Abstract: A sensing system. In some embodiments, the system includes a first imaging radio frequency receiver, a second imaging radio frequency receiver, a first optical beam combiner, a first imaging optical receiver, a second optical beam combiner, and an optical detector array. The first optical beam combiner may be configured to combine optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers. The second optical beam combiner may be configured to combine the optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers, and the optical signal of the first imaging optical receiver.

Abstract: A sensing system. In some embodiments, the system includes a first imaging radio frequency receiver, a second imaging radio frequency receiver, a first optical beam combiner, a first imaging optical receiver, a second optical beam combiner, and an optical detector array. The first optical beam combiner may be configured to combine optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers. The second optical beam combiner may be configured to combine the optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers, and the optical signal of the first imaging optical receiver.

Abstract: A DE energy weapon and tracking system includes a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver on a common gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation from a mmW scene. The PmmW imaging receiver operates in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum distinct from the IR bands associated with thermal blooming or the HEL laser. In the case of a HPM source, the reflected energy is either in a different RF band and/or of diminished amplitude such as to not interfere with operation of the PmmW imaging receiver. Although lower resolution than traditional optical imaging, PmmW imaging provides a viable alternative for target tracking when the DE weapon is actively prosecuting the target and provides additional tracking information when the DE weapon is not engaged.

Abstract: A sensing system. In some embodiments, the system includes a first imaging radio frequency receiver, a second imaging radio frequency receiver, a first optical beam combiner, a first imaging optical receiver, a second optical beam combiner, and an optical detector array. The first optical beam combiner may be configured to combine optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers. The second optical beam combiner may be configured to combine the optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers, and the optical signal of the first imaging optical receiver.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) provides a common architecture to feed both optical and RF phased arrays that may be used for missile guidance, mobile data links, autonomous vehicles and 5G cellular communications. A plurality of switches are monolithically fabricated on the PIC with the optical feed network to switch the optical power of the phase-modulated optical channel signals between the integrated optical antennas and the RF antennas to produce steerable optical and RF beams. The photo-detectors and RF antennas may be discrete components or integrated with the optical feed network.

Abstract: An optically powered cryogenic FPA with an optical data link eliminates electrical penetrations of the cryogenic chamber for power delivery thereby reducing heat leaks into the cold volume by copper wires and EMI. An optical splitter receives and separates an optical input signal into an optical carrier signal, an optical Data IN signal and an optical power signal. An optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter converts the optical power signal into an electrical power signal, which is converted into a plurality of DC voltage signals to supply power within the chamber. An optical data link modulates the optical carrier signal with electrical signals from the ROIC to form and output an optical Data OUT signal.

Abstract: An RF imaging receiver using photonic spatial beam processing focuses a composite optical signal into a spot on an optical detector array to extract an image of an RF scene. The receiver steers the composite optical signal to move the location of the spot to increase the detected power in the image and selectively turns off one or more detector pixels around the spot to reduce noise in the image.

Abstract: An optical feed network (OFN) for an RF phased antenna array includes a single free-space optical beamformer that supports all of the RF electrical feed signals for the RF phased antenna array to steer an RF beam. The free-space optical beamformer can more easily scale to accommodate larger array sizes than either the discrete fiber channel or PIC implementations. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the optical beamformer avoid the complexity of having to compute FFTs for each channel to steer the beam, instead relying on the inherent function of an imaging lens to perform the FFT, which in turn facilitates rapid steering.

Abstract: An RF imaging receiver using photonic spatial beam processing is provided with an optical beam steerer that acts on the individual modulated optical signals to induce individual phase delays that produce a phase delay with a linear term, and possibly spherical or aspherical terms, across a two-dimensional wavefront of the composite optical signal to steer the composite optical signal and move the location of the spot on the optical detector array. The optical beam steerer may change the path length or a refractive index for each of the modulated optical signals to induce the requisite phase delays. The optical beam steerer may be implemented, for example, with a Risley prism or liquid crystal or MEMs spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A sensing system. In some embodiments, the sensing system includes an imaging radio frequency receiver, an imaging radio frequency to optical converter, an imaging optical receiver, an optical beam combiner, and an imaging optical detector. The optical beam combiner is configured to combine an optical signal of the imaging radio frequency to optical converter, and an optical signal of the imaging optical receiver. In operation, the imaging radio frequency receiver, the imaging radio frequency to optical converter, and the optical beam combiner together form, on the imaging optical detector, an optical image of a radio frequency scene within a field of view of the imaging radio frequency receiver, and the imaging optical receiver and the optical beam combiner together form, on the imaging optical detector, an optical image of an optical scene within a field of view of the imaging optical receiver.

