Coherent demodulation of microwave signals by using optical heterodyne technique with applications to point to point indoor wireless communications systems

An optical communications system using a couple microstrip antennas for distributing point to point analog TV with coherent demodulation based on optical heterodyne in close vicinity is reported in this paper. In the proposed experimental setup, two optical waves at different wavelengths are mixed and applied to a photodetector. Then a beat signal with a frequency equivalent to the spacing of the two wavelengths is obtained at the output of the photodetector. This signal corresponds to a microwave signal located at 1.25 GHz, which it is used as a microwave carrier in the transmitter and as a local oscillator in the receiver of our optical communication system. The feasibility of this technique is demonstrated transmitting a TV signal of 66-72MHz.