency signals are divided into 16 optical signals after passing through 4 hybrid couplers. After the 16 optical signals are input to delay power divider unit 1 and delay power divider unit 2, the output 16 optical signals are delayed by the first type of delay unit before being output.

[0126] The power distribution and delay processing of the optical signal in hybrid coupler A can be understood with reference to the following formula 9:

[0127]

[0128] Among them, I A1 Indicates the optical signal input at input port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, I A2 This indicates the optical signal input to input port 2 of the 8x16 optical Butler matrix. A1 Indicates the optical signal output from output port 1 of hybrid coupler A, O A2 Indicates the optical signal output from output port 2 of hybrid coupler A, O A3 The optical signal output from port 3 of the hybrid coupler A is indicated. A4 The output port 4 of the hybrid coupler A indicates the optical signal output. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 4t indicates the delay amount of the second type of delay unit.

[0129] The delay processing of the third type of delay unit in delay power distribution unit 1 can be understood with reference to the following formula 10:

[0130]

[0131] Among them, I A1 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of hybrid coupler A, I A2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of hybrid coupler A, I A3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of hybrid coupler A, I A4 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of hybrid coupler A, I B1Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of hybrid coupler B, I B2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of hybrid coupler B, I B3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of hybrid coupler B, I B4 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of hybrid coupler B. C1 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of the hybrid coupler C, I C2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of the hybrid coupler C, I C3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of the hybrid coupler C, I C4 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of the hybrid coupler C, I D1 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 1 of the hybrid coupler D, I D2 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 2 of the hybrid coupler D, I D3 Indicates the output optical signal at output port 3 of the hybrid coupler D, I D4 This indicates the output optical signal at output port 4 of the hybrid coupler D. X1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler X is indicated. X2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler X is indicated. Y1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated. Y2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated. Z1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated. Z2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by O. W1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler W is indicated. W2 This indicates the output signal at output port 2 of the third-class coupler W. U1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler U is indicated. U2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler U is indicated. V1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler V is indicated. V2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler V is indicated. R1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler R is indicated. R2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler R is indicated. S1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler S is indicated. S2The output signal of output port 2 of the third type coupler S is indicated. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 3t, 7t, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5t, t, t, 5t, 0, 0, 0, 0, 7t, 3t indicate the delay amount of the third type delay unit in the delay power division unit 1.

[0132] The delay processing of the third type of delay unit in delay power distribution unit 2 can be understood with reference to the following formula 11:

[0133]

[0134] Among them, I X1 The output signal at port 1 of the third-class coupler X is indicated by I. X2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler X is indicated by I. Y1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated by I. Y2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler Y is indicated by I. Z1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by I. Z2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler Z is indicated by I. W1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler W is indicated by I. W2 Indicates the output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler W. U1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler U is indicated by I. U2 The output signal at output port 2 of the third-class coupler U, I V1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler V is indicated by I. V2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler V is indicated by I. R1 The output signal at output port 1 of the third-class coupler R is indicated by I. R2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler R is indicated by I. S1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler S is indicated by I. S2 Indicates the output signal of output port 2 of the third-type coupler S. O1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler O is indicated. O2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler O is indicated. P1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler P is indicated. P2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler P is indicated. Q1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler Q is indicated. Q2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler Q is indicated. J1The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler J is indicated. J2 This indicates the output signal at output port 2 of the third-type coupler J. K1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler K is indicated. K2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler K is indicated. L1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler L is indicated. L2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler L is indicated. M1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler M is indicated. M2 The output signal of port 2 of the third-class coupler M is indicated. N1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler N is indicated. N2 The output signal of port 2 of the third type coupler N is indicated. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 2t, 6t, 0, 4t, 2t, 6t, 0, 4t, 4t, 0, 6t, 2t, 4t, 0, 6t, 2t indicates the delay amount of the third type delay unit in the delay power division unit 2.

