Two-layer optical beam steering device, system, method of utilization, and method of fabrication
AssigneeCarillon Technologies Management Corporation
InventorsJohn R. Sanford, John D. Evans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two-layer optical beam steering device, system, method of utilization and method of fabrication are disclosed. The solid-state device enables beam steering in two dimensions with dramatically fewer control lines than prior devices. This renders the device more technically realizable, easier to control, and more affordable to manufacture. Because less data need be transferred to the device, the device is also able to operate at faster speeds.
Claims24
An optical beam steering device comprising at least two scanning actuation layers, wherein the action of the first layer is to steer the beam in a first scanning dimension, and the action of the second layer is to steer the beam in a second scanning dimension, the device further comprising a liquid crystal material and wherein scanning control is achieved by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal material, the device comprising a lower layer and an upper layer, wherein the first layer is the lower layer of the device and the second layer is the upper layer of the device, the upper layer comprising a plurality of upper electrodes that at least partially define a plurality of upper optical cavities, the lower layer comprising a plurality of lower electrodes that at least partially define a plurality of lower optical cavities, wherein at least one cavity of the plurality of the upper cavities and at least one cavity of the plurality of lower cavities contain the liquid crystal material, the device further comprising an interconnect layer that is electrically connected to at least some electrodes of the plurality of lower electrodes.
An optical beam steering device, comprising:
- at least a first scanning actuation layer and a second scanning actuation layer, wherein the first scanning actuation layer is configured to steer the optical beam in a first scanning dimension, and the second scanning actuation layer is configured to steer the optical beam in a second scanning dimension, the device further comprising a liquid crystal material adapted to actuate scanning under a control of an applied electric field, the device comprising a lower layer and an upper layer, wherein the first scanning actuation layer is the lower layer of the device and the second scanning actuation layer is the upper layer of the device, the upper layer comprising a plurality of upper electrodes that at least partially define a plurality of upper optical cavities, the lower layer comprising a plurality of lower electrodes that at least partially define a plurality of lower optical cavities, wherein the plurality of upper cavities and the plurality of lower cavities contain the liquid crystal material, wherein at least some electrodes of the plurality of lower electrodes are arranged in a plurality of rows, the device further comprising a plurality of separators, wherein for each row of the lower electrodes, at least some separators of the plurality of separators electrically isolate the lower electrodes from each other, the device further comprising an interconnect layer that is electