20GHz Optical Delay Line

20GHz Optical Delay Line

RF Optic’s Variable ODL modules provide a high performance solution for testing and calibration of radar systems or for RF Communication.

The ODL converts analog RF signals at different frequency ranges to optical signals and back, utilizing direct or indirect modulation ODL architecture. The RF input signal is converted into an optical modulated signal, which is then transmitted into a single mode fiber, creating a fixed time delay defined by the fiber length. After passing the fiber, the optical signal is converted back into an electrical RF signal, which is identical to the input RF signal.

The ODL is operated as a standalone unit with no need for any intervention by the operator-it can be also controlled externally from a PC through RS-232 or Ethernet interfaces. RFOptic’s ODL unit is a compact solution, which provides superb performance including accurate time delay, low spurious emission level, and with ultra silent operation.

Variable Delay Configuration includes cascaded 2:2 optical matrices with in-between various delays. The cascaded matrix selects the desired combination of delays to define the desired delay line. With such configuration the user may select any of the 16 combinations of possible delay values (see figure below). RFOptic supports Progressive Delay Configuration up to 256 states.

Key Features

• Delays: 0.1-128 μsec Progressive

• Frequency Range: 10 MHz – 8 GHz / 10 MHz – 15 GHz / 10 MHz – 18GHz

• Delay accuracy: 1%

• Remote Control: RS-232 or Ethernet

• High Dynamic Range

• Excellent Phase Noise

• Excellent Group Delay Variation

Configurations

• ODL 2 Boxes

• 2U/3U Enclosure

• Mini ODL

Applications

• Radar