Phase modulation parallel optical delay detector for microwave angle-of-arrival measurement with accuracy monitored

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Microwave Engineering
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Accurate angle-of-arrival (AoA) measurement is crucial for radar and communication systems.
• Existing methods for microwave AoA detection can be complex and costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and theoretically analyze a novel phase modulation parallel optical delay detector for microwave AoA measurement.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for accurate measurement with integrated accuracy monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical model for a phase modulation parallel optical delay detector.
• Utilizing a single dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator for signal processing.
• Translating spatial delay into phase shift measurement between microwave signal replicas.

Main Results:

• The proposed system successfully measures phase shifts ranging from 5° to 165°.
• Accuracy monitoring ensures a measurement error of less than 3.1° across the measured range.
• The system demonstrates effective microwave angle-of-arrival measurement capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The novel optical delay detector offers a promising solution for accurate microwave AoA determination.
• The integrated accuracy monitoring enhances the reliability and precision of the measurement system.
• This approach simplifies AoA measurement by employing a single modulator.