Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic equalizer may include a first electro-optic (E/O) modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier based upon an RF input signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) medium coupled to the first E/O modulator, and a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier based upon an equalizing function waveform. An optical circulator may be coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector may be coupled to the optical circulator.

Abstract: A communication system may include an RF source configured to generate a swept frequency RF signal, and a photonic local unit coupled to the RF source and configured to generate a modulated optical carrier signal based upon the swept frequency RF signal. The photonic local unit may have adjustable equalization levels. The communication system may include a photonic remote unit configured to generate a demodulated swept frequency RF signal from the modulated optical carrier signal from the photonic local unit, and an optical fiber path connecting the photonic local unit and the photonic remote unit. The communication system may include feedback circuitry cooperating with the optical fiber path to set the adjustable equalization levels of the photonic local unit based upon the demodulated swept frequency RF signal at the photonic remote unit.

Abstract: An RF frequency converter with equalization may include a first E/O modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier signal based upon an RF input signal having a first frequency, and a SBS medium coupled to the first E/O modulator. The RF frequency converter may have a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier signal based upon an equalizing function waveform, and a third E/O modulator coupled between the first E/O modulator and the SBS medium. The third E/O modulator may be configured to modulate the optical carrier signal with a reference signal. The RF frequency converter may include an optical circulator coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector coupled to the optical circulator and configured to generate an equalized RF output signal having a replica of the RF input signal at a second frequency based upon the reference signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic equalizer may include a first electro-optic (E/O) modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier based upon an RF input signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) medium coupled to the first E/O modulator, and a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier based upon an equalizing function waveform. An optical circulator may be coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector may be coupled to the optical circulator.

Abstract: A communications device may include a local device, a remote device, and a multi-mode optical fiber coupled between the local device and the remote device. The local device may include a local spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber and having first and second local optical outputs and first and second local optical inputs, and a local electro-optic E/O modulator coupled to the second local optical input. The remote device may include a remote spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber, and a remote E/O modulator configured to generate a modulated signal onto a first remote optical output based upon modulating the first optical carrier signal from a first remote optical input responsive to a radio frequency (RF) electrical input signal.

Abstract: A communications device may include a local device, a remote device, and a multi-mode optical fiber coupled between the local device and the remote device. The local device may include a local spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber and having first and second local optical outputs and first and second local optical inputs, and a local electro-optic E/O modulator coupled to the second local optical input. The remote device may include a remote spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber, and a remote E/O modulator configured to generate a modulated signal onto a first remote optical output based upon modulating the first optical carrier signal from a first remote optical input responsive to a radio frequency (RF) electrical input signal.

Abstract: A communications device may include a local device, a remote device, and a multi-mode optical fiber coupled between the local device and the remote device. The local device may include a local spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber and having first and second local optical outputs and first and second local optical inputs, and a local electro-optic E/O modulator coupled to the second local optical input. The remote device may include a remote spatial optical mux/demux coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber, and a remote E/O modulator configured to generate a modulated signal onto a first remote optical output based upon modulating the first optical carrier signal from a first remote optical input responsive to a radio frequency (RF) electrical input signal.

Abstract: A photonic frequency converting transceiver may include a laser, and a downconverter receiver branch including a first optical modulator optically coupled to the laser and configured to modulate laser light based upon an RF input signal and a first optical bandpass filter. An upconverter transmitter branch may include a second optical modulator optically coupled to the laser and configured to modulate laser light based upon an intermediate frequency input signal, and a second optical bandpass filter. A shared local oscillator branch may include a third optical modulator optically coupled to the laser and configured to modulate laser light based upon a local oscillator signal, and a third optical bandpass filter. The transceiver may further include photodetectors optically coupled to the optical bandpass filters to generate a downconverted intermediate frequency output signal and an upconverted RF output signal.