Photonic Technology for RF, Microwave and mmW Antennas

Xenotran Corporation proposes to develop a new optical true-time-delay antenna steering system suitable for Navy radar and communications systems. The system will be based on the optical commutator, a device that employs fiber optic delay lines which provide exact timing to steer antenna arrays. The end result will be an inexpensive low end commercial market product. Xenotran also proposes to develop a technique to control the amplitudes of the transmitting elements (or the gains of the receiving elements) to shape the beam and reduce sidelobes. The system will also include the ability to make fine adjustments to element timing compensating for any errors. During phase I, a wideband photonically controlled true-time-delay system will be designed to meet Navy needs. One goal is to provide a system with very low optical losses. Another is to provide an easily manufactured system design which will be very inexpensive to produce. Under an optional set of tasks, a prototype optical commutator sub-system will be constructed and tested, thus providing the necessary data required to plan the full system demonstration under phase II.The final system will be capable of controlling multiple beams at various frequencies from the same antenna array.