Abstract
A new topology that generates a DC voltage whose value is depending on the phase difference of two input RF signals is presented. It is implemented by the mixer concept. With the use of microwave photonics, the mixer-based phase detector can be operated over a very wide frequency range. It also has the advantages of high phase detection resolution, small phase detection error, and small DC offset and phase offset. The phase detector can be constructed using off-the-shelf components including a single integrated optical modulator and a low-speed balanced detector. Measured results on the phase detector demonstrate a 0° to 180° RF signal phase difference detection range for 3.5 GHz to 18 GHz input RF signal frequencies, less than ±3° phase detection error and 2° phase detection resolution.
Highlights
There is a growing interest in using microwave photonic techniques to measure RF signal parameters such as power, instantaneous frequency and phase difference [1]
A new microwave photonic topology that produces a DC voltage related to the phase difference of two input RF signals has been presented
Unlike many microwave photonic signal processing and measurement structures, path length matching for balanced detection is not required because only the system output DC voltage is of interest
Summary
There is a growing interest in using microwave photonic techniques to measure RF signal parameters such as power, instantaneous frequency and phase difference [1]. This is because microwave photonics can overcome the bandwidth and speed limitation in electronic devices. Reported microwave photonic based phase difference measurement techniques rely on using either an electrical spectrum analyser [4], an oscilloscope [5] or an optical power meter [6] to determine the phase difference of two input RF signals This increases the system cost and prevents the device to be used in phase locked loops, phase shift keying and frequency hopping systems where a DC voltage representing the RF signal phase difference is needed. A 2° phase detection resolution and a stable performance are demonstrated
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