[0135] In the first type of delay unit, the delay is not adjustable. The delay handling can be understood with reference to the following formula 12:

[0136]

[0137] Among them, I O1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler O is indicated by I. O2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler O is indicated by I. P1 The output signal at output port 1 of the third-class coupler P, I P2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler P is indicated by I. Q1 The output signal at port 1 of the third-class coupler Q is indicated by I. Q2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler Q is indicated by I. J1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler J is indicated by I. J2 Indicates the output signal of output port 2 of the third-class coupler J. K1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler K is indicated by I. K2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler K is indicated by I. L1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler L is indicated by I. L2 The output signal at port 2 of the third-class coupler L is indicated by I. M1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler M is indicated by I.M2 The output signal at output port 2 of the third-class coupler M is indicated by I. N1 The output signal of port 1 of the third-class coupler N is indicated by I. N2 O1 indicates the output signal of port 2 of the third-type coupler N. O2 indicates the output signal of port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O3 indicates the output signal of port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O4 indicates the output signal of port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O5 indicates the output signal of port 5 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O6 indicates the output signal of port 6 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O7 indicates the output signal of port 7 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O8 indicates the output signal of port 8 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, and O9 indicates the output signal of port 9 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. 10 The output signal of port 10 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 11 The output signal of port 11 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 12 Indicates the output signal of port 12 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O 13 Indicates the output signal of port 13 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O 14 The output signal of port 14 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 15 The output signal of port 15 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 16 This indicates the output signal of output port 16 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal, and 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t, 0, 8t indicates the delay amount of the first type of delay unit.

[0138] The power distribution and delay processing of the optical signal in an 8*16 optical Butler matrix can be understood with reference to the following formula 13:

[0139]

[0140] Among them, I A1 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. A2 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 2 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. B1The input signal, I, indicates the input signal at input port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. B2 The input signal, I, indicates the input signal at input port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. C1 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 5 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. C2 The input signal, I, indicates the input signal at input port 6 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. D1 The input signal, I, indicates the input port 7 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. D2 O1 indicates the input signal of input port 8 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix. O2 indicates the output signal of output port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O3 indicates the output signal of output port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O4 ​​indicates the output signal of output port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O5 indicates the output signal of output port 5 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O6 indicates the output signal of output port 6 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O7 indicates the output signal of output port 7 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O8 indicates the output signal of output port 8 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O9 indicates the output signal of output port 9 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix; O... 10 The output signal of port 10 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 11 The output signal of port 11 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 12 Indicates the output signal of port 12 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O 13 Indicates the output signal of port 13 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix, O 14 The output signal of port 14 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 15 The output signal of port 15 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​indicated. 16 Indicates the output signal of output port 16 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix.

[0141] In Formula 13 above, the delay amounts corresponding to the input and output ports of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix are understood with reference to Table 2 below. For example, the delay amount of the optical signal input to input port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix after the delay is 5t, and the delay amount of the optical signal output to output port 2 after the delay is 6t.

[0142] Table 2

[0143]

[0144]

[0145] As shown in Table 2, after the optical signal input to input port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​output from each of the output ports, the delay gradient between adjacent output ports is 1t, meaning the difference in delay is 1t. For any input port, the delay difference between output port 9 and output port 1 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​8t; the delay difference between output port 10 and output port 2 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​8t; the delay difference between output port 11 and output port 3 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​8t; and the delay difference between output port 12 and output port 4 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​8t. For any input optical signal, the delay difference between output ports 13 and 5 of the 8*16 optical Butler matrix is ​​8t; the delay difference between output ports 14 and 6 is 8t; the delay difference between output ports 15 and 7 is 8t; and the delay difference between output ports 16 and 8 is 8t. Based on this, a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal can be achieved.

[0146] When the 8*16 optical Butler matrix of this application is used in the HBF architecture, it can form 8 beams, which cover an angular range of [-60°, 60°]. Figure 11 A schematic diagram of three of the beams is shown. Beams 1, 2, and 3 are obtained by setting the delay amount of the first delay unit to a fixed value (i.e., the delay value corresponding to Formula 12 above). Beams 1', 2', and 3' are obtained by adjusting the delay amount of the first delay unit according to the delay gradient. Based on... Figure 10 It can be seen that after the delay amount of the first delay unit is adjusted, the relative phase shift between each beam is the same (for example, the phase shift of beam 1' relative to beam 1 and the phase shift of beam 2' relative to beam 2 are the same).

[0147] In this application, the 8*16 optical Butler matrix uses asymmetric couplers instead of existing symmetric couplers. The asymmetric coupler refers to a hybrid coupler consisting of two couplers with one input port and two output ports, two couplers with two input ports and two output ports, and two delay units corresponding to a 4t delay. The symmetric coupler refers to a hybrid coupler consisting of two couplers with one input port and two output ports, two couplers with two input ports and one output port, and two delay units corresponding to a 4t delay. Compared to existing 8*16 optical Butler matrices constructed with three stages of couplers, the 8*16 optical Butler matrix constructed with three stages of couplers in this application eliminates the losses caused by couplers with two input ports and one output port, resulting in zero cascade loss and a reduction of 9dB in cascade loss. Furthermore, the 8*16 optical Butler matrix in this application reduces the number of couplers used compared to the existing 8*8 optical Butler matrix (the 8*16 optical Butler matrix in this application requires 32 couplers, while the existing 8*8 optical Butler matrix requires 48 couplers).

