US Patent 7715722 Fiber optic radio frequency distribution system

A scalable, flexible, automated radio frequency distribution system (FORFDS) employs fiber optics to eliminate the need for metallic/coaxial type interconnections between onboard and fixed-site radios and antennas. Key elements of the FORFDS may include, for example, 1) electrical to optical conversion (and vice versa) of RF signals, 2) optical switching, 3) automated control and monitoring, including Ethernet interfaces, and 4) high density packaging. The system is compatible with JTRS (2 MHz to 2000 MHz), is scalable and cost effective (no longer in the laboratory or concept high cost ranges), compared with known technologies.