Optical links applied to electronic sweep antennas

Phased array antennas scan for radio signals by the emission of in-phase impulses from an array of transmitting elements. The emitted signals deflect signals to receiver elements operating in the microwave regime. Attention is focused on a proposed scanning radar which functions in sweep or slice modes with radiating sources grouped in 10 x 10 sections, 10 in all. A pointing unit positioned at the base of the antenna is linked to dephasers situated around the emitting array. The link is bidirectional, asynchronous, and performs at 10 Mbit/sec using optic fibers which have not degraded in performance with power impulses reaching 400 kW for 2.5 microsec. Optic fibers have also been used between the pointer and the phase calculators using a laser for a signal source. The laboratory tests of components of the system are concluded to be supportive of efforts to transfer the technology to actual production optoelectronic assemblies.