PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-12068786-B2
Application Number: US-202217944726-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Receiver with photonic antenna array

Abstract:
An electronic device may include a receiver having a light source that provides an optical signal to an optical splitter. An optical combiner may be coupled to the optical splitter over a set of parallel optical paths. A phased antenna array may have a set of antennas disposed on the optical paths. Each antenna may include an optical modulator disposed on a respective one of the optical paths and an antenna resonating element coupled to the modulator. Incident radio-frequency signals may produce electrical signals on the antenna resonating elements. Optical phase shifters may provide optical phase shifts to the optical signal. The modulators may modulate the optical local oscillator signal using the electrical signals. The optical combiner may generate a combined signal by combining modulated optical signals from the optical paths. A demodulator may recover wireless data from the radio-frequency signals using the combined signal.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a light source; 
 a demodulator; 
 an optical path between the light source and the demodulator; 
 an electro-optical modulator disposed on the optical path and having an electrode; and 
 an antenna resonating element coupled to the electrode of the electro-optical modulator and configured to receive radio-frequency signals, the demodulator being configured to extract wireless data modulated onto the radio-frequency signals by an external device. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electro-optical modulator comprises a Mach-Zehnder Modulator (MZM). 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an amplifier coupled between the antenna resonating element and the electrode. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional electro-optical modulator disposed on the optical path and having an additional electrode; and 
 an additional antenna resonating element coupled to the additional electrode, wherein the electro-optical modulator overlaps the additional electro-optical modulator and the antenna resonating element is oriented orthogonal to the additional antenna resonating element. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical phase shifter disposed on the optical path between the light source and the electro-optical modulator. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical phase shifter disposed on the optical path between the electro-optical modulator and the demodulator. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to generate an optical signal on the optical path and the electro-optical modulator is configured to modulate an electrical signal from the antenna resonating element onto the optical signal on the optical path. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the electro-optical modulator is further configured to apply an optical phase shift to the optical signal on the optical path, the electro-optical modulator being implemented using plasmonics technology. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional optical path between the light source and the demodulator; 
 an additional electro-optical modulator disposed on the additional optical path and having an additional electrode; 
 an additional antenna resonating element coupled to the additional electrode; and 
 an optical combiner that couples the optical path and the additional optical path to the demodulator. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an optical band pass filter (BPF) coupled between the optical combiner and the demodulator. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a phased antenna array configured to receive radio-frequency signals at a frequency between 100 GHz and 10 THz, the phased antenna array having a first antenna that includes the antenna resonating element and the electro-optical modulator, and the phased antenna array having a second antenna that includes the additional antenna resonating element and the additional electro-optical modulator. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless data comprises wireless data packets. 
     
     
       13. An electronic device comprising:
 a light source; 
 a demodulator; 
 an optical path between the light source and the demodulator; 
 an electro-optical modulator disposed on the optical path and having an electrode; 
 an antenna resonating element coupled to the electrode of the electro-optical modulator; and 
 an amplifier that couples the antenna resonating element to the electrode. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the electro-optical modulator comprises:
 a first optical arm, the first optical arm extending along the electrode; 
 a second optical arm; and 
 an additional electrode that extends along the second optical arm. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the antenna resonating element has a first radiating arm coupled to the electrode and has a second radiating arm coupled to the additional electrode, the amplifier being coupled between the first radiating arm and the electrode, the electronic device further comprising an additional amplifier that couples the second radiating arm to the additional electrode. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the amplifier is configured to amplify a radio-frequency current conveyed from the antenna resonating element to the electrode. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an optical phase shifter disposed on the optical path between the electro-optical modulator and the light source. 
 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an optical phase shifter disposed on the optical path between the electro-optical modulator and the demodulator. 
 
     
     
       19. An electronic device comprising:
 a light source; 
 a demodulator; 
 an optical path between the light source and the demodulator; 
 an electro-optical modulator disposed on the optical path and having an electrode; 
 an antenna resonating element coupled to the electrode of the electro-optical modulator; and 
 an optical phase shifter disposed on the optical path between the optical light source and the electro-optical modulator. 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the electro-optical modulator has a first optical arm and a second optical arm parallel to the first optical arm, the electrode is coupled to the first optical arm, and the optical phase shifter is separate from the electro-optical modulator. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the demodulator comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator.