[0148] Furthermore, if the hybrid coupler, delay power divider unit, and first-type delay unit provided in this application are used to construct an 8*8 optical Butler matrix, refer to... Figure 12 To understand. Relative. Figure 10 In other words, Figure 12 In the intermediate delay power divider unit 2, the third type of coupler has 2 input ports and 1 output port. The output signal of the third type of coupler O is delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit before being output. The output signals of the third type of coupler P, Q, J, K, L, M, and N are all delayed by 0 seconds by the first type of delay unit. The delay power division processing in the hybrid coupler A can be understood with reference to Formula 9 above, and the delay processing of the third type of delay unit in delay power divider unit 1 can be understood with reference to Formula 10 above. The delay processing of the third type of delay unit in delay power division unit 2 can be understood with reference to the above formula 11. It will not be elaborated here. Compared with the existing 8*8 optical Butler matrix constructed by the 3-stage coupler, the coupler cascading loss of the 8*8 optical Butler matrix constructed by the 3-stage coupler used in this application is 3dB, which is 6dB less than the existing 8*8 optical Butler matrix cascading loss of 9dB.

[0149] Due to the large size of the antenna, a fully connected optical domain device with a larger number of input and output ports is needed to accommodate the requirements of massive MIMO antennas. Furthermore, the HBF architecture has a two-dimensional structure, allowing for the construction of a two-dimensional fully connected optical domain device to meet the requirements of the HBF architecture. The number of input ports in the horizontal direction of this fully connected optical domain device is K*2. x The optical domain fully connected device has K*2 output ports in the horizontal direction. x Or K*2 x+1 The number of input ports in the vertical direction of the fully connected optical domain device is M*2. Y The optical domain fully connected device has M*2 output ports in the vertical direction. Y Or M*2 Y+1 X is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, Y is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, and K and M are positive integers.

[0150] Specifically, the number of output ports in the horizontal direction of the fully connected optical domain device is the same as the number of input ports in the vertical direction, or the number of input ports in the horizontal direction of the fully connected optical domain device is the same as the number of output ports in the vertical direction.

[0151] The two-dimensional fully connected optical domain device can be constructed based on 4x4, 4x8, 8x8, or 8x16 optical Butler matrices. The maximum number of input and output ports of the two-dimensional fully connected optical domain device is related to the number of input and output ports of the optical Butler matrices used to construct it. Specifically, the number of input ports is the product of the number of input ports in the horizontal and vertical directions of the optical Butler matrices, and the number of output ports is also the product of the number of output ports in the horizontal and vertical directions of the optical Butler matrices. For example, a two-dimensional fully connected optical domain device constructed using 4x8 and 8x16 optical Butler matrices has 32 input ports (4x8) and 128 output ports (8x16). For example, a symmetrical optical Butler matrix is ​​used in the horizontal direction, and an asymmetrical optical Butler matrix is ​​used in the vertical direction. For example, a two-dimensional fully connected optical device constructed using 4x4 and 8x16 optical Butler matrices has 32 input ports (4x8) and 64 output ports (4x16). Exemplarily, a symmetrical optical Butler matrix is ​​used in the vertical direction, and an asymmetrical optical Butler matrix is ​​used in the horizontal direction. For example, a two-dimensional fully connected optical device constructed using 8x8 and 8x16 optical Butler matrices has 64 input ports (8x8) and 128 output ports (8x16). This is merely an example and not a specific limitation.

[0152] For example, such as Figure 13 As shown, the 32*128 optical Butler matrix can be constructed based on the 4*8 optical Butler matrix and the 8*16 optical Butler matrix provided in this application. Figure 13 Image (a) shows a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a 32*128 optical Butler matrix. Figure 13 Figure (b) shows a 3D schematic diagram of the 32*128 optical Butler matrix. The 32 pre-modulated RF signals are divided into 64 optical signals by four sets (H1, H2, H3, and H4) of 8*16 optical Butler matrices. These 64 optical signals are then cross-connected and input to 16 sets (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12, V13, V14, V15, and V16) of 4*8 optical Butler matrices, outputting 128 optical signals. The values ​​of K, M, X, and Y are 4, 16, 3, and 2, respectively.

