Mitigation of Signal Distortions Using Reference Signal Distribution With Colorless Remote Antenna Units for Radio-Over-Fiber Applications

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 27; no. 21; pp. 4773 - 4780
• Main Authors: Chow, C.W., Xu, L., Yeh, C.H., Wang, C.H., Shih, F.Y., Tsang, H.K., Pan, C.L., Chi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.11.2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Antennas; Applied sciences; Base stations; Carriers; Circuit properties; Coding, codes; Differential phase shift keying; Distributed power generation; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid wired/wireless network; Information, signal and communications theory; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Modulation, demodulation; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical attenuators; Optical distortion; Optical fiber communications; optical millimeter-wave (mm-wave); Optical network units; Optical telecommunications; Radio frequency; radio-over-fiber (ROF); Reference signals; Remodulation; RF signals; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Sidebands; Signal and communications theory; Signal distortion; Signal fading; signal remodulation; Stimulated emission; Studies; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Hybrid wired/wireless network; Bidirectional link; Base station; Wireless telecommunication; Microwave; Downlink; Cell network; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Millimetric wave; Optical fiber network; optical millimeter-wave (mm-wave); Coding; Signal transmission; Optical fiber communication; Differential phase shift keying; Uplink; Antenna; Single sideband; radio-over-fiber (ROF); Fading; Mobile radiocommunication; On off keying; Radio wave; Coverage; Radiofrequency; signal remodulation; Electromagnetic wave propagation; Electromagnetic wave attenuation; Numerical simulation; Sideband; Signal distortion
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2009.2026654

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a bidirectional radio-over-fiber (ROF) system using a reference signal distribution. In order to minimize the radio-frequency (RF) signal attenuation as well as limit the transmit power to moderate levels, small cell size, or picocell is used in the ROF system. This will result in the need of many base stations (BSs) to provide sufficient network coverage. Because of this, colorless remote antenna unit (RAU) with optical carrier generated and distributed from the head end (HE) is employed. Experimental results show that error-free signal transmission and remodulation using downstream differential phase shift keying (DPSK) and upstream on-off keying (OOK) is achieved in a 20-km reach ROF system. Experimental characterization of the reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA)-based remodulation unit is also performed. Numerical simulation is performed to compare the proposed scheme with several conventional optical millimeter-wave (mm-wave) schemes, including double sideband (DSB), optical carrier suppression (OCS), and single sideband (SSB). Results show that the proposed scheme could be a potential candidate to mitigate signal distortions due to signal fading and code time shifting.