摘要 |
A wavelength-selectable optical signal processor for creating a predetermined optical delay pattern in a signal. The system includes a succession of optical delay pathways each receiving a portion of a modulated optical beam having a predetermined wavelength. The distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of the predetermined wavelength of the optical beam. As a result, the distance of the optical path for any of the predetermined wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across the succession of optical delay pathways. In signal processing applications the delayed optical beam can be recombined in the time domain to construct a superposition of time delayed signals yielding an agile signal processor implemented using a wavelength-reconfigurable transversal filter design. In a phased-array antenna, the present invention results in a time delay network which establishes a one-to-one correspondence between antenna beam direction and optical carrier wavelength. This permits an antenna to change beam direction simply by changing the wavelength of the optical carrier. <IMAGE> |