[0153] Specifically, output ports 1-1 to 1-16 of H1 are connected to input ports 1 of V1 to V16 via crossover networks. For example, output port 1-1 of H1 is connected to input port 1-1 of V1 via a crossover network; output port 1-2 of H1 is connected to input port 2-1 of V2 via a crossover network; output port 1-3 of H1 is connected to input port 3-1 of V3 via a crossover network; output port 1-4 of H1 is connected to input port 4-1 of V4 via a crossover network; output port 1-5 of H1 is connected to input port 5-1 of V5 via a crossover network; output port 1-6 of H1 is connected to input port 6-1 of V6 via a crossover network; output port 1-7 of H1 is connected to input port 7-1 of V7 via a crossover network; output port 1-8 of H1 is connected to input port 8-1 of V8 via a crossover network; and output port 1-1 of H1 is connected to input port 1-1 of V1 via a crossover network. The input ports 9-1 of H1 and V9 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports 1-10 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 10-1 of V10. The output ports 1-11 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 11-1 of V11. The output ports 1-12 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 12-1 of V12. The output ports 1-13 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 13-1 of V13. The output ports 1-14 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 14-1 of V14. The output ports 1-15 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 15-1 of V15. The output ports 1-16 of H1 are connected via a crossover network to the input port 16-1 of V16.

[0154] Output ports 2-1 to 2-16 of H2 are connected to input ports 2 of V1 to V16 via crossover networks. Output port 2-1 of H2 is connected to input port 1-2 of V1 via a crossover network; output port 2-2 of H2 is connected to input port 2-2 of V2 via a crossover network; output port 2-3 of H2 is connected to input port 3-2 of V3 via a crossover network; output port 2-4 of H2 is connected to input port 4-2 of V4 via a crossover network; output port 2-5 of H2 is connected to input port 5-2 of V5 via a crossover network; output port 2-6 of H2 is connected to input port 6-2 of V6 via a crossover network; output port 2-7 of H2 is connected to input port 7-2 of V7 via a crossover network; output port 2-8 of H2 is connected to input port 8-2 of V8 via a crossover network; output port 2-9 of H2... The output ports of H2 and V10 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V10 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V11 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V12 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V13 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V14 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V14 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V15 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports of H2 and V16 are connected via a crossover network.

[0155] Output ports 3-1 to 3-16 of H3 are connected to input ports 3 of V1 to V16 via crossover networks. Output port 3-1 of H3 is connected to input port 1-3 of V1 via a crossover network; output port 3-2 of H3 is connected to input port 2-3 of V2 via a crossover network; output port 3-3 of H3 is connected to input port 3-3 of V3 via a crossover network; output port 3-4 of H3 is connected to input port 4-3 of V4 via a crossover network; output port 3-5 of H3 is connected to input port 5-3 of V5 via a crossover network; output port 3-6 of H3 is connected to input port 6-3 of V6 via a crossover network; output port 3-7 of H3 is connected to input port 7-3 of V7 via a crossover network; output port 3-8 of H3 is connected to input port 8-3 of V8 via a crossover network; output port 3-9 of H3... The H3 output port 3-10 is connected to the V10 input port 10-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-11 is connected to the V11 input port 11-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-12 is connected to the V12 input port 12-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-13 is connected to the V13 input port 13-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-14 is connected to the V14 input port 14-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-15 is connected to the V15 input port 15-3 via a crossover network. The H3 output port 3-16 is connected to the V16 input port 16-3 via a crossover network.

[0156] Output ports 4-1 to 4-16 of H4 are connected to input ports 4 of V1 to V16 via crossover networks. Output port 4-1 of H4 is connected to input port 1-4 of V1 via a crossover network; output port 4-2 of H4 is connected to input port 2-4 of V2 via a crossover network; output port 4-3 of H4 is connected to input port 3-4 of V3 via a crossover network; output port 4-4 of H4 is connected to input port 4-4 of V4 via a crossover network; output port 4-5 of H4 is connected to input port 5-4 of V5 via a crossover network; output port 4-6 of H4 is connected to input port 6-4 of V6 via a crossover network; output port 4-7 of H4 is connected to input port 7-4 of V7 via a crossover network; output port 4-8 of H4 is connected to input port 8-4 of V8 via a crossover network; output port 4-9 of H4... The input ports 9-4 of V9 are connected via a crossover network. The output ports 4-10 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 10-4 of V10. The output ports 4-11 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 11-4 of V11. The output ports 4-12 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 12-4 of V12. The output ports 4-13 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 13-4 of V13. The output ports 4-14 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 14-4 of V14. The output ports 4-15 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 15-4 of V15. The output ports 4-16 of H4 are connected via a crossover network to the input ports 16-4 of V16.

