BACKGROUND:  Wireless communication technology has increased demand for data transmission between wireless devices and base stations. Base stations communicate via radio-over-fiber with a central office, which manages data flow conversion between the base stations and the conventional optical communication network. The central office requires expensive and complex electronic microwave conversion equipment to allow communication between the base stations and the conventional optical communication network. The central office conversion is inefficient and bandwidth limited.

INNOVATION:  The novel technology provides an effective all-optical solution for upconverting baseband data to the microwave band, while performing AM-to-FM transformation simultaneously. This simplifies the design of the central office by combining the functionality of signal conversion and an optical source into a single device, eliminating the need for separate and expensive microwave components and high-speed optical modulation electronics. Furthermore, the optical conversion rates of this technology can exceed the bandwidth constraints of conventional high-speed electronic conversion equipment.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Wireless communication infrastructure.
• Radio-over-Fiber deployment systems.

ADVANTAGES

• Combines baseband data upconversion and simultaneous AM-to-FM transformation into one simplified, high quality device performing a one-step process.
• Bypasses electronic bandwidth limitations.
• Enables microwave subcarrier frequencies up to 100 GHz.
• Avoids the use of expensive electronic conversion equipment and its associated electronic noise contamination.
• Allows increased wireless communication and data capacity.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2006-696

PCT Application: US2007/75800