Our patented Opto-Electronic Oscillator (OEO) is a fundamentally distinct approach for generating signals, both with RF and optical outputs. This technology circumvents the inherent limitations of conventional electronics for realization of extremely large oscillator Q without phase noise degradation penalty at higher frequencies. OEO with an optical fiber loop can have an equivalent RF Q greater than 10⁶ to significantly reduce the phase noise of the generated microwave signal. Conventional RF electronic devices do not have the capability to reach a Q at such a high level. With this technique a 10 GHz signal with a performance of –163 dBc at 10 kHz from the carrier was demonstrated, and is unmatched by any other oscillator. The unique design of a variant of the OEO, called the coupled OEO (COEO), also generates picosecond optical pulses at its optical output. The pulses generated exhibit the same extremely low noise of the OEO available at its RF output, hence delivers exceptionally low jitter. The OEO technology represents a generic architecture that can also be configured to achieve wide-band tuning capability.

The COEO is configured in small form factors suitable for radar applications requiring low noise, with sensitivity to size, weight and power (SWAP). To reduce the size of the oscillator further, OEwaves developed a new generation of OEO architectures. The recently developed high finesse, high Q whispering gallery mode optical micro-resonators featuring mm-scale size, is significantly smaller as compared to the fiber system. Opto-electronic oscillators utilizing these elements in place of fiber were demonstrated at OEwaves, and are currently under further development.