Active imaging systems and method

An active solid-state imaging system comprising:

• an optical scanning subsystem including an optical source and a beamsteering device, the optical source being configured to generate a beam of optical radiation, and the beamsteering device including a solid-state liquid crystal waveguide configured to receive the beam of the optical radiation from the optical source, to direct the beam of optical radiation to illuminate a portion of a scene, and to steer the beam of optical radiation over a first area of the scene and over a scan range of 30° by 5°;
• a detection subsystem including an optical sensor configured to collect reflected optical radiation from the first area of the scene, the optical sensor including a single linear array of unit cells, the solid-state liquid crystal waveguide being configured to illuminate the portion of the scene within a field of view of the detection subsystem such that an illuminated area of the scene is less than the field of view of the detection subsystem;
• and
• a fused fiber focusing assembly including:
• a fused fiber bundle of a plurality of ordered optical fibers arranged in a rectilinear pattern,
• a plurality of lenses, the plurality of lenses being coupled together and positioned to receive and focus the reflected optical radiation from the first area of the scene directly onto the fused fiber bundle,
• a microlens array interposed between the fused fiber bundle and the optical sensor and positioned to receive the reflected optical radiation from the fused fiber bundle, the microlens array being configured to collect the reflected optical radiation over an angular range greater than an angular range of divergence of the fused fiber bundle, and
• a focusing lens interposed between the microlens array and the optical sensor and configured to focus the reflected optical radiation from the microlens array onto the single linear array of unit cells.