Optically Controlled Phased Array System and Method

This invention relates to phased array antennas and, in particular, phased array systems utilizing fiber optic distribution networks and means for introducing beam control.

Phased array antenna systems play a highly important role in many areas, and indeed an increasingly important role in military and space applications. They are extensibly utilized in communications, surveilance and guidance systems. With the trend toward higher frequencies and the use of a large number of monolithic microwave and millimeter circuit components, the available space for signal distribution becomes a serious problem in many applications. For example, against this background the use of fiber optic cables or links to distribute the multitude of control signals represents an advantageous alternative to the use of conventional coaxial cables, waveguide structures or the like. Further, the use of optical links also provides an opportunity to utilize a novel beam steering technique as set forth in the description of this invention. Fiber optic lengths are also advantageous because of their relative immunity to interference (EMI and EMP), their excellent crosstalk isolation, and their small size and weight.

The concept of an optically controlled phased array antenna is known in the communications field. Such a system consists basically of fiber optical distribution feed system and an optical processing system responsible for the beam steering or scanning. The antenna array typically consists of up to 10,000 or more independent distributed transmit/receive (T/R) modules fabricated by monolithic microwave or millimeter wave techniques (MMIC). The main function of the fiber optic distribution system is to transmit the control signals for frequency and phase reference for synchronization of the T/R modules and to achieve the desired beam scanning. The replacement of coaxial cables or waveguides by the fiber optic network also provides a larger band width and smaller transmission losses compared to conventional systems, particularly at higher frequencies.

The problem of beam scanning is one that has received a great deal of attention in the prior art, but due to its complexity and the high frequencies involved it remains a threshold area where great improvement is desired. One of the features of this invention is the utilization of the properties of optical fibers for introducing phase delays in a controlled pattern so as to achieve desired beam steering. It is known in the prior art that optical fibers can be repeatedly stretched by up to about 7% of their length. This characteristic is utilized in this invention as a means of introducing controlled phase delays into the optical lengths. It is noted that researchers working with fiber optic sensors have used piezo-electric crystals to stretch fibers to balance the arms of interferometers K. In this invention, the use of piezo-electric crystals or equivalent electro-mechanical means is made to stretch the fibers and deliberately introduce time delays into the overall system, as discussed in detail hereinbelow.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved optically controlled phased array antenna system and method which utilizes the advantages of fiber optic lengths both for signal transmission and for introducing desired true time delays.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved phase array system which saves space and provides improved beam steering control capability at high frequencies by utilization of fiber optic lengths and piezo-electric or equivalent control elements.

In accordance with the above objects, there is provided an improved optically controlled phased array antenna system and method wherein predetermined time delays are introduced into the signal delivered to each antenna element by stretching the fiber optic link which feeds such element, the stretching being done with a controlled electro-mechanical element such as a piezo-electric crystal. A control potential is applied to each respective piezo-electric crystal to generate respective time delays for producing beam steering in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram showing the primary components of a conventional phased array antenna system.

FIG. 1B is a simplified block diagram showing the primary components of an optically controlled phased array system.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustrating the manner of stretching an optical fiber to increase its length and thereby introduce an added time delay.

