Abstract: A communication system includes an optical “LAN” (50) interconnecting a plurality of information sources (16a) and sinks (22a) with a light-to-electrical converter (36a) associated with an electrical RF transmitters (32a) and an RF-to-light converter (38a) to a receiver (34a). The transmitter is coupled by way of electrical-to-light converter (46a), and the receiver is coupled by way of light-to-electrical converter (44a), and by way of a directional coupler (76a), to an end of an optical bus (74a), so that light signals representing signals to be transmitted flow in one direction, and light signals representing received signals flow in the other direction through the bus. A directional coupler (72a) at the other end of the optical bus routes the transmit light signals to a light-to-RF converter (47a) which feeds a sink or antenna (12a), and received signals from a source or antenna are routed by way of an RF-to-light converter (40a) and the directional coupler (72a) onto the optical bus (74a).

Abstract: A communication system includes an optical “LAN” (50) interconnecting a plurality of information sources (16a) and sinks (22a) with a light-to-electrical converter (36a) associated with an electrical RF transmitters (32a) and an RF-to-light converter (38a) to a receiver (34a). The transmitter is coupled by way of electrical-to-light converter (46a), and the receiver is coupled by way of light-to-electrical converter (44a), and by way of a directional coupler (76a), to an end of an optical bus (74a), so that light signals representing signals to be transmitted flow in one direction, and light signals representing received signals flow in the other direction through the bus. A directional coupler (72a) at the other end of the optical bus routes the transmit light signals to a light-to-RF converter (47a) which feeds a sink or antenna (12a), and received signals from a source or antenna are routed by way of an RF-to-light converter (40a) and the directional coupler (72a) onto the optical bus (74a).

Abstract: An active sampler antenna capable of transmitting signals is disclosed. The active sampler antenna includes a first set of conducting surfaces, a second set of conducting surfaces, a power source, and multiple switches. The second set of conducting surfaces is located substantially parallel to the first set of conducting surfaces. The power source has two terminals, namely, a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the power source is connected to the second set of conducting surfaces. Each of the switches is connected between a respective one of the first set of conducting surfaces and the second terminal of the power source. The switches allows a defined amount and timing of charges to be delivered from the power source to the first set of conducting surface for signal transmissions.

Abstract: An active sampler antenna capable of transmitting signals is disclosed. The active sampler antenna includes a first set of conducting surfaces, a second set of conducting surfaces, a power source, and multiple switches. The second set of conducting surfaces is located substantially parallel to the first set of conducting surfaces. The power source has two terminals, namely, a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the power source is connected to the second set of conducting surfaces. Each of the switches is connected between a respective one of the first set of conducting surfaces and the second terminal of the power source. The switches allows a defined amount and timing of charges to be delivered from the power source to the first set of conducting surface for signal transmissions.