Patent ID: 10698097

Abstract:
A multi-beam photonic monopulse comparator is disclosed. Photonic inputs incorporating M component wavelengths are split into equivalent inputs for each quadrant subarray and array element (e.g., N array elements in each quadrant subarray). Within each array element, the component wavelengths are apodized by attenuators and the apodized input signal modulated by a received inbound RF signal (via broadband Mach-Zehnder electro-optical modulators). The resulting positive-polarity and negative-polarity modulated photonic signals are demultiplexed and each component wavelength time-delayed. Time-delayed wavelength-selective optical delay channels are copied and combined by single mode/multi-mode (SM/MM) couplers into photonic antenna beams and simultaneously generated photonic comparator outputs (elevational difference, sum, azimuthal difference) for each component wavelength. High-speed photodiodes convert the photonic beams and corresponding comparator outputs into RF output signals, from which angle of arrival information for the received inbound RF signals may be calculated.