Advanced optoelectronic system architectures and associated methods using spatial light modulation

An optoelectronic system, comprising:

• a concentration layer including an array of optical concentrators, each optical concentrator including a concentrator input area and a concentrator output area that is smaller than the concentrator input area such that each concentrator concentrates a portion of an input light beam received at the concentrator input area into the concentrator output area;
• and
• a modulation layer including an array of electrically controllable light modulators that are spaced apart from one another in the modulation layer for modulating each portion of the input light with each light modulator having:
• (i) a modulator input area in optical communication with the concentrator output area of one of the optical concentrators, and
• (ii) a modulator waveguide for receiving the modulated portion of light and externally outputting the modulated portion of light;
• a collector waveguide defining a waveguide input for the modulator waveguide of each light modulator in the array of light modulators and the collector waveguide combines the outputted modulated light from the array of electrically controllable light modulators to produce a collector waveguide output;
• and
• a detector for receiving the collector waveguide output to produce a detector output that is responsive to the combined outputted modulated light.