Hybrid Photonic-Electronic Processor for Wideband Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic processors are inadequate for real-time analysis of wideband signals exceeding 1 GHz bandwidth, which is essential for applications like high-capacity wireless communications, electronic warfare, and fiber optic security, as they lack the precision and speed required for such high-frequency signal processing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hybrid photonic-electronic processor that utilizes a combination of optical and electronic components, including fixed-wavelength and tunable lasers, optical modulators, dispersive elements, and analog-to-digital converters, to perform real-time processing of radiofrequency signals with bandwidths larger than several hundred GHz by generating a time-delayed product of two independent signals and converting them into electrical signals for further processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current electronic processors are used for signal analysis, then processing complexity for sub-GHz signals is manageable, but bandwidth is limited to less than 1 GHz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic signal processing with photonic processing. Optical fields are used to process radio frequency signals through photodetection and optical mixing, enabling bandwidths exceeding 1 GHz while maintaining signal analysis precision. The photonic system substitutes the electronic processing chain with optical carriers and photodetectors, achieving both high precision and extended bandwidth capability.
2Ease of operation
If analog-to-digital conversion is performed in the front-end, then electronic processing can be performed, but the bandwidth is constrained by electronic processor capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the traditional front-end analog-to-digital conversion by implementing photonic processing. Radio frequency signals are converted to optical signals and processed in the optical domain, bypassing electronic ADC limitations. This substitution enables processing of wideband signals with bandwidths greater than 1 GHz while maintaining ease of operation through established photonic techniques.
3Productivity
If electronic processors are used for wideband signal analysis, then real-time processing is required, but current processors lack the speed and precision for signals exceeding 1 GHz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electronic processing with photonic processing to achieve both high speed and high precision for real-time wideband signal analysis. Optical carriers provide the necessary bandwidth capacity while photodetection and optical mixing maintain signal fidelity and precision. This enables real-time processing of signals with bandwidths exceeding 1 GHz, simultaneously achieving both productivity and measurement precision requirements.
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
This approach enables real-time processing of high-bandwidth signals, allowing for accurate analysis and correlation functions, overcoming the limitations of conventional electronic processors and supporting advanced communication and surveillance applications.
Implementation Method 1
a fixed-wavelength laser operable to provide a fixed wavelength optical carrier
Implementation Method 2
a tunable laser operable to provide a tunable optical carrier
Implementation Method 3
a dispersive element coupled to the second optical modulator
Implementation Method 4
a first optical detector coupled to the dispersive element
Implementation Method 5
a third optical modulator optically coupled to the first optical detector and the first optical modulator
Implementation Method 6
an optical 90-degree hybrid element optically coupled to the third optical modulator
Implementation Method 7
a plurality of optical detectors optically coupled to the optical 90-degree hybrid element and configured to convert outputs of the optical 90-degree hybrid element into electrical signals
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating a time-delayed product of two independent signals includes a fixed-wavelength laser. A first optical modulator is optically coupled to the fixed-wavelength laser and configured to modulate a fixed wavelength optical carrier with a first input signal of a set of input signals. The apparatus also includes a tunable laser. A second optical modulator is optically coupled to the tunable laser and configured to modulate a tunable optical carrier with a second input signal of the set of input signals. The apparatus also includes a dispersive element coupled to the second optical modulator, a first optical detector coupled to the dispersive element, a third optical modulator optically coupled to the first optical detector and the first optical modulator, an optical 90-degree hybrid element optically coupled to the third optical modulator, and a plurality of optical detectors optically coupled to the optical 90-degree hybrid element.