Integrated Electro-optic Switched True-Time-Delay Modules for Wideband Phased Array Antennas

"It has been realized that the lack of enabling technology of beam forming and steering devices significantly slow down the process in implementing wideband phased array antenna systems.Crystal Research, Inc. proposes an integrated electro-optic switched true-time-delay module for wideband phased array antennas. The unique feature of this proposed approach is that both the true-time-delay waveguide circuit and electro-optic switchingelements are made by using a single polymeric waveguide system and are monolithically integrated in a single substrate. As a result, it significantly reduces the device size while eliminating the most difficult packaging problem associated with thedelicate interfaces between optical fibers and optical switches. Such a monolithic approach offers great precision for the RF phase control than the fiber-delay-lines due to the sub-micrometer accuracy of lithography-defined polymeric waveguides. Moreimportant, the proposed optical switched true-time-delay network requires very low electrical power consumption due to the low power consumption of electrically-switchable electro-optic waveguide gratings. Furthermore, the electrically-switchableelectro-optic waveguide gratings have a very fast switching speed (<50 us) that is at least 100 time faster than any existing commercial optical switches. The proposed integrated electro-optic switched true-time-delay module represents a crucial technology for advanced p