System and method of optical antenna tuning
地域：
GA
GA Atlanta
摘要
A method includes determining an operating frequency of an antenna at a component of the antenna. The method includes determining, at the component of the antenna, a filter node of a plurality of filter nodes to activate to tune the antenna to the operating frequency. The method includes transmitting power to the filter node, wherein the power is transmitted via a first optical fiber. The method also includes sending a signal from the component to a light source. The activation of the light source sends an optical signal to the filter node. The filter node adjusts a characteristic of a radiating element coupled to the filter node using the power responsive to the optical signal. Adjustment of the characteristic facilitates tuning the antenna to the operating frequency.
說明書
This application claims priority from, and is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/084,200, filed Nov. 19, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure is generally related to optical antenna tuning.
Antennas are used as coupling elements between circuits (e.g., radio frequency (RF) circuits) and a wireless medium. Antenna design usually uses metallic conductors to transfer energy between electromagnetic waves and electrical currents. An antenna's size is usually related to a target wavelength. For example, an antenna may have a characteristic dimension (e.g., length) that is ? or ? of a target wavelength.
Some antennas may be used to operate over a wide operating frequency band. Fixed tuning mechanisms, such as frequency-selective lumped filters (called “traps”), may be used to create multi-band antennas that selectively add reactance to portions of a longer antenna to allow the antenna to operate in frequency bands with shorter wavelengths. Reactance may be added to the portions of the antenna by joining segments of a metallic radiating structure of the antenna using traps or filters. Multi-band antennas may also be created using distributed resonant (LC) element structures.
權(quán)利要求
What is claimed is:1. A method comprising:determining, by a component of an antenna, an operating frequency of the antenna; determining, by the component of the antenna, a first filter node of a plurality of filter nodes to activate to tune the antenna to the operating frequency; and generating, by the component of the antenna, a first signal to cause a first light source to generate a first light signal to interact with the first filter node, wherein interaction of the first light signal with the first filter node causes a photonic signal notification to be transmitted to an amplifier of the first filter node, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node adjusts a characteristic of a radiating element coupled to the first filter node, responsive to receiving the photonic signal notification, to facilitate tuning the antenna to the operating frequency, wherein a power light signal interacts with the first filter node to cause a photo-voltaic detector of the first filter node to generate an electrical power signal, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node is powered by the electrical power signal, wherein the power light signal is generated by a power light source that is independent from the first light source. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power light signal is provided to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via a first optical fiber. 3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first light signal is provided to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via a second optical fiber. 4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first light signal travels to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via a light guide. 5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first light signal travels to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via free space. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting of the characteristic of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes causes the antenna to utilize the radiating element coupled to the first filter node. 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting of the characteristic of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes causes the antenna to inhibit utilization of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node. 8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the radiating element comprises an inductance, a capacitance, a gain, a reactance, or a combination thereof. 9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes and a second component of the antenna is sufficient to inhibit interference to a field of the antenna by the second component of the antenna, and wherein the second component of the antenna includes the first light source, drive circuitry components associated with operation of the light source, the component of the antenna, or combinations thereof. 10. The method of claim 1 , wherein power light signal is coupled to a splitter of the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes. 11. A method comprising:determining, by a component of an antenna, a first filter node of a plurality of filter nodes to activate to tune the antenna to an operating frequency; and generating, by the component of the antenna, a first signal to cause a first light source to generate a first light signal to interact with the first filter node, wherein interaction of the first light signal with the first filter node causes a photonic signal notification to be transmitted to an amplifier of the first filter node, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node adjusts a characteristic of a radiating element coupled to the first filter node, responsive to receiving the photonic signal notification, to facilitate tuning the antenna to the operating frequency, wherein a power light signal interacts with the first filter node to cause a photo-voltaic detector of the first filter node to generate an electrical power signal, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node is powered by the electrical power signal, wherein the power light signal is generated by a power light source that is independent from the first light source. 12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the power light signal is provided to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via a first optical fiber. 13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first light signal travels to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via a light guide. 14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first light signal travels to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes via free space. 15. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting of the characteristic of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes causes the antenna to utilize the radiating element coupled to the first filter node. 16. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting of the characteristic of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes causes the antenna to inhibit utilization of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node. 17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the characteristic of the radiating element comprises an inductance, a capacitance, a gain, a reactance, or a combination thereof. 18. A method comprising:determining, by a component of an antenna, an operating frequency of the antenna; and generating, by the component of the antenna, a first signal to cause a first light source to generate a first light signal to interact with a first filter node according to the operating frequency, wherein interaction of the first light signal with the first filter node of a plurality of filter nodes causes a photonic signal notification to be transmitted to an amplifier of the first filter node, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node adjusts a characteristic of a radiating element coupled to the first filter node, responsive to receiving the photonic signal notification, to facilitate tuning the antenna to the operating frequency, wherein a power light signal interacts with the first filter node to cause a photo-voltaic detector of the first filter node to generate an electrical power signal, wherein the amplifier of the first filter node is powered by the electrical power signal, wherein the power light signal is generated by a power light source that is independent from the first light source. 19. The method of claim 18 , wherein adjusting of the characteristic of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node of the plurality of filter nodes causes the antenna to inhibit utilization of the radiating element coupled to the first filter node. 20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the characteristic of the radiating element comprises an inductance, a capacitance, a gain, a reactance, or a combination thereof.
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