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Optical Zonu Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of fiber-optic transmission and RF-over-fiber solutions, is highlighting its portfolio of delay line technologies developed for radar testing, wireless system simulation, phased-array antenna systems, and advanced RF signal processing applications. The company’s delay line offerings include integrated fixed delay lines, switched delay lines, and tunable delay line systems, all based on RF-over-fiber architectures that enable precise and repeatable signal delay over a wide frequency range.

At the core of the company’s technology is the use of optical fiber as the delay medium. RF signals are converted into optical signals, transmitted through controlled fiber paths, and then converted back into RF signals at the output. Because the delay is determined by the propagation time through the optical fiber, the approach enables highly accurate and stable delay generation while maintaining signal integrity across wide bandwidths.

The company’s Integrated Fixed Delay Lines support RF frequencies from 10 kHz to 50 GHz and provide delays of up to 110 microseconds. These systems incorporate laser-diode and photodiode monitoring functions, high spur-free dynamic range (SFDR), and operation across a temperature range of −20°C to +55°C, making them suitable for demanding laboratory and field environments.

For applications requiring programmable signal delays, Optical Zonu offers Switched Delay Line systems capable of supporting frequencies from 10 kHz to 50 GHz with delay resolutions ranging from 1 to 12 bits. The systems can provide ultra-fine delay resolution down to 1 nanosecond for short-delay applications and feature triple-transit echo performance below −80 dBc. Hot-swappable optical switch modules and RF-over-fiber modules further simplify maintenance and system scalability.

According to the company, the switched-delay architecture can be configured to support as many as 2¹² selectable delay states per module configuration, enabling highly flexible delay generation. Delay values are determined by fiber lengths within dedicated delay-spool assemblies and can be customized to meet specific customer requirements. Remote monitoring and control are supported through SNMP, web interfaces, graphical user interfaces, SSH command-line interfaces, and network-management tools, allowing seamless integration into complex RF test environments.

The portfolio also includes Adjust Delay Line systems that support up to four tunable delay elements within a 1RU rack-mounted chassis. Each delay element provides a tuning range of 0 to 660 picoseconds, while the overall system supports RF frequencies from 10 kHz to 50 GHz. These solutions are available with 1310 nm, 1550 nm, and CWDM wavelength options and include remote monitoring, embedded control interfaces, alarm functions, and redundant power configurations.

Optical Zonu notes that RF-over-fiber delay lines offer several advantages over conventional approaches, including wide delay ranges, repeatable performance, compact form factors, minimal group-delay distortion, and stable operation across varying environmental conditions. The company also offers fixed and variable delay line systems capable of delivering delays extending into the millisecond range for specialized RF simulation and calibration applications.

The delay line solutions are designed for applications such as radar system calibration, wireless communication system simulation, phased-array antenna testing, built-in test (BIT) systems, and RF research laboratories, where precise control of signal timing is critical to system development and validation. By combining RF-over-fiber technology, programmable switching architectures, and tunable delay control within modular platforms, Optical Zonu continues to provide engineers and system developers with flexible solutions for advanced RF signal delay and timing applications.

Click here to learn more about switched delay lines.