FIG. 2B is a schematic indicating an array of optical fibers each connecting the master oscillator with a T/R module and wrapped around a controlled piezo-electric crystal so as to introduce a predetermined pattern of time delays.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a cascaded system in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a typical phased array antenna system comprises a generator 30 for producing a microwave carrier which carries data inputted thereon from a data source 32, in accordance with well-known techniques. The carrier is introduced into an array 40 of phase shift elements 41, each controlled by a phase control system 42 in accordance with well known techniques. As known, for beam steering, at any given time a linearly varying phase delay is introduced into the respective different multiple elements, where phase shift .phi..sub.o determines the direction of wave propagation. The relative magnitude of the phase shifts for the different elements maintains a predetermined pattern, i.e., each delay is some respective multiple of the base delay. If the value of the base delay is varied, then the beam is steered to a different direction as is known in the art. As the time delays vary continuously, beam scanning is achieved. As is well-known, the relative magnitude of the phase shifts for the different elements must maintain the same pattern of phase delays in order to produce proper scanning of the beam. The respective phase delayed signals are fed into separate antenna elements 46 of antenna array 44, thereby producing the desired beam.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, there is illustrated an optically controlled phased array system. The optical carrier generator suitably comprises a laser as illustrated in 50. A master oscillator 52 produces a synchronizing microwave control signal which is fed into modulator 54, producing a modulated light output which is coupled to optical fiber 55 for rather suitable light coupling means. Thus, the microwave signal is carried on the light beam in the form of amplitude modulations. The light beam is split at 56, and respective light signals are transmitted on respective optical fiber at lengths 58 to the phase array 60. Phase array 60 comprises a plurality of optical true time delay elements 61, each controlled by a phase control system 62. The time delayed optical signals are transmitted across the continuing optical fiber lengths 58 to respective antenna elements of antenna array 64. In practice, there are several different procedures which can be utilized for coupling the optical signal into the antenna or T/R elements 66. This can be accomplished by "direct optical injection locking" where the optical signal is injected into the active element of the slave oscillator of the T/R, which may be an FET or IMPATT diode. Alternately, the "indirect" optical injection locking approach may be utilized, which uses the inherent non-linearities of the semi-conductor laser and the microwave oscillators. In this procedure, the optical signal is coupled to a fiber optic cable or link, and detected and demodulated by a high speed PIN diode which forms part of the T/R element 66. The output of the PIN is filtered, amplified and electrically injected into the FET or IMPATT oscillator. These coupling or locking techniques are known in the literature.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, there is shown the novel means of introducing a time delay into the signal that is being carried on the optic fiber or link 58. As illustrated, the fiber is wrapped once around a substantially disk-shaped piezo-electric crystal 63. The circumference of the crystal is controlled by the voltage applied to the crystal by phase control circuits 62. Since relative expansion of the crystal lengthens or stretches the fiber, the additional length introduces an additional time of transmission and thus a phase delay. It is clear that the amount of stretching and consequent phase delay is a function of the circumference of the piezo-electric crystal, the control voltage applied and also the number of times the fiber is wrapped around the crystal circumference. Thus, for a given phase control signal, the delay introduced would be proportional to the number of turns of the fiber around the crystal circumference. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, a series of fibers 58-1 through 58-N are illustrated, each having n-loops around a crystal of substantially identical circumferences, and each crystal being driven by the same control voltage, as illustrated at the phase introduced in each respective line is n times t.sub.O where n represents the number of turns of the fiber around the crystal.

It is noted that equivalent elements, e.g., magneto-restrictive elements, which are operatively equivalent to piezo-electric crystals may be used for generating the time delays in the fiber optic links. Any electro-mechanical element that can be combined with the fiber optic link that is suitable to provide a mechanically operative relationship may be used. Thus, any such electro-mechanical element can be used where electrical control of the element provides a mechanical change in the length of the fiber, in the same conceptual manner as illustrated with the example of the piezo-electric crystal.

It is noted that the amount of stretching required to introduce a phase delay is of the order of the wavelength of the microwave signal, ranging in the millimeter and centimeter range for millimeter and microwave systems respectively. The total length of the fiber wrapped around the piezo-electric crystal is of the order of 10 mm or less. Because of the significant difference in Young's modulus between the fiber and the piezo-electric materials, and because of the small cross-section of the fiber, the power requirements to operate the time delays can be relatively modest.

The cascaded system of FIG. 3 illustrates a more complex system. This is a cascaded system in which the output of the master oscillator 74 and then amplified at respective amplifiers 75. The output of each amplifier is given a first gross phase delay at 76, and introduced into a laser diode array 77. Each of the n-diodes of array 77 is split into a plurality of light signals, each of which is passed through a variably controlled delay 78 in accordance with the above discussion of the crystal-fiber optic arrangement. The delayed light signal from delay 78 is optically connected to the T/R element, which comprises a detector 79, amplifier 80 and slave oscillator 81.