Antenna-Coupled Electrode Electro-Optic Modulator for 5G Mobile Applications

A new device for conversion from 5G mobile wireless signals to optical signals, which is suitable for a passive wireless receiver in uplinks of 5G mobile front-haul in dense user environments, and a 5G-band sensor for precise antenna measurement, has been developed utilizing an array of antenna-coupled electrodes integrated on a high-speed LiNbO3 electro-optic (EO) modulator. The 5G wireless signal conversion and the high-speed data transfer over a silica optical fiber link for high-definition (HD) video streaming were demonstrated successfully using the fabricated device operating in the 28 GHz-band.