Acousto-optic RF signal acquisition system

Laurence H. Bloxham

doi:10.1117/12.21271

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1 September 1990 Acousto-optic RF signal acquisition system

Laurence H. Bloxham

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Proceedings Volume 1296, Advances in Optical Information Processing IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.21271
Event: 1990 Technical Symposium on Optics, Electro-Optics, and Sensors, 1990, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the architecture and performance of a prototype Acousto-Optic RF Signal Acquisition System designed to intercept, automatically identify, and track communication signals in the VHF band. The system covers 28.0 to 92.0 MHz with five manually selectable, dual conversion; 12.8 MHZ bandwidth front ends. An acousto-optic spectrum analyzer (AOSA) implemented using a tellurium dioxide (Te02) Bragg cell is used to channelize the 12.8 MHz pass band into 512 25 KHz channels. Polarization switching is used to suppress optical noise. Excellent isolation and dynamic range are achieved by using a linear array of 512 custom 40/50 micron fiber optic cables to collect the light at the focal plane of the AOSA and route the light to individual photodetectors. The photodetectors are operated in the photovoltaic mode to compress the greater than 60 dB input optical dynamic range into an easily processed electrical signal. The 512 signals are multiplexed and processed as a line in a video image by a customized digital image processing system. The image processor simultaneously analyzes the channelized signal data and produces a classical waterfall display.

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Laurence H. Bloxham "Acousto-optic RF signal acquisition system", Proc. SPIE 1296, Advances in Optical Information Processing IV, (1 September 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.21271

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