Optical phased array light shaping
AssigneeAnalog Photonics LLC
InventorsMichael Robert Watts, Katia Shtyrkova
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises: a photonic integrated circuit comprising an optical phased array, a first focusing element at a fixed position relative to the optical phased array and configured to couple an optical beam to or from the optical phased array, and a second focusing element at a fixed position relative to the first focusing element and configured to couple the optical beam to or from the first focusing element. At least one of the first or second focusing element is externally coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, and the first and second focusing elements have different effective focal lengths.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- an optical phased array disposed on a photonic integrated circuit, wherein the optical phased array comprises an array of emitters, and phase shifters configured to impose respective phase shifts on light to be emitted from different emitters in the array of emitters, and wherein the emitters are configured to limit divergence of a beam formed by interference among light emitted from the emitters such that the beam is substantially collimated over at least some distance,
- a first focusing element at a fixed position relative to the optical phased array and configured to couple an optical beam to or from the optical phased array, and
- a second focusing element at a fixed position relative to the first focusing element and configured to couple the optical beam to or from the first focusing element;
- wherein at least one of the first or second focusing element is externally coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, and the first and second focusing elements have different effective focal lengths.
A method for optically coupling to an optical phased array disposed on a photonic integrated circuit, the method comprising:
- coupling an optical beam to or from the optical phased array, wherein the optical phased array comprises an array of emitters, and phase shifters configured to impose respective phase shifts on light to be emitted from different emitters in the array of emitters, and wherein the emitters are configured to limit divergence of a beam formed by interference among light emitted from the emitters such that the beam is substantially collimated over at least some distance,
- coupling the optical beam between the optical phased array and a first focusing element at a fixed position relative to the optical phased array, and
- coupling the optical beam between the first focusing element and a second focusing element at a fixed position relative to the first focusing element;
- wherein at least one of the first or second focusing element is externally coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, and the first and second focusing elements have different effective focal lengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.