Bias free optical control of microwave circuits and antennas using improved optically variable capacitors

Nagra, A.S.; Jerphagnon, O.; Chavarkar, P.; VanBlaricum, M.L.; York, R.A.

doi:10.1109/mwsym.2000.863276

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Photonic control of RF signal propagation is an important topic that continues to be an active area of research and development in microwave photonics [1–14]. Photonic control has many advantages over conventional electrical control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Except few cases where the photosensitive element is added to a transmission line fabricated on a low‐loss RF substrate [1, 15, 18], in most proposed structures the RF circuit is fabricated on the photosensitive semiconductor substrate in order to reduce the complexity of the fabrication process and keep the device monolithic. Although compound semiconductors have also been used as the structural materials in these devices [3, 10], implementation of photonically controlled RF devices on silicon substrates is more attractive for monolithic integration of microwave and mm‐wave devices using well‐developed fabrication processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low‐power photonic control of a microwave ring resonator using bulk illumination

Shirazi‐Hosseinidokht¹,

Hossein‐Zadeh²

2013

Micro & Optical Tech Letters

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We demonstrate the feasibility of bulk illumination technique for low‐power photonic control of RF resonance.Using this technique, the transmitted RF power through a microstripline‐ring filter on a junction‐less silicon substrate is changed by 11 dB with less than 2 mW of interacting optical power. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:1594–1599, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27606

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐power photonic control of a microwave ring resonator using bulk illumination

Shirazi‐Hosseinidokht¹,

Hossein‐Zadeh²

2013

Micro & Optical Tech Letters

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“…Another method of using semiconductor devices is in conjunction with an optical control signal. The optical signal generates charge carriers in the semiconductor which can be used to generate a voltage to tune a varactor [53] or activate a switch [54].…”

Section: Optical Tuningmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Field Programmable Microwave Substrate

Jess¹

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This thesis describes a research project to create a programmable microwave circuit having a similar level of programmability as that of a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The result of the thesis is the realization of the first ever practical low-loss programmable microwave waveguides. Since waveguides are a key component in any microwave circuit, this allows for the realization of a broad range of microwave functions with a single circuit. The programmable waveguides are implemented in what is referred to as a field programmable microwave substrate. The programmable substrate is implemented using metamaterials between two parallel metal plates. Between the metal plates are electrically small unit cells that consist of metal structuring that connects with active components not contained between the metal plates (i.e. above or below the metal plates). Each of these unit cells can be programmed to have a range of positive dielectric constants or a negative dielectric constant. Programming a positive dielectric constant core and negative dielectric constant sidewall yields a structure that can be described using the slab waveguide equations. This allows for waveguides to be dynamically programmed within the field programmable microwave substrate.The theory required to design low-loss metamaterials is presented and used to realize two prototype circuits. The first implementation is on an FR4 substrate and is used to demonstrate low-loss waveguides, amplifiers and oscillators from 0.9 − ii 3GH z. The other field programmable microwave substrate is implemented in low temperature co-fired ceramic and uses custom designed CMOS chips. This version is used to demonstrate miniaturization. The losses of the waveguides are high, but this is mainly due to manufacturing capabilities of the process used. Low-loss small field programmable microwave substrates should be possible to implement with the use of higher performance components and more sophisticated manufacturing processes.iii First, I would like to thank my thesis supervisors Barry Syrett and Langis Roy for their support and allowing me the freedom to pursue my own interests and curiosities. I would also like to thank the support staff in the department of electronics;notably, Nagui Mikhail, Scott Bruce, Blazenka Power, Anna Lee, and Sylvie Beekmans. I would also like to thank Professor Steve McGarry for many practical conversations and assistance. There are numerous fellow grad students that I would like to thank. Tyler Ross and Che Knisely were excellent for chatting with on technical issues and great for helping solve problems. Thomas Pepler provided a significant amount of assistance implementing the digital CMOS circuit for one of my designs.Ryan Griffin helped debug some circuits during testing. A general thanks goes out to the graduate students in the blue room who have made doing a PhD a pleasant experience. Finally, I would like to thank my family and wonderful girlfriend Jessica Lynch for all their support over the years.iv

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