Electro-Optical Circuit for RF Signal Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical signal processing systems face limitations in performance, size, and power consumption due to high loss and phase noise in RF and mm-wave regimes, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An electro-optical circuit incorporating a modulator, signal splitter, multiple signal paths with optical signal processing components, photo-diodes, and combiners is used to modulate and process optical signals, allowing for variable delay and gain/attenuation adjustments to filter electrical signals efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electrical signal processing is performed in RF and mm-wave regimes, then signal processing functionality is achieved, but propagation loss and phase noise increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal processing systems with an optically assisted system. Optical signals are used to carry the signal through delay lines and processing paths, eliminating RF and mm-wave propagation losses. The optical carrier frequency enables high-Q oscillators with significantly reduced phase noise, while the optical-to-electrical conversion at the output provides the desired electrical signal processing functionality.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fully electrical systems are used for signal processing, then device functionality is achieved, but size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical components for electrical components in the signal processing path. Optical delay lines, switches, and resonators occupy significantly less area than their electrical equivalents while consuming less power. The integrated photonic resonators enable compact filtering operations, and the overall system achieves reduced size and power consumption while maintaining signal processing functionality.
3Reliability
If optical components are used for signal processing, then propagation loss and phase noise are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical signals as an intermediary carrier for electrical signal processing. Electrical input signals modulate optical carriers, which then propagate through optical delay lines and processing components with minimal loss and phase noise. Photodiodes convert the optical signals back to electrical outputs, providing the desired signal processing functionality while leveraging the advantages of optical transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical signal processing components serve multiple functions: optical delay lines provide both time delay and filtering, optical switches enable signal routing and processing, and integrated photonic resonators perform filtering operations. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed while achieving superior signal quality with reduced propagation loss and phase noise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electro-optical circuit achieves enhanced signal processing by reducing propagation loss and phase noise, enabling high-Q oscillators with lower size and power consumption, and effectively filters electrical signals to improve frequency characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The modulator is adapted to modulate an optical signal using an electrical input signal
Implementation Method 2
Each photo-diode is adapted to convert the optical signal it receives from its associated optical signal processing component to a current signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical circuit, includes in part, a modulator, a signal splitter, N signal paths each having one or more signal processing components, N photo-diodes and a signal combiner. The modulator modulates an optical signal using an electrical input signal. The splitter splits the modulated optical signal into N optical signals each delivered to a different one of the N paths for processing by the associated signal processing component(s). Each photo-diode converts an optical signal it receives from its associated optical signal processing component(s) to a current signal. The signal combiner combines the N current signals it receives from the N photo-diodes to generate an output current signal. The signal processing component(s) may be a variable optical delay component, a variable optical gain/attenuation component, or both thus enabling the output current signal to represent a filtered version of the electrical input signal.