Abstract: A photonic, wide-band analog to digital converter and method for converting an analog electrical signal to a digital electrical signal by electrical signal processing wherein the analog electrical signal is first converted to an optical signal having a wavelength which is a function of the amplitude of said analog electrical signal. The optical signal is then filtered in a plurality of optical filter channels to create N optical bit signals forming an N bit binary word indicating the wavelength of said optical signal. These optical bit signals are then each converted to an electrical bit signal to form an electrical binary word.

Abstract: A variable time delay system for broadband phased array receive and other transversal filtering applications is disclosed and employs a segmented mirror device (SMD) and a linear fiber array to realize a quantized variable delay line. The use of the SMD allows for extremely high packing density without the large losses usually associated with switched fiber schemes.

Abstract: By applying a spatial frequency dependent phase compensation in an optical heterodyning system, a variable rf delay line can be synthesized. The system is able to generate continuously variable phased microwave signals over a prescribed frequency band. A primary application of these variable delay lines is in the area of phased array antenna systems. Because the phototonic delay line synthesizes true time delay, it can be used as part of wide bandwidth system to achieve 100% fractional bandwidth without beam squint. The system lends itself to an optically integrated implementation using a 2-D deformable mirror device to achieve very high packing density which is very useful for an adaptive transversal filter.