Abstract: An RF antenna feed module uses an optical feed network and photo-detectors to generate RF feed signals to drive a dual polarization RF antenna to produce an RF beam with a variable polarization state. The optical feed network and suitably the photo-detectors are monolithically fabricated PIC. Multiple modules may be configured to drive a dual polarization RF phased array. A single feed module can produce RF feed signals over a frequency range of at least 300 GHz.

Abstract: An optically powered cryogenic FPA with an optical data link eliminates electrical penetrations of the cryogenic chamber for power delivery thereby reducing heat leaks into the cold volume by copper wires and EMI. An optical splitter receives and separates an optical input signal into an optical carrier signal, an optical Data IN signal and an optical power signal. An optical-to-electrical (0/E) converter converts the optical power signal into an electrical power signal, which is converted into a plurality of DC voltage signals to supply power within the chamber. An optical data link modulates the optical carrier signal with electrical signals from the ROIC to form and output an optical Data OUT signal.

Abstract: An optical feed network (OFN) for an RF phased antenna array includes a single free-space optical beamformer that supports all of the RF electrical feed signals for the RF phased antenna array to steer an RF beam. The free-space optical beamformer can more easily scale to accommodate larger array sizes than either the discrete fiber channel or PIC implementations. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the optical beamformer avoid the complexity of having to compute FFTs for each channel to steer the beam, instead relying on the inherent function of an imaging lens to perform the FFT, which in turn facilitates rapid steering.

Abstract: An RF imaging receiver using photonic spatial beam processing focuses a composite optical signal into a spot on an optical detector array to extract an image of an RF scene. The receiver steers the composite optical signal to move the location of the spot to increase the detected power in the image and selectively turns off one or more detector pixels around the spot to reduce noise in the image.

Abstract: An RF imaging receiver using photonic spatial beam processing is provided with an optical beam steerer that acts on the individual modulated optical signals to induce individual phase delays that produce a phase delay with a linear term, and possibly spherical or aspherical terms, across a two-dimensional wavefront of the composite optical signal to steer the composite optical signal and move the location of the spot on the optical detector array. The optical beam steerer may change the path length or a refractive index for each of the modulated optical signals to induce the requisite phase delays. The optical beam steerer may be implemented, for example, with a Risley prism or liquid crystal or MEMs spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A DE energy weapon and tracking system includes a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver on a common gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation from a mmW scene. The PmmW imaging receiver operates in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum distinct from the IR bands associated with thermal blooming or the HEL laser. In the case of a HPM source, the reflected energy is either in a different RF band and/or of diminished amplitude such as to not interfere with operation of the PmmW imaging receiver. Although lower resolution than traditional optical imaging, PmmW imaging provides a viable alternative for target tracking when the DE weapon is actively prosecuting the target and provides additional tracking information when the DE weapon is not engaged.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated wavelength converted photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is fabricated by forming a trench in the PIC's insulating layer to expose a portion of an output waveguide that transmits a photonically processed optical signal at frequency ?1. A non-linear waveguide formed of a non-linear material with non-linear susceptibility at frequency ?1 and a transmission bandwidth spanning both ?1 and m*?1 where m is an integer of at least two is fabricated in direct physical contact with the exposed portion of the output waveguide. A patterned structure is fabricated in or on the non-linear waveguide to enhance non-linear susceptibility to generate an optical signal at frequency m*?1, which may be emitted directly or coupled to an optical antenna.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) provides a common architecture to feed both optical and RF phased arrays that may be used for missile guidance, mobile data links, autonomous vehicles and 5G cellular communications. A plurality of switches are monolithically fabricated on the PIC with the optical feed network to switch the optical power of the phase-modulated optical channel signals between the integrated optical antennas and the RF antennas to produce steerable optical and RF beams. The photo-detectors and RF antennas may be discrete components or integrated with the optical feed network.

Abstract: An RF antenna feed module uses an optical feed network and photo-detectors to generate RF feed signals to drive a dual polarization RF antenna to produce an RF beam with a variable polarization state. The optical feed network and suitably the photo-detectors are monolithically fabricated PIC. Multiple modules may be configured to drive a dual polarization RF phased array. A single feed module can produce RF feed signals over a frequency range of at least 300 GHz.

Abstract: A sensing system. In some embodiments, the system includes a first imaging radio frequency receiver, a second imaging radio frequency receiver, a first optical beam combiner, a first imaging optical receiver, a second optical beam combiner, and an optical detector array. The first optical beam combiner may be configured to combine optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers. The second optical beam combiner may be configured to combine the optical signals of the imaging radio frequency receivers, and the optical signal of the first imaging optical receiver.