Low Loss Optic Fiber Sparse Tapped Delay Module

Leveraging Agiltron's recent breakthrough in low loss/low cost solid-sate fiberoptic digital delay lines and variable splitter, we propose to develop a new type of affordable reconfigurable sparse delay line module. The proposed approach overcomes the deficiencies in limited delay time and excessive loss associated with electronic sparse delay line modules and provides sufficiently long delays and wide operation bandwidth, which are beyond electronic means. Our design is highly reconfigurable as well as scalable, providing the required time resolution/precision and delay range that meet a wide range of military and commercial application specifications. This module can precisely operate at frequency and the tapped weight whose response shape is programmable, forming a true matched microwave filter. The proposed sparse tapped delay lines module will have a wide tunable center frequency with high bandwidth up to 40GHz and high dynamic range. The associated theoretical model has been well established and the feasibility of the proposed optically-fed tapped sparse delay line module has been successfully demonstrated by the Agiltron and Tufts University team. This Phase I program addresses high-performance specifications of low loss, high reconfiguration speed, large variable tap weight dynamic range, and high scalability, as well as associated cost-effective fabrication issues.