Description:
FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with wireless circuitry. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices are often provided with wireless capabilities. An electronic device with wireless capabilities has wireless circuitry that includes one or more antennas. The wireless circuitry is used to perform communications using radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas. 
     As software applications on electronic devices become more data-intensive over time, demand has grown for electronic devices that support wireless communications at higher data rates. However, the maximum data rate supported by electronic devices is limited by the frequency of the radio-frequency signals. In addition, it can be difficult to provide wireless circuitry that supports these frequencies with satisfactory levels of wireless performance. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electronic device may include wireless circuitry having a receiver. The receiver may include a light source that provides an optical signal to an optical splitter. An optical combiner may be coupled to the optical splitter over a set of parallel optical paths. The optical combiner may have an output coupled to a bandpass filter (BPF). The BPF may be coupled to a demodulator. 
     The wireless circuitry may include a phased antenna array. The phased antenna array may have a set of antennas disposed on the set of parallel optical paths. Each antenna may include an electro-optical modulator disposed on a respective one of the parallel optical paths and an antenna resonating element coupled to the electro-optical modulator. The antennas may cover a single polarization or two orthogonal polarizations. Optical phase shifters may be disposed on the parallel optical paths. If desired, the optical phase shifters may be integrated into the electro-optical modulators. 
     Radio-frequency signals may be incident upon the phased antenna array. The radio-frequency signals may produce electrical signals on the antenna resonating elements. The optical phase shifters may provide optical phase shifts to the optical signal. The electro-optical modulators may modulate the optical local oscillator signal using the electrical signals. The optical combiner may generate a combined signal by combining the modulated optical signals from the parallel optical paths. The band pass filter may filter out the optical signal and a first sideband from the combined signal to produce a filtered optical signal. The demodulator may recover wireless data from the radio-frequency signals using the filtered optical signal. The optical phase shifters and the optical combiner may serve to produce the array response for the phased antenna array, allowing the phased antenna array to receive the radio-frequency signals from a particular direction (which may change over time). 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides an electronic device. The electronic device can include a light source. The electronic device can include a demodulator. The electronic device can include an optical path between the light source and the demodulator. The electronic device can include an electro-optical modulator disposed on the optical path and having an electrode. The electronic device can include an antenna resonating element coupled to the electrode of the electro-optical modulator. 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry can include a light source configured to generate an optical signal. The wireless circuitry can include an optical combiner. The wireless circuitry can include an optical splitter. The wireless circuitry can include a set of optical paths coupled in parallel between the optical combiner and the optical splitter, the optical splitter being configured to couple the optical signal onto the set of optical paths. The wireless circuitry can include a phased antenna array having a set of antennas disposed on the set of optical paths, wherein the set of antennas is configured to receive radio-frequency signals and is configured to modulate the optical signal using the received radio-frequency signals. 
     An aspect of the disclosure provides wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry can include a first optical modulator disposed on a first optical path and having a first electrode. The wireless circuitry can include a first antenna resonating element coupled to the first electrode, the first antenna resonating element being configured to receive a radio-frequency signal and the first electro-optical modulator being configured to modulate an optical signal using the received radio-frequency signal. The wireless circuitry can include a second optical modulator disposed on a second optical path and having a second electrode. The wireless circuitry can include a second antenna resonating element coupled to the second electrode, the second antenna resonating element being configured to receive the radio-frequency signal and the second electro-optical modulator being configured to modulate the optical signal using the received radio-frequency signal. The wireless circuitry can include an optical combiner coupled to the first and second optical paths. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an illustrative electronic device having wireless circuitry with antennas that convey wireless signals at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of an illustrative phased antenna array that may be adjusted to form beams of signals oriented in different directions in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a circuit diagram of an illustrative electro-optical receiver that receives wireless signals greater than about 100 GHz using a phased antenna array in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of an illustrative antenna that may be integrated into an electro-optical receiver of the type shown in  FIG.  4    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of an illustrative antenna for covering multiple polarizations that may be integrated into an electro-optical receiver of the type shown in  FIG.  4    in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic device  10  of  FIG.  1    (sometimes referred to herein as electro-optical device  10 ) may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a device embedded in eyeglasses, goggles, or other equipment worn on a user&#39;s head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, a wireless internet-connected voice-controlled speaker, a home entertainment device, a remote control device, a gaming controller, a peripheral user input device, a wireless base station or access point, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in the functional block diagram of  FIG.  1   , device  10  may include components located on or within an electronic device housing such as housing  12 . Housing  12 , which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, part or all of housing  12  may be formed from dielectric or other low-conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other situations, housing  12  or at least some of the structures that make up housing  12  may be formed from metal elements. 
     Device  10  may include control circuitry  14 . Control circuitry  14  may include storage such as storage circuitry  16 . Storage circuitry  16  may include hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Storage circuitry  16  may include storage that is integrated within device  10  and/or removable storage media. 
     Control circuitry  14  may include processing circuitry such as processing circuitry  18 . Processing circuitry  18  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  18  may include on one or more processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. Control circuitry  14  may be configured to perform operations in device  10  using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. Software code for performing operations in device  10  may be stored on storage circuitry  16  (e.g., storage circuitry  16  may include non-transitory (tangible) computer readable storage media that stores the software code). The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. Software code stored on storage circuitry  16  may be executed by processing circuitry  18 . 
     Control circuitry  14  may be used to run software on device  10  such as satellite navigation applications, internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry  14  may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry  14  include internet protocols, wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, Sixth Generation (6G) protocols, sub-THz protocols, THz protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) protocols, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols, optical communications protocols, or any other desired communications protocols. Each communications protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol. 
