Analog vector modulation-based widely tunable frequency photonic beamformer for phased-array antennas

A compact free-space/solid optics photonic controller for phased-array antennas/transducers is introduced which uses the principle of in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) vector modulation via two-dimensional (2-D) spatial light modulators (SLMs). The SLMs are used as distributed optical-gain control devices to implement the vector modulation operation required to generate the desired RF signals with the correct phase and amplitude values.