Understanding Optical Delay Lines: What is ODL?

An Optical Delay Line (ODL) is an electric-optic-electric instrument. (in some literature, an optical delay line is also referred to as fiber delay line or a fiber optic delay line),  It performs fixed time delay(s), between a few nanoseconds up to several hundred microseconds, for RF signals from 10MHz up to 40GHz and more. There are low-frequency ODL versions ranging from 10MHz to 6GHz. The high-frequency ODLs versions are up to 8GHz, 15GHz, 18GHz, 20GHz, and 40GHz.

On a more technical level, the RF input signal is converted into an optical modulated signal. The optical signal is transmitted into a long single mode fiber, usually at a 1.55 micron wavelength or similar. Passing the fiber, the optical signal is converted back into an electrical RF signal. The electrical control on the ODL elects the optical system automatically, with no need for any tuning by the operator.

Components and Features of Fiber Optic Delay Line

An Optical Delay Lines system (ODL) also incorporates high performance lasers such as DFBs, optical modulators for high operation frequencies, photodiodes, and optionally other components such as optical dispersion compensators, optical switches, optical amplifiers and pre- and post RF amplifiers to provide exceptionally high performance. The ODL optical system supports very high bandwidths of analog signals, high sensitivity with wide dynamic range, for various delays.

Applications and Variable Optical Delay Lines

Variable Optical Delay Lines (also known as Progressive ODLs) are used in a variety of applications including radar range simulation and signal processing. The Progressive ODL has a few delay lines using the same transceiver where the customization is done by RFOptic.

The most common practical approach for a variable delay system is an ODL system configuration which includes cascaded 1:2 and 2:2 optical matrices with several different delay lines in between (replacing the above two optical switch matrix 1:8). This cascaded switch matrix is a Progressive Delay Configuration which is shown below.

Desired Combination of Delay Lines

The desired combination of delay lines is selected to define the required delay. In the diagram below, there are 4 progressive delay lines with cascaded switch matrices. In such a configuration, the user can select any of the 16 combinations of possible delay values (16=24). For example, a delay can be selected which is equivalent to Dtot= D1+D2 +D4, or Dtot= D3+D4 etc.)

Variable or Progressive Optical Delay Line Configuration Model

Progressive Optical Delay Line configuration consisting of four 2:2 optical switch, providing 16 different delay lengths.

Dispersion Compensation in Optical Delay Lines

Sometimes, dispersion compensation is needed when the signal frequency and the delay line length increase, resulting in the optical signal to be dispersed and weakened significantly. As RFOptic, we solve this problem by incorporating DCM (Dispersion Compensation Module) in our Optical Delay Line (ODL) solutions.

For very long delay lines, RFOptic also uses Optical Amplifiers (EDFAS) which compensate the optical loss. In some cases, also Pre and Post amplifiers are required.

Any changes of the delay lines and the attenuation are made through a user-friendly software interface with easy to use GUI (Graphic User Interface).

Contact Us for More ODL Information

For more information about Optical Delay Lines, contact us.

About RFOptic

RFOptic is a leading provider of RF over Fiber (RFoF) and Optical Delay Line (ODL) solutions. For the last 20 years, its team of industry veterans has been developing, designing and integrating superior quality technology for a wide range of RFoF and ODL solutions. The solutions are deployed at various industries, including broadcastingaviationelectronic warfare, and defense. RFOptic offers its customers and OEMs various off-the-shelf products, as well as custom-made solutions optimized for a wide range of RFoF products at affordable prices and with a quick turnaround. RFOptic makes it its mission to help its customers to turn innovation into real business by providing them with the highest quality, cutting edge RFoF solutions as well as customized solutions based on individual requests and objectives.