     Device  10  may include input-output circuitry  20 . Input-output circuitry  20  may include input-output devices  22 . Input-output devices  22  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  22  may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices  22  may include touch sensors, displays (e.g., touch-sensitive and/or force-sensitive displays), light-emitting components such as displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons (mechanical, capacitive, optical, etc.), scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or compasses that detect motion), capacitance sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to a display to detect pressure applied to the display), temperature sensors, etc. In some configurations, keyboards, headphones, displays, pointing devices such as trackpads, mice, and joysticks, and other input-output devices may be coupled to device  10  using wired or wireless connections (e.g., some of input-output devices  22  may be peripherals that are coupled to a main processing unit or other portion of device  10  via a wired or wireless link). 
     Input-output circuitry  20  may include wireless circuitry  24  to support wireless communications. Wireless circuitry  24  (sometimes referred to herein as wireless communications circuitry  24 ) may include one or more antennas  30 . Wireless circuitry  24  may also include transceiver circuitry  26 . Transceiver circuitry  26  may include transmitter circuitry (e.g., one or more transmitters), receiver circuitry (e.g., one or more receivers), modulator circuitry, demodulator circuitry (e.g., one or more modems), radio-frequency circuitry, one or more radios, intermediate frequency circuitry, optical transmitter circuitry, optical receiver circuitry, optical light sources, other optical components, baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), amplifier circuitry, clocking circuitry such as one or more local oscillators and/or phase-locked loops, memory, one or more registers, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry, digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry, radio-frequency transmission lines, optical fibers, and/or any other circuitry for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using antennas  30 . The components of transceiver circuitry  26  may be implemented on one integrated circuit, chip, system-on-chip (SOC), die, printed circuit board, substrate, or package, or the components of transceiver circuitry  26  may be distributed across two or more integrated circuits, chips, SOCs, printed circuit boards, substrates, and/or packages. 
     The example of  FIG.  1    is merely illustrative. While control circuitry  14  is shown separately from wireless circuitry  24  in the example of  FIG.  1    for the sake of clarity, wireless circuitry  24  may include processing circuitry (e.g., one or more processors) that forms a part of processing circuitry  18  and/or storage circuitry that forms a part of storage circuitry  16  of control circuitry  14  (e.g., portions of control circuitry  14  may be implemented on wireless circuitry  24 ). As an example, control circuitry  14  may include baseband circuitry (e.g., one or more baseband processors), digital control circuitry, analog control circuitry, and/or other control circuitry that forms part of wireless circuitry  24 . The baseband circuitry may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on control circuitry  14  (e.g., storage circuitry  20 ) to: perform user plane functions at a PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and/or PDU layer, and/or to perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC, layer, and/or non-access stratum layer. 
     Transceiver circuitry  26  may be coupled to each antenna  30  in wireless circuitry  24  over a respective signal path  28 . Each signal path  28  may include one or more radio-frequency transmission lines, waveguides, optical fibers, and/or any other desired lines/paths for conveying wireless signals between transceiver circuitry  26  and antenna  30 . Antennas  30  may be formed using any desired antenna structures for conveying wireless signals. For example, antennas  30  may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from dipole antenna structures, planar dipole antenna structures (e.g., bowtie antenna structures), slot antenna structures, loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, monopole antennas, dipoles, hybrids of these designs, etc. Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and/or other antenna tuning components may be adjusted to adjust the frequency response and wireless performance of antennas  30  over time. 
     If desired, two or more of antennas  30  may be integrated into a phased antenna array (sometimes referred to herein as a phased array antenna) in which each of the antennas conveys wireless signals with a respective phase and magnitude that is adjusted over time so the wireless signals constructively and destructively interfere to produce (form) a signal beam in a given pointing direction. The term “convey wireless signals” as used herein means the transmission and/or reception of the wireless signals (e.g., for performing unidirectional and/or bidirectional wireless communications with external wireless communications equipment). Antennas  30  may transmit the wireless signals by radiating the signals into free space (or to free space through intervening device structures such as a dielectric cover layer). Antennas  30  may additionally or alternatively receive the wireless signals from free space (e.g., through intervening devices structures such as a dielectric cover layer). The transmission and reception of wireless signals by antennas  30  each involve the excitation or resonance of antenna currents on an antenna resonating (radiating) element in the antenna by the wireless signals within the frequency band(s) of operation of the antenna. 
     Transceiver circuitry  26  may use antenna(s)  30  to transmit and/or receive wireless signals that convey wireless communications data between device  10  and external wireless communications equipment (e.g., one or more other devices such as device  10 , a wireless access point or base station, etc.). The wireless communications data may be conveyed bidirectionally or unidirectionally. The wireless communications data may, for example, include data that has been encoded into corresponding data packets such as wireless data associated with a telephone call, streaming media content, internet browsing, wireless data associated with software applications running on device  10 , email messages, etc. 
     Additionally or alternatively, wireless circuitry  24  may use antenna(s)  30  to perform wireless sensing operations. The sensing operations may allow device  10  to detect (e.g., sense or identify) the presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity (motion) of objects external to device  10 . Control circuitry  14  may use the detected presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity of the external objects to perform any desired device operations. As examples, control circuitry  14  may use the detected presence, location, orientation, and/or velocity of the external objects to identify a corresponding user input for one or more software applications running on device  10  such as a gesture input performed by the user&#39;s hand(s) or other body parts or performed by an external stylus, gaming controller, head-mounted device, or other peripheral devices or accessories, to determine when one or more antennas  30  needs to be disabled or provided with a reduced maximum transmit power level (e.g., for satisfying regulatory limits on radio-frequency exposure), to determine how to steer (form) a radio-frequency signal beam produced by antennas  30  for wireless circuitry  24  (e.g., in scenarios where antennas  30  include a phased array of antennas  30 ), to map or model the environment around device  10  (e.g., to produce a software model of the room where device  10  is located for use by an augmented reality application, gaming application, map application, home design application, engineering application, etc.), to detect the presence of obstacles in the vicinity of (e.g., around) device  10  or in the direction of motion of the user of device  10 , etc. 