[0157] When the 32*128 optical Butler matrix of this application is used in an HBF architecture, it can form 32 beams. The horizontal angle range covered by these 32 beams is [-60°, 60°], and the vertical angle range is [-20°, 20°], which can be determined with reference to Formulas 1 to 3 above. The 32 beams are as follows... Figure 14 As shown. Compared to the existing 32*128 optical Butler matrix, the coupler cascade loss is 0.

[0158] For example, the 32*128 optical Butler matrix can also be constructed based on eight 4*8 optical Butler matrices, a cross network, and eight 8*16 optical Butler matrices. Here, K has a value of 8, M has a value of 8, X has a value of 2, and Y has a value of 3. This is merely an example and not a specific limitation.

[0159] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0160] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fully connected optical domain device, characterized in that, The system includes a hybrid coupler and a first type of delay unit. The hybrid coupler includes a first type of coupler, a second type of delay unit, and a second type of coupler. The number of input ports of the first type of coupler is less than or equal to the number of output ports of the first type of coupler, and the number of input ports of the second type of coupler is the same as the number of output ports of the second type of coupler. The hybrid coupler is used to perform power equalization and delay processing on the optical signal to obtain multiple optical signals; The first type of delay unit is used to perform delay processing on the multiple optical signals to obtain multiple output optical signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hybrid coupler has 2 input ports, and the number of hybrid couplers is 2. N-1 N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The N is greater than or equal to 2, and the device further includes: a delay power divider unit, the delay power divider unit including a third type of delay unit and a third type of coupler, wherein the number of input ports of the third type of coupler is greater than or equal to the number of output ports of the third type of coupler; The delay power divider unit is used to perform delay processing and power equalization processing on the multiple optical signals respectively to obtain multiple delayed power divided optical signals, and input the multiple delayed power divided optical signals to the first type of delay unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of delay power dividers is N-1.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The third type of coupler has 2 input ports, 2 output ports, and a total of 2 third type couplers. N *(N-1).

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The reference value t of the delay amount of the first type of delay unit, the delay amount of the second type of delay unit, and the delay amount of the third type of delay unit is related to the wavelength of N and the radio frequency signal, and t is a positive number.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The t satisfies the following formula: Wherein, λ indicates the wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, When there are multiple delay power dividers, the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power divider is different from the delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the second delay power divider.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The delay amount of the third type of delay unit in the first delay power division unit includes P units, where P is twice the number of input ports of the optical domain fully connected device, and P is a positive integer.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The delay amount of the second type of delay unit corresponds to a 90° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The optical signal has been modulated into a radio frequency signal.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The optical domain fully connected device is an optical domain incoherent Butler matrix unit.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, One delay amount in the first type of delay unit corresponds to a 180° phase shift of the modulated radio frequency signal.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that, The delay amount of the first type of delay unit is adjustable.

15. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that, The first type of coupler has 1 input port and 2 output ports, while the second type of coupler has 2 input ports and 2 output ports.

16. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-15, characterized in that, The first type of coupler and the second type of coupler are cross-connected through the second type of delay unit.

17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that, The optical domain fully connected device has 2 input ports. N The number of output ports in the fully connected optical domain is 2. N or 2 N+1 N is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-17, characterized in that, The optical domain fully connected device has 4 input ports and 8 output ports.

19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-17, characterized in that, The optical domain fully connected device has 8 input ports and 16 output ports.

20. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-16, characterized in that, The optical domain fully connected device has K*2 input ports in the horizontal direction. x The optical domain fully connected device has K*2 output ports in the horizontal direction. x Or K*2 x+1 The optical domain fully connected device has M*2 input ports in the vertical direction. Y The optical domain fully connected device has M*2 output ports in the vertical direction. Y Or M*2 Y+1 X is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, Y is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 3, and K and M are positive integers.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that, The number of output ports in the horizontal direction of the optical domain fully connected device is the same as the number of input ports in the vertical direction of the optical domain fully connected device, or the number of input ports in the horizontal direction of the optical domain fully connected device is the same as the number of output ports in the vertical direction of the optical domain fully connected device.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, Including optical domain fully connected devices and photoelectric converters as described in 1-21; The photoelectric converter converts the optical signal output by the fully connected optical domain device into an electrical signal.

Images