ABSTRACT
A new filterless frequency-sextupling microwave signal processor with full-range phase shift is presented and demonstrated. A single Dual-Polarization Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (DP-QPSK) modulator is used to generate two ±3rd-order sidebands along orthogonally polarized directions with other sidebands suppressed. After passing through a polarization controller, the polarization directions of the two sidebands are aligned with the two principal axes of a Polarization Modulator (POLM). By adjusting the Direct Current (DC) voltage applied to the POLM, full-range phase shift is implemented. A 45° polarizer then provides the output signals with the same polarization state. By beating ±3rd-order orthogonal sideband signals at a photodetector, a frequency-sextupled microwave signal is generated. Verified by simulation, the results show that for RF signals from 1 to 10 GHz, output signals from 6 to 60 GHz can be achieved with phase deviation in the generated signals of less than 3°.