     Wireless circuitry  24  may transmit and/or receive wireless signals within corresponding frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum (sometimes referred to herein as communications bands or simply as “bands”). The frequency bands handled by transceiver circuitry  26  may include wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands (e.g., Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) or other WLAN communications bands) such as a 2.4 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 2400 to 2480 MHz), a 5 GHz WLAN band (e.g., from 5180 to 5825 MHz), a Wi-Fi® 6E band (e.g., from 5925-7125 MHz), and/or other Wi-Fi® bands (e.g., from 1875-5160 MHz), wireless personal area network (WPAN) frequency bands such as the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® band or other WPAN communications bands, cellular telephone frequency bands (e.g., bands from about 600 MHz to about 5 GHz, 3G bands, 4G LTE bands, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 1 (FR1) bands below 10 GHz, 5G New Radio Frequency Range 2 (FR2) bands between 20 and 60 GHz, etc.), other centimeter or millimeter wave frequency bands between 10-100 GHz, near-field communications frequency bands (e.g., at 13.56 MHz), satellite navigation frequency bands (e.g., a GPS band from 1565 to 1610 MHz, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) band, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) band, etc.), ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency bands that operate under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra-wideband communications protocols, communications bands under the family of 3GPP wireless communications standards, communications bands under the IEEE 802.XX family of standards, and/or any other desired frequency bands of interest. 
     Over time, software applications on electronic devices such as device  10  have become more and more data intensive. Wireless circuitry on the electronic devices therefore needs to support data transfer at higher and higher data rates. In general, the data rates supported by the wireless circuitry are proportional to the frequency of the wireless signals conveyed by the wireless circuitry (e.g., higher frequencies can support higher data rates than lower frequencies). Wireless circuitry  24  may convey centimeter and millimeter wave signals to support relatively high data rates (e.g., because centimeter and millimeter wave signals are at relatively high frequencies between around 10 GHz and 100 GHz). However, the data rates supported by centimeter and millimeter wave signals may still be insufficient to meet all the data transfer needs of device  10 . To support even higher data rates such as data rates up to 5-10 Gbps or higher, wireless circuitry  24  may convey wireless signals at frequencies greater than about 100 GHz. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , wireless circuitry  24  may transmit wireless signals  32  and may receive wireless signals  34  at frequencies greater than around 100 GHz (e.g., greater than 70 GHz, 80 GHz, 90 GHz, 110 GHz, etc.). Wireless signals  32  and  34  may sometimes be referred to herein as tremendously high frequency (THF) signals  32  and  34 , sub-THz signals  32  and  34 , THz signals  32  and  34 , or sub-millimeter wave signals  32  and  34 . THF signals  32  and  34  may be at sub-THz or THz frequencies such as frequencies between 100 GHz and 1 THz, between 100 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 2 THz, between 200 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 1 THz, between 300 GHz and 2 THz, between 70 GHz and 2 THz, between 300 GHz and 10 THz, between 100 GHz and 800 GHz, between 200 GHz and 1.5 THz, etc. (e.g., within a sub-THz, THz, THF, or sub-millimeter frequency band such as a 6G frequency band). The high data rates supported by these frequencies may be leveraged by device  1  to perform cellular telephone voice and/or data communications (e.g., while supporting spatial multiplexing to provide further data bandwidth), to perform spatial ranging operations such as radar operations to detect the presence, location, and/or velocity of objects external to device  10 , to perform automotive sensing (e.g., with enhanced security), to perform health/body monitoring on a user of device  10  or another person, to perform gas or chemical detection, to form a high data rate wireless connection between device  10  and another device or peripheral device (e.g., to form a high data rate connection between a display driver on device  10  and a display that displays ultra-high resolution video), to form a remote radio head (e.g., a flexible high data rate connection), to form a THF chip-to-chip connection within device  10  that supports high data rates (e.g., where one antenna  30  on a first chip in device  10  transmits THF signals  32  to another antenna  30  on a second chip in device  10 ), and/or to perform any other desired high data rate operations. 
     In some scenarios, different antennas  30  are used to transmit THF signals  32  than are used to receive THF signals  34 . If desired, the same antenna  30  and signal path  28  may be used to both transmit THF signals  32  and to receive THF signals  34 . If desired, multiple antennas  30  in wireless circuitry  24  may transmit THF signals  32  and may receive THF signals  34 . The antennas may be integrated into a phased antenna array that transmits THF signals  32  and/or that receives THF signals  34  within a corresponding signal beam oriented in a selected beam pointing direction. 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram showing how a set of L antennas  30  may be integrated into a corresponding phased antenna array  46 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , phased antenna array  46  (sometimes referred to herein as array  46 , antenna array  46 , or array  46  of antennas  30 ) may be coupled to signal paths  28 . For example, a first antenna  30 - 1  in phased antenna array  46  may be coupled to a first signal path  28 - 1 , a second antenna  30 - 2  in phased antenna array  46  may be coupled to a second signal path  28 - 2 , an Lth antenna  30 -L in phased antenna array  46  may be coupled to an Lth signal path  28 -L, etc. While antennas  30  are described herein as forming a phased antenna array, the antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46  may sometimes also be referred to as collectively forming a single phased array antenna (e.g., where antennas  30  form antenna elements of the phased array antenna). 
     Antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46  may be arranged in any desired number of rows and columns or in any other desired pattern (e.g., the antennas need not be arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns and may be arranged in a uniform linear array (ULA) pattern, a non-uniform pattern, a sparse or distributed pattern, a circular pattern, or other patterns). Each antenna  30  may be separated from one or more adjacent antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46  by a predetermined distance such as approximately half an effective wavelength of operation of the array. During signal transmission, signal paths  28  may be used to supply signals (e.g., radio-frequency signals such as millimeter wave and/or centimeter wave signals) from transceiver circuitry to phased antenna array  46  for wireless transmission. During signal reception, signal paths  28  may be used to supply signals received at phased antenna array  46  (e.g., from external wireless equipment or transmitted signals that have been reflected off of external objects) to transceiver circuitry. 
     The use of multiple antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46  allows beam forming/steering arrangements to be implemented by controlling the relative phases and magnitudes (amplitudes) of the radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas. In the example of  FIG.  2   , antennas  30  each have a corresponding phase shifter  44  (e.g., a first phase shifter  44 - 1  interposed on signal path  28 - 1  may control phase for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  30 - 1 , a second phase shifter  44 - 2  interposed on signal path  28 - 2  may control phase for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  30 - 2 , an Lth phase shifter  44 -L interposed on signal path  28 -L may control phase for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna  30 -L, etc.). 
     Phase shifters  44  may each include circuitry for adjusting the phase of the radio-frequency signals on signal paths  28  (e.g., phase shifter circuits). If desired, phase shifters  44  may also include circuitry for adjusting the magnitude of the radio-frequency signals on signal paths  28  (e.g., power amplifier and/or low noise amplifier circuits). Phase shifters  44  may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as beam steering circuitry or beam forming circuitry (e.g., beam steering/forming circuitry that steers/forms the beam of radio-frequency signals transmitted and/or received by phased antenna array  46 ). 
