Photonic crystal-based optical steering
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorJoshua K. Lentz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method include an optical steering system including a holder with a plurality of apertures; a photonic crystal mounted in each of the plurality of apertures; a light source to direct a path of light through the photonic crystal; a motion controller to control movement of the holder to sequentially insert each photonic crystal of the plurality of apertures into the path of light; and a sensor to detect optical energy arriving from each direction of the path of light passing through each photonic crystal.
Claims20
An optical steering system comprising:
- a holder comprising a plurality of apertures;
- a photonic crystal mounted in each of the plurality of apertures;
- a light source to direct a path of light through the photonic crystal;
- a motion controller to control movement of the holder to sequentially insert each photonic crystal of the plurality of apertures into the path of light;
- and
- a sensor to detect optical energy arriving from each direction of the path of light passing through each photonic crystal.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of ring-shaped holders each comprising a plurality of optically configured plates circumferentially arranged on a rim of the holders;
- and
- a photonic crystal positioned in each of the plurality of optically configured plates, wherein the photonic crystal is configured to permit a path of light to be transmitted therethrough,
- wherein movement of the ring-shaped holders directs the path of light to be transmitted through each photonic crystal in sequence with respect to the plurality of optically configured plates.
A method of performing optical beam steering, the method comprising:
- selecting a region to scan;
- positioning a beam steering device with respect to the region to scan, wherein the beam steering device comprises a plurality of optically configured plates each containing an optical element that provides a fixed angular offset;
- directing a path of light sequentially through the plurality of optically configured plates;
- and
- controlling a timing sequence for the beam steering device to move, wherein the timing sequence causes a time delay of the plurality of optically configured plates in the beam steering device to intersect the path of light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.