Patent ID: 9660721
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: H04B

Claim:
1. An optical detector and amplifier for detecting radio frequency (RF) and microwave signals, the optical detector comprising: a light source and a photodetector, an electrical circuit comprising a position dependent capacitor, and a bias voltage source adapted for providing a bias voltage for biasing the position dependent capacitor, wherein the position dependent capacitor comprises an electrode and a membrane, the membrane being adapted for being displaced in reaction to RF signals incident on the membrane, the light source is adapted for, in operation, emitting light onto the membrane and the photodetector is adapted for, in operation, receiving light emitted by the light source and reflected by the membrane, the membrane is metallized, comprises a thickness of less than 1 μm, and comprises a quality factor, Q the distance, d, between the membrane and the electrode is less than 10 μm.