     Phase shifters  44  may adjust the relative phases of the transmitted signals that are provided to each of the antennas in phased antenna array  46  and may adjust the relative phases of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array  46 . Phase shifters  44  may, if desired, include phase detection circuitry for detecting the phases of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array  46 . The term “beam” or “signal beam” may be used herein to collectively refer to wireless signals that are transmitted and/or received by phased antenna array  46  in a particular direction. Each beam may exhibit a peak gain that is oriented in a respective beam pointing direction at a corresponding beam pointing angle (e.g., based on constructive and destructive interference from the combination of signals from each antenna in the phased antenna array). Different sets of phase settings for phase shifters  44  may configure phased antenna array  46  to form different beams in different beam pointing directions. 
     If, for example, phase shifters  44  are adjusted to produce a first set of phases (and/or magnitudes), the signals will form a beam as shown by beam B 1  of  FIG.  2    that is oriented in the direction of point A. If, however, phase shifters  44  are adjusted to produce a second set of phases (and/or magnitudes), the signals will form a beam as shown by beam B 2  that is oriented in the direction of point B. Each phase shifter  44  may be controlled to produce a desired phase and/or magnitude based on a corresponding control signal S received from control circuitry  14  of  FIG.  1    (e.g., the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase shifter  44 - 1  may be controlled using control signal S 1 , the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase shifter  44 - 2  may be controlled using control signal S 2 , the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase shifter  44 -L may be controlled using control signal SL, etc.). If desired, the control circuitry may actively adjust control signals S in real time to steer (form) the beam in different desired directions over time. Phase shifters  44  may provide information identifying the phase of received signals to control circuitry  14  if desired. 
     When performing wireless communications using radio-frequency signals at relatively high frequencies such as millimeter wave, centimeter wave, and sub-THz frequencies, radio-frequency signals are conveyed over a line-of-sight path between phased antenna array  46  and external communications equipment. If the external equipment is located at point A of  FIG.  2   , phase shifters  44  may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards point A (e.g., to steer the pointing direction of the signal beam towards point A). Phased antenna array  46  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals in the direction of point A. Similarly, if the external equipment is located at point B, phase shifters  44  may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards point B (e.g., to steer the pointing direction of the signal beam towards point B). Phased antenna array  46  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals in the direction of point B. 
     In the example of  FIG.  2   , beam steering is shown as being performed over a single degree of freedom for the sake of simplicity (e.g., towards the left and right on the page of  FIG.  2   ). However, in practice, the beam may be steered over two or more degrees of freedom (e.g., in three dimensions, into and out of the page and to the left and right on the page of  FIG.  2   ). Phased antenna array  46  may have a corresponding field of view over which beam steering can be performed (e.g., in a hemisphere or a segment of a hemisphere over the phased antenna array). 
     If desired, one or more radio-frequency lenses such as radio-frequency lens  48  may be disposed over phased antenna array  46 . The antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46  may convey radio-frequency signals through the radio-frequency lenses. The radio-frequency lens(es) may help to direct or focus the radio-frequency signals onto the antennas or in different directions. Each antenna  30  in phased antenna array  46  may be provided with a different respective overlapping lens  48 , two or more antennas  30  may share the same overlapping lens  48 , or a single lens  48  may overlap all the antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46 . 
     To handle radio-frequency signals at high frequencies such as THF signals  34 , transceiver circuitry  26  ( FIG.  1   ) may include a receiver that is implemented as an electro-optical receiver. The electro-optical receiver may use optical local oscillator signals to receive THF signals  34  using phased antenna array  46 . Phased antenna array  46  may therefore be an electro-optical phased antenna array. In these examples, phase shifters  44  are optical phase shifters that operate on optical signals. Phase shifters  44  may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as optical phase shifters  44 . 
       FIG.  3    is a circuit diagram showing how an illustrative electro-optical receiver in transceiver circuitry  26  ( FIG.  1   ) may receive THF signals  34  using phased antenna array  46  (e.g., an electro-optical phased antenna array). As shown in  FIG.  3   , the transceiver circuitry may include an electro-optical receiver such as receiver  50 . 
     Receiver  50  may include optical components such as an optical local oscillator (LO) light source (emitter)  55 , optical combiner  64 , band pass filter (BPF)  68 , demodulator  70 , optical splitter  58 , and optical paths  56 ,  60 , and  66 . Optical path  66  and portions of optical paths  60  may form the signal paths  28  ( FIG.  1   ) that couple receiver  50  to the L antennas  30  in phased antenna array  46 . Optical paths  66 ,  60 , and  56  may each include one or more optical fibers and/or waveguides, for example. 
     LO light source  55  may include one or more light sources such as laser light sources, laser diodes, optical phase locked loops, or other optical emitters that emit light as optical local oscillator signal LO 2 . Optical local oscillator signal LO 2  may be a narrowband signal at a frequency f LO2 , corresponding to an optical wavelength. Optical path  56  may couple LO light source  55  to the input of optical splitter  58 . Optical splitter  58  may have outputs (optically) coupled to the inputs of optical combiner  64  over L different parallel optical paths  60  (e.g., there may be L optical paths  60  coupled in parallel between L different outputs of optical splitter  58  and L different inputs of optical combiner  64 ). Only the first optical path  60 - 1  and the Lth optical path  60 -L in receiver  50  are shown between optical splitter  58  and optical combiner  64  in the example of  FIG.  3    for the sake of clarity. 
     Optical combiner  64  may have an output coupled to the input of demodulator  70  over optical path  66 . BPF  68  may be disposed on optical path  66  between optical combiner  64  and demodulator  70 . The input of BPF  68  may be (optically) coupled to the output of optical combiner  64 . The output of BPF  68  may be (optically) coupled to the input of demodulator  70 . BPF  68  may be, for example, an optical BPF having a transfer function H(f) that defines the optical passband of BPF  68 . 
     Demodulator  70  may include demodulation circuitry for demodulating wireless data from an optical signal received over its input coupled to optical path  66 . Demodulator  70  may include, for example, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator (or another demodulator depending on the modulation scheme used to convey THF signals  34 ), downconverters (e.g., for downconverting from optical frequencies at optical path  66  to an intermediate (radio) frequency and from the intermediate (radio) frequency to baseband, for downconverting from optical frequencies to baseband, etc.), high speed/bandwidth analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), fast Fourier transforms (FFTs), and/or any other desired circuitry for extracting (e.g., decoding and/or demodulating) wireless data (information) from THF signals  34 , as conveyed by optical signals on optical path  66 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , each optical path  6  may have a respective phase shifter  44  and a respective electro-optical modulator  54  disposed thereon and coupled in series between optical splitter  58  and optical combine  64 . For example, optical path  60 - 1  may have a first phase shifter  44 - 1  and a first electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  coupled in series between optical splitter  58  and optical combiner  64 , optical path  60 -L may have an Lth phase shifter  44 -L and an Lth electro-optical modulator  54 -L coupled in series between optical splitter  58  and optical combiner  64 , etc. Electro-optical modulators  54  (sometimes referred to herein simply as optical modulators  54 ) may include, for example, Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM) or other electro-optical modulators. Electro-optical modulators  54  may therefore sometimes also be referred to herein as MZMs  54 . 
     Each one of the L optical paths  60  may have a respective one of the L antennas  30  from phased antenna array  46  disposed thereon. For example, antenna  30 - 1  in phased antenna array  46  may be disposed on optical path  60 - 1 , antenna  30 -L in phased antenna array  46  may be disposed on optical path  60 -L, etc. Each antenna  30  may include the electro-optical modulator  54  on its corresponding optical path  60  and a respective antenna resonating element  52  coupled to the electro-optical modulator  54  (e.g., to one or more electrodes or terminals of the electro-optical modulator). For example, antenna  30 - 1  may include electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  and an antenna resonating element  52 - 1  coupled to electro-optical modulator  54 - 1 , antenna  30 -L may include electro-optical modulator  54 -L and an antenna resonating element  52 -L coupled to electro-optical modulator  54 -L, etc. Antenna resonating elements  52  may each include radiating (resonating) element arms (electrically) coupled to the corresponding electro-optical modulator  54 . Antenna resonating elements  52  may each include two opposing resonating element arms (e.g., bowtie arms or dipole arms), monopole elements, patch elements, slot elements, radiating waveguides, dielectric resonators, inverted-F resonating elements, or any other desired resonating element structures. 
     Optical phase shifters  44  may receive control signals S that control the optical phase shifters to apply different optical phase shifts φ 1  to optical signals on their respective optical paths  60 . For example, optical phase shifter  44 - 1  may receive control signal S 1  that controls optical phase shifter to apply optical phase shift φ 1  to optical signals on optical path  60 - 1 , optical phase shifter  44 -L may receive control signal SL that controls the optical phase shifter to apply optical phase shift φ L  to optical signals on optical path  60 -L, etc. If desired, optical phase shifters  44  may be implemented using plasmonics technology. 
     Electro-optical modulators  54  may modulate electrical signals onto optical signals propagating along optical paths  60 . For example, electro-optical modulators  54  may modulate, onto optical signals propagating along optical paths  60 , electrical signals produced on antenna resonating element arms  52  by incident THF signals  34  (e.g., antenna currents produced on antenna resonating element arms  52  by incident THF signals  34  and conveyed to electrode(s) on electro-optical modulators  54 ). Electro-optical modulators  54  may receive bias voltages V BIAS  that control how the electro-optical modulators modulate the electrical signals onto the optical signals. 
     During signal reception, wavefronts of THF signals  34  are incident upon phased antenna array  46  at an arbitrary angle. The THF signals may have a corresponding radio frequency f RF  (e.g., a sub-THz frequency between around 100-1000 GHz). The radio frequency may correspond to an angular frequency of ω RF . THF signals  34  may also carry modulated wireless data (e.g., as produced by the transmitting device), characterized by a modulation function m(t). 
     Each of the L optical paths  60 , the L antennas  30 , the L electro-optical modulators  54 , the L antenna resonating elements  52 , and the L phase shifters  44  of phased antenna array  46  may be labeled by a corresponding index 1=1, . . . , L. The angle of incidence of THF signals  34  may cause the wavefronts to be incident upon different antennas  30  of phased antenna array  46  at slightly different times, generally characterized by a time delay τ 1  (e.g., a phase front run time differential) for the lth antenna  30  in phased antenna array  46 . Time delay τ 1  may be greater for antennas  30  for which the wavefronts have to travel a farther distance (given the angle of incidence of THF signals  34 ) than for antennas  30  for which the wavefronts have to a travel shorter distance (e.g., under a uniform linear array assumption). 
     At the same time, LO light source  55  may emit optical local oscillator signal LO 2  onto optical path  56  (e.g., may illuminate optical path  56  using optical local oscillator signal LO 2 ). Optical splitter  58  may distribute optical local oscillator signal LO 2  onto optical paths  60 . Each phase shifter  44  may apply a respective optical phase shift φ 1  to the optical local oscillator signal LO 2  on optical paths  60  to produce (optical) input signals E IN,1 , which are provided to the input of the corresponding electro-optical modulator  54 . For example, phase shifter  44 - 1  may apply optical phase shift φ 1  to optical local oscillator signal LO 2  to produce an input signal E IN,1  provided to electro-optical modulator  54 - 1 , phase shifter  44 -L may apply optical phase shift φ 1  to optical local oscillator signal LO 2  to produce an input signal E IN,L  provided to electro-optical modulator  54 -L, etc. 
     Antenna resonating elements  52  may receive THF signals  34 . THF signals  34  may 
     produce antenna currents on antenna resonating elements  52  (e.g., at frequency f RF ). Antenna resonating elements  52  may pass the antenna currents to the electrode(s) of the corresponding electro-optical modulator  54 . Electro-optical modulator  54  may modulate optical local oscillator signal LO 2  (e.g., the phase-shifted input signals E IN,1 ) using the electrical signal (the antenna currents) to produce output signals E OUT,1 . Output signals EM OUT,1  are optical signals at optical frequencies but have been modulated using the electrical signals and thus carry the wireless data (information) conveyed in THF signals  34 . For example, electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  may generate output signal E OUT,1  by modulating the electrical signal from antenna resonating element  52 - 1  onto input signal E IN,1 , electro-optical modulator  54 -L may generate output signal E OUT,L  by modulating the electrical signal from antenna resonating element  52 -L onto input signal E IN,L , etc. 
     Optical combiner  64  may combine (e.g., add) all of the L output signals E OUT,1  produced by phased antenna array  46  together to output the corresponding combined (added) signal onto optical path  66 . BPF  68  may filter the combined signal to produce filtered optical signal E(t), which is provided to demodulator  70 . Demodulator  70  may demodulate filtered optical signal E(t) to recover (decode) the wireless data conveyed in THF signals  34  (e.g., as encoded by modulation m(t) in THF signals  34 ). If desired, demodulator  70  may downconvert filtered optical signal E(t) to an intermediate (radio) frequency or baseband prior to decoding the wireless data. 
     Plot  72  of  FIG.  3    shows the combined signal output by optical combiner  64  onto optical path  66  (in units of power as a function of frequency). As shown in plot  72 , the combined signal includes optical local oscillator signal LO 2  at frequency f LO2  (e.g., an optical frequency such as 200,000 GHz or another optical frequency). When electro-optical modulators  54  modulate the electrical signals from antenna resonating elements  52  onto the optical local oscillator signal, the electro-optical modulators may produce a first modulated optical signal  74  in a first sideband below frequency f LO2  (e.g., at frequency f LO2 −f RF ) and a second modulated optical signal  76  in a second sideband above frequency f LO2  (e.g., at frequency f LO2 +f RF ). Each sideband is separated from frequency f LO2  by the frequency of THF signals  34 , f RF . 
     BPF  68  may serve to filter out one of the sidebands and the optical local oscillator signal LO 2  from the combined signal to produce filtered optical signal E(t). For example, BPF  68  may have a passband (e.g., as defined by transfer function H(f)) that overlaps modulated signal  76  (e.g., frequencies around f LO2 +f RF ) but that does not overlap optical local oscillator signal LO 2  (e.g., frequency f LO2 ) and modulated signal  4  (e.g., frequencies around f LO2 −f RF ). This configures BPF  68  to pass only modulated signal  76  to demodulator  70  (as filtered optical signal E(t)). Demodulator  70  may thereby recover the wireless data from THF signals  34  by demodulating only modulated signal  76 . Alternatively, the passband may overlap modulated signal  74  but not modulated signal  76 . 
     Filtered optical signal E(t) may be described mathematically by equation 1, for example. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     E 
                     ⁡ 
                     ( 
                     t 
                     ) 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       ∑ 
                       
                         l 
                         = 
                         1 
                       
                       L 
                     
                     
                       
                         E 
                         
                           LO 
                           ⁢ 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           e 
                           
                             j 
                             ⁢ 
                             
                               
                                 ω 
                                 
                                   LO 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   2 
                                 
                               
                               ( 
                               
                                 t 
                                 - 
                                 
                                   TD 
                                   l 
                                 
                               
                               ) 
                             
                           
                         
                         · 
                         
                           m 
                           ⁡ 
                           ( 
                           t 
                           ) 
                         
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         e 
                         
                           j 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                             
                               ω 
                               RF 
                             
                             ( 
                             
                               t 
                               - 
                               
                                 τ 
                                 l 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
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     In equation 1, the sum is performed over each of the L output signals E OUT,1  produced on each of the L optical paths  60  (e.g., as produced by combination of the output signals at optical combiner  64 ). The first term of the sum corresponds to the input signal E IN,1  provided to the electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  in the lth optical path  60 - 1  (e.g., the optical signals provided to the electro-optical modulator). The second term of the sum corresponds to the THF signals  34  received by the antenna resonating element  52 - 1  in the lth antenna  30 - 1  on the lth optical path  60 - 1  (e.g., the electrical signals provided to the electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  in the lth optical path and modulated onto the optical signals provided to the electro-optical modulator, as represented by the first term of the sum). 
     In equation 1, E LO2  is the field amplitude of optical local oscillator signal LO 2 , j is the square root of −1, ω LO2  is the angular frequency of optical local oscillator signal LO 2  (corresponding to frequency f LO2 ), and TD 1  is the time delay introduced by the lth phase shifter  44 - 1  to optical local oscillator signal LO 2  in the lth optical path  60 - 1  (e.g., the true time delay corresponding to (producing) the optical phase shift φ 1  for that optical path). Optical phase shift φ 1  and thus time delay TD 1  may, for example, compensate for the variation in run time of the impinging phase front of THF signals  34  due to the waves of THF signals  34  not arriving at each of the antennas  30 - 1  at the same time given the angle of arrival of THF signals  34 . Equation 1 may be simplified as shown in equation 2. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     E 
                     ⁡ 
                     ( 
                     t 
                     ) 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         E 
                         
                           LO 
                           ⁢ 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       · 
                       
                         m 
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                         ( 
                         t 
                         ) 
                       
                     
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                           l 
                           = 
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                         L 
                       
                       
                         e 
                         
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                                     ω 
                                     
                                       LO 
                                       ⁢ 
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                                   + 
                                   
                                     ω 
                                     RF 
                                   
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               t 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               φ 
                               l 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 ω 
                                 RF 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                 τ 
                                 l 
                               
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
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     As shown by equation 2, the introduced phase shift due to run time ω RFτ1  (e.g., from the angle of arrival of THF signals  34 ) for each antenna  30 - 1  and each optical path  60 - 1  can be compensated by the optical phase shift φ 1  introduced to optical local oscillator signal LO 2  for that antenna and optical path. In other words, the L phase shifters  44  and optical combiner  64  may serve to effectively synthesize an antenna array response for phased antenna array  46  (e.g., in the optical domain). Demodulator  70  may then recover the wireless data in the received THF signals by demodulating (decoding) the modulation m(t) in filtered signals E(t). 
     The example of  FIG.  3    is illustrative and non-limiting. Rather than being coupled between electro-optical modulators  54  and LO light source  55 , phase shifters  44  may, if desired, be coupled between electro-optical modulators  54  and optical combiner  64 . In these implementations, absolute phase would need to be considered rather than a modulo 360-degree phase of the optical local oscillator signal before the electro-optical modulator, due to the presence of modulation m(t) on top of the signal. In other implementations, phase shifters  44  may be integrated into electro-optical modulators  54  (e.g., when electro-optical modulators  54  are implemented using plasmonics technology). Electro-optical modulators  54  may, for example, include a pair of optical phase shifters that are controlled by electrodes that receive electrical signals from antenna resonating elements  52 . The optical phase shifters may be adapted and/or controlled (e.g., using a biasing voltage or control signals) to impart the corresponding optical phase shifts  91  on top of performing electro-optical modulation. 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram of an lth antenna  30 - 1  from phased antenna array  46 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , antenna  30 - 1  may include antenna resonating element  52 - 1  coupled to electro-optical modulator  54 - 1 . Antenna resonating element  52 - 1  may include one or more radiating (resonating) element arms or other resonating elements. In the example of  FIG.  4   , antenna  30 - 1  is a planar dipole antenna (sometimes referred to as a “bowtie” antenna) having an antenna resonating element  52 - 1  with two opposing resonating element arms (e.g., bowtie arms or dipole arms). This is illustrative and, in general, antenna  30  may be any type of antenna having any desired antenna radiating element architecture. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  (e.g., an MZM) may include a first optical arm, branch, or path such as optical arm  80  and may include a second optical arm, branch, or path, such as optical arm  82 . Optical arms  80  and  82  may be disposed on optical path  60 - 1 . Optical arms  80  and  82  may both receive (optical) input signal E IN,1  at the same point in optical path  60 - 1  and may both output (optical) output signal E OUT,1  at the same point in optical path  60 - 1 . Optical arms  80  and  82  may each be coupled between electrodes  86  and  84 . Electrode  84  may receive bias voltage V BIAS . 
     During signal reception, incident THF signals  34  produce electrical signals (antenna current at frequency f RF  on antenna resonating element  52 - 1 . Antenna resonating element  52 - 1  may be coupled to electrode  86  and may provide the electrical signals (antenna current) to electrode  86 . If desired, amplifiers (e.g., a power amplifier, low noise amplifier, etc.) may be electrically coupled between antenna resonating element  52 - 1  and electrode  86  (e.g., at location  88 ). Propagating optical local oscillator signal LO 2  (e.g., as input signal E IN,1 ) along optical arms  80  and  82  may, in the presence of a voltage signal applied to one or both arms (e.g., from the electrical signals produced by antenna resonating element  52 - 1 ), allow different optical phase shifts to be imparted on each optical arm before recombining the signal at the output of the antenna as output signal E OUT,1  (e.g., where optical phase modulations produced on the arms are converted to intensity modulations at the output of electro-optical modulator  54 - 1 ). 
     Since the voltage applied to arms  80  and  82  includes wireless data (e.g., as received in THF signals  34 ), electro-optical modulator  54 - 1  modulates the wireless data onto input signal E IN,1 , thereby producing output signal E OUT,1 . In implementations where phase shifter  44  is integrated into electro-optical modulator  54 - 1 , the arms  80  and  82  may be further controlled to impart optical phase shift φ 1  to input signal E IN,1 . If desired, electro-optical modulator  54  and/or the phase shifter may be implemented using plasmonics technology. In these implementations, amplifiers at location  88  may be omitted. If desired, control circuitry  14  ( FIG.  1   ) may provide bias voltage V BIAS  with different magnitudes to place electro-optical modulator  54  into different operating modes (e.g., operating modes that suppress optical carrier signals, operating modes that do not suppress optical carrier signals, etc.). 
     The antennas  30  of  FIGS.  1 - 4    may support reception of THF signals  34  with a given polarization (e.g., a linear polarization such as a vertical polarization). If desired, each antenna  30  may be configured to cover multiple different polarizations.  FIG.  5    is a diagram showing one example of how a given antenna  30  may be configured to cover multiple different polarizations. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , antenna  30  may include a first antenna resonating element  52 V coupled to a first electro-optical modulator  54 V for covering a first polarization (e.g., a first linear polarization such as a vertical polarization) and may include a second antenna resonating element  52 H coupled to a second electro-optical modulator  54 H for covering a second polarization different from or orthogonal to the first polarization (e.g., a second linear polarization such as a horizontal polarization). Antenna resonating element  52 V may be configured to receive the first polarization of THF signals  34  whereas antenna resonating element  52 H is configured to receive the second polarization of THF signals  34  (e.g., antenna resonating element  52 V may be oriented perpendicular to antenna resonating element  52 H). 
     Electro-optical modulator  54 V may modulate the electrical signals received over antenna resonating element  52 V with the first polarization onto the optical local oscillator signal and electro-optical modulator  54 H may modulate the electrical signals received over antenna resonating element  52 H with the second polarization onto the optical local oscillator signal. To minimize space within device  10 , antenna resonating element  52 V and electro-optical modulator  54 V may be vertically stacked over or under antenna resonating element  52 H and electro-optical modulator  5 H. In this example, antenna  30  may both be disposed on a substrate such as a rigid or flexible printed circuit board. The substrate may include multiple stacked dielectric layers (e.g., layers of ceramic, epoxy, flexible printed circuit board material, rigid printed circuit board material, etc.). The antenna resonating element  52 V and electro-optical modulator  54 V may be disposed on a first layer of the substrate whereas antenna resonating element  52 H and electro-optical modulator  54 H are disposed on a second layer of the substrate. 
     If desired, the same optical local oscillator signal LO 2  provided with the same optical phase shift φ may be provided to both electro-optical modulators  54 H and  54 V (e.g., when the first and second polarizations use the same array response). In other implementations (e.g., when the first and second polarizations use different array responses), the optical local oscillator signal LO 2  provided to electro-optical modulator  54 V may be provided with a first optical phase shift φ (e.g., associated with a first array response) whereas the optical local oscillator signal LO 2  provided to electro-optical modulator  54 H may be provided with a second optical phase shift φ (e.g., associated with a second array response). Other antenna architectures may be used if desired. If desired, the antennas  30  in  FIGS.  3 - 5    may be configured to also transmit THF signals. In these implementations, electro-optical modulators  54  may be replaced with photodiodes such as uni-traveling-carrier (UTC) photodiodes that are illuminated using first and second optical local oscillator signals and that receive bias voltages that control the antennas to switch between transmit and receive modes. The photodiodes may be implemented using plasmonics technology if desired. 
     Device  10  may gather and/or use personally identifiable information. It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. 
     The methods and operations described above in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 5    may be performed by the components of device  10  using software, firmware, and/or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuitry or hardware). Software code for performing these operations may be stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) stored on one or more of the components of device  10  (e.g., storage circuitry  16  of  FIG.  1   ). The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include drives, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), removable flash drives or other removable media, other types of random-access memory, etc. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed by processing circuitry on one or more of the components of device  10  (e.g., processing circuitry  18  of  FIG.  1   , etc.). The processing circuitry may include microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, or other processing circuitry. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220914
Publication Date: 20240820
Grant Date: 20240820
Priority Date: 20220914
Inventors: GUNZELMANN, Bertram R
MUHAREMOVIC, NEDIM
BOOS, ZDRAVKO
KHAYATZADEH, Ramin
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q3/2676", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/212", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B2210/006", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/212", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/2589", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0404", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/505", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/2575", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/16", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/212", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q3/2676", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B10/505", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 90140694