Abstract: An optical system can include a mirror that reflects incoming light to a sensor for detection. The position and/or orientation of the mirror can be controlled to reflect incoming light from different locations and/or directions. Position and/or orientation of the mirror may be tracked and/or detected by an optical position sensor. The position sensor can transmit a beam to a reflector on the mirror, and the reflected beam can be received by the position sensor. Characteristics of the reflected beam can be measured to determine the position and/or orientation of the mirror. For example, the beam can be used for interferometric and/or intensity measurements, which can then be correlated with a position and/or orientation of the mirror.

Abstract: An optical system can include a mirror that reflects incoming light to a sensor for detection. The position and/or orientation of the mirror can be controlled to reflect incoming light from different locations and/or directions. Position and/or orientation of the mirror may be tracked and/or detected by an optical position sensor. The position sensor can transmit a beam to a reflector on the mirror, and the reflected beam can be received by the position sensor. Characteristics of the reflected beam can be measured to determine the position and/or orientation of the mirror. For example, the beam can be used for interferometric and/or intensity measurements, which can then be correlated with a position and/or orientation of the mirror.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a low impedance optical modulator in an optical device. The optical device includes a distributed amplifier having a plurality of gain stages and is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at an input of the distributed amplifier having a first impedance and provide an amplified version of the RF signal with a voltage gain produced through the plurality of gain stages to an output of the distributed amplifier having a second impedance smaller than the first impedance. The optical device includes an optical modulator coupled to the distributed amplifier and is configured to receive the amplified version of the RF signal at an input of the optical modulator having a same impedance as the output of the distributed amplifier and modulate the amplified version of the RF signal to produce an intensity modulated optical signal at an output of the optical modulator.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a millimeter wave signal to an integrated circuit includes a connector to receive the millimeter wave signal. The connector includes a signal pin. A pin landing pad is conductively coupled to the signal pin. The pin landing pad includes a transition portion. A transmission line is configured to couple the pin landing pad to an input/output (I/O) pad of an integrated circuit. The apparatus further includes an interposer including the pin landing pad, the transmission line, and the I/O pad of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An optical switching and delay system for optical encryption and/or optical decryption may comprise a switch bank, a set of optical delay lines, a combiner, and a processor. The switch bank may be configured to receive an optical signal in a first arrangement and route the optical signal to the set of optical delay lines according to a switching arrangement key. The set of optical delay lines may be configured to provide delays to the optical signal. The combiner may be configured to receive the optical signal with delays from the set of optical delay lines and combine the optical signal into a second arrangement. The processor may be configured to receive the switching arrangement key and control the switch bank according to the switching arrangement key. The switching arrangement key may comprise a set of instructions for routing the optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an RF signal is provided includes a driver configured to generate a timing control for two optical signals. The apparatus further includes at least one optical pulse source configured to generate the two optical signals based on the timing control. In addition, the apparatus includes a photodetector configured to receive the two optical signals as input and further configured to generate an RF signal based on the two optical signals. A method for generating an RF signal is also provided.

Abstract: A tunable photonic channelizer includes an optical signal generator and an optical modulator. The optical modulator receives a first optical signal as an input from the optical signal generator and modulates the first optical signal to create a second optical signal. The tunable photonic channelizer includes an optical filter that is selectively tunable. The optical filter receives the second optical signal, filters the second optical signal, provides a third optical signal as a filtered version of the second optical signal. The tunable photonic channelizer includes a feedback loop between the optical filter and the optical signal generator to provide temperature and/or environmental feedback from the optical filter to the optical signal generator to enable the first optical signal to float in relation to the temperature and/or environmental feedback.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods that provide tunable true time delay of a signal using a compact photonic circuit. The photonic circuit comprises a plurality of waveguides, in which each waveguide corresponds to a different time delay. A particular one of the waveguides corresponding to a desired time delay is selected by tuning the wavelength of a tunable laser. Additional photonic circuits can be used to provide additional selectable time delays.

Abstract: Examples of apparatus and methods are provided for controlling a bias in an optical modulator. An exemplary apparatus may comprise an optical modulator operable to modulate an optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a photodetector disposed to receive at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a bias controller coupled to both the optical modulator and the photodetector. The bias controller may be configured to receive a dither signal and to produce a bias feedback signal for the optical modulator. The bias feedback signal may be based on a ratio between an odd order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal and an even order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus may include a filter driver, a filter device, a detector device and a controller device. The filter driver generates a filter driver signal, including a dither signal. The controller device may be coupled to the detector device, the filter device and the filter driver. The controller device may receive the detector output signal and determine a ratio of the odd order harmonic signal to the even order harmonic signal with respect to the dither frequency. The controller device may also compare the ratio to a predetermined setpoint ratio and generate a control feedback signal for generating a new filter driver signal. The control feedback signal may be based on the comparison of the ratio of the odd order harmonic signal to the even order harmonic signal, to the predetermined setpoint ratio that corresponds to a desired filter operating frequency.

Abstract: A frequency translator, a method, and a machine readable medium for performing frequency signal translations are disclosed. The frequency translator includes a modulator for modulating an optical pulse train with an input RF signal to generate an output optical pulse train having the amplitude information of the input RF signal at a plurality of times corresponding to the optical pulse train. In addition, the frequency translator includes a modulator for modulating the output optical pulse train by a digital cosine function having a desired target frequency to generate a translated optical signal. The frequency translator further includes a photodetector configured to generate an electrical waveform with the translated optical signal having the amplitude information of the input RF signal centered at the desired target frequency.

Abstract: An optical signal processing system is provided that includes a first light modulator for receiving, placing information on a first optical signal, and for producing a second optical signal. The second optical signal includes a desired signal portion and an undesired signal portion. The optical signal processing system includes a second light modulator that tunes a first optical pump signal to a Brillouin frequency that is less than, but corresponding to, a frequency of the undesired signal portion. The optical signal processing system includes a light conductor configured to receive as a first input the second optical signal and as a second input the first optical pump signal tuned to the Brillouin frequency. The optical signal processing system causes the first optical pump signal tuned to the Brillouin frequency to induce a Stimulated Brillouin Scattering effect at the light conductor to attenuate the undesired signal portion.

Abstract: A receiver system comprises an antenna configured to receive an input RF signal, a high spur free dynamic range modulator configured to receive the input RF signal from the antenna and to convert the input RF signal to an optical signal, and a tunable filter configured to receive the optical signal and to output a filtered optical signal. The tunable filter includes at least one electro-optic resonator, at least one electrode configured to supply an electrical control signal to the electro-optic resonator, and a controller configured to adjust the electrical control signal to adjust a refractive index of the electro-optic resonator, whereby a resonant frequency of the electro-optic resonator is selectably adjusted. The receiver system further comprises a receiver configured to receive the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: Examples of apparatus and methods are provided for controlling a bias in an optical modulator. An exemplary apparatus may comprise an optical modulator operable to modulate an optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a photodetector disposed to receive at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a bias controller coupled to both the optical modulator and the photodetector. The bias controller may be configured to receive a dither signal and to produce a bias feedback signal for the optical modulator. The bias feedback signal may be based on a ratio between an odd order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal and an even order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an RF signal is provided includes a driver configured to generate a timing control for two optical signals. The apparatus further includes at least one optical pulse source configured to generate the two optical signals based on the timing control. In addition, the apparatus includes a photodetector configured to receive the two optical signals as input and further configured to generate an RF signal based on the two optical signals. A method for generating an RF signal is also provided.