Jianliang Yang

Continuous true-time-delay beamforming for phased array antenna using a tunable chirped fiber grating delay line

In this letter, we demonstrate a new five-element true-time-delay (TTD) system that uses only a single tunable linear chirped fiber grating (TLCFG) delay line for continuous TTD beamforming. The system avoids the complicated wavelength tuning and synchronal control of the tunable lasers as well as the tunable bandpass filters. Different time delays are achieved by tuning the chirp rate of the TLCFG, to which a multiwavelength laser source that carries the RF signal is applied. The time delay responses of the TTD system are measured experimentally, which agree well with the theoretical analysis. The beampointing angle can be controlled continuously by changing the chirp rate of the TLCFG. The minimum time delay step can be much smaller than 1 ps thanks to the high position resolution of the actuator.

Continuous true-time-delay beamforming employing a multiwavelength tunable fiber laser source

A true-time-delay system for wideband continuous phased array beamforming employing a novel multiwavelength tunable fiber laser source with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing is proposed. The wavelength tuning is realized by stretching or compressing the fiber Bragg gratings cascaded in the laser cavity. To ensure a wavelength tuning with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing, the gratings are mounted onto a plastic plate with angles between adjacent gratings selected such that the forces applied to the gratings has an equal force increment. Time delays with equally increased or decreased time delay difference for the equally spaced wavelengths are obtained when the modulated lightwaves are reflected at different locations of a linearly chirped grating. A four-channel chirped grating based true-time-delay system using the proposed light source has been constructed and experimented. Equally increased or decreased time delays are obtained when the wavelengths are tuned.

Wideband true-time-delay unit for phased array beamforming using discrete-chirped fiber grating prism

Abstract A wideband true-time-delay (TTD) unit employing a novel fiber grating prism (FGP) for phased array beamforming is proposed in this paper. The FGP consists of a single-mode fiber delay line, a chirped grating delay line and three discrete fiber Bragg grating (FBG) delay lines. The first delay line is a length of single-mode fiber, which provides a fixed time delay for all wavelengths. The second delay line, which employs a chirped grating, is used to provide small time delays. The discrete FBG delay lines, which incorporate an array of 13 discrete FBGs, are used to provide large time delays. A 5×13 fiber-grating prism is constructed and experimented. The results show that the time delays produced by the fiber grating delay lines are independent of the microwave frequency and agree well with the calculated time delays. Based on the measured time delays, the radiation patterns of 5-element array antenna are calculated and analyzed. The beampointing direction of the antenna is independent of the microwave frequency and can be controlled by tuning the wavelength of the optical carrier. This 5×13 TTD unit can provide phased array beamforming at microwave frequencies up to 6 GHz.

Multiwavelength tunable fiber ring laser based on sampled chirp fiber Bragg grating

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel configuration of a multiwavelength tunable fiber ring laser with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing. Wavelength tuning is achieved by tuning the strain gradient of a sampled chirp fiber Bragg grating (SCFBG), which is integrated in the laser cavity. To achieve equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing, the SCFBG is surface-mounted at a slant onto one lateral side of a plate so that each wavelength-selective element of the SCFBG will experience an equal strain increment when an external force is applied to the plate. We experimentally obtain seven lasing wavelengths with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing.

Wideband true-time-delay beam former that employs a tunable chirped fiber grating prism

A fiber grating prism that consists of four tunable chirped-grating delay lines for wideband true-time-delay beam forming is proposed and demonstrated. The chirped gratings are produced by use of the grating bending technique in which a uniform grating is surface mounted on a simply supported beam. We obtained chirped gratings with different chirp rates by bending the uniform gratings with different beam deflections. Four linear chirped fiber gratings with identical spectral width but linearly increased grating length are fabricated. The spectra and time-delay responses of the tunable chirped gratings are measured. A chirped-grating prism for wideband true-time-delay beam forming by use of four chirped gratings is constructed and tested experimentally. We obtained different time delays by tuning the wavelength of the optical carrier. The proposed true-time-delay beam former with a four-element phased-array steerer is suitable for continuous beam forming at microwave frequencies up to 20 GHz.

Tunable chirping of a fiber Bragg grating without center wavelength shift using a simply supported beam

The authors propose a novel technique to pro- duce adjustable chirped gratings that allows spectral width tuning without center wavelength shift. The chirp rate can be precisely tuned by bending a uniform fiber Bragg grating (FBG) surface-mounted on one side of a simply supported beam. A maximum chirp tuning with a spectral width of 18.30 nm on a uniform FBG is obtained experimentally. Compared to the existing chirp tuning techniques, the proposed tech- nique provides larger tuning range and smaller center wave- length shift.

Continuous true-time-delay beamforming employing a tunable multiwavelength fiber ring laser source with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing

The authors propose a true-time-delay system for wideband continuous phased array beamforming using a chirped grating-based true-time-delay beamforming network incorporating a novel multiwavelength tunable fiber ring laser with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing. The wavelength of each lasing is determined by the fiber Bragg grating in the laser cavity and tuned by compressing or stretching the fiber Bragg grating. For simultaneously achieving N tunable lasings, N fiber Bragg gratings are used. To ensure wavelength tuning with equally increased or decreased wavelength spacing, the N fiber Bragg gratings are mounted on an organic plastic plate with angles between adjacent gratings such that the tuning forces applied to the gratings experience equal increments. Time delays with equally increased or decreased time-delay difference for the equally spaced wavelengths are obtained when the modulated light waves are reflected at different locations of a linearly chirped grating. A four-channel chirped-grating-based true-time-delay system using the proposed light source for continuous beamsteering at microwave frequencies up to 10 GHz has been constructed and demonstrated.

Wideband wavelength tunable fiber ring laser with flattened output power spectrum

Abstract A wavelength tunable erbium-doped fiber ring laser with flattened output power spectrum over a broadband is proposed and demonstrated. The power flattening is achieved using a high-birefringence fiber loop mirror, in which a number of high-birefringence fiber sections and polarization controllers are used to get a reflection spectrum that can compensate for the output power spectrum. The wavelength tuning is realized by compressing or stretching the FBGs in the laser cavity. A 1×3 switchable fiber Bragg grating array is incorporated into the fiber ring to get a wideband tuning range of 38 nm, from 1527 to 1565 nm. Within this range, the output power uniformity is controlled within ±0.8 dB. The total output power is about 4 dBm, the 3-dB linewidth is 0.01 nm, and the side mode suppression ratio is more than 48 dB.

Wideband true-time-delay system using fiber Bragg grating prism incorporated with a wavelength tunable fiber laser source

This paper presents some experimental results of a wideband true-time-delay system.. This system consists of a wavelength tunable fiber ring laser and a photonics time-delay unit constructed using discrete fiber Bragg gratings in combination with a chirped grating to increase the microwave frequency.

Wideband true-time-delay unit using discrete-chirped fiber Bragg grating prism

This paper describes a wideband true-time-delay unit constructed using discrete fiber Bragg gratings in combination with a chirped grating to increase the available maximum microwave frequency. Some preliminary experimental results are presented.