Monolithically integrated signal processing circuit having active and passive components

摘要

An optical signal processor is implemented as a monolithically integrated semiconductor structure having optical waveguide devices forming beam splitters, optical amplifiers and optical phase shifters. The monolithic structure photonically controls a phased-array microwave antenna. Phase-locked master and slave lasers generate orthogonal light beams having a difference frequency that corresponds to the microwave carrier frequency of the phased-array antenna. The lasers feed the signal processor, which performs beam splitting, optical amplifying and phase shifting functions. A polarizer and an array of diode detectors convert optical output signals from the signal processor into microwave signals that feed the phased-array antenna. The optical waveguides of the signal processor are fabricated in a single selective epitaxial growth step on a semiconductor substrate.