Patent ID: 6320539
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A fiber-optic, wideband array antenna beamformer for transmission comprised of:an optical light source for generating an optical signal;a first microwave signal;a plurality of antenna feed lines for transmitting a second microwave signal;a modulator for modulating the optical signal with said first microwave signal which is applied to each antenna feed line of the plurality of antenna feed lines;a tunable delay line in each of said antenna feed lines, comprising a plurality of chirped fiber gratings associated with a particular antenna feed line, whereby each feed traverses a multi-port optical circulator and is reflected off a number of said identical, chirped fiber gratings proportional to their position within the array;a convertor for converting the delayed modulated optical signal to a second microwave signal; anda plurality of antennas forming an array wherein each antenna of the array is associated with a specific delay line for transmitting the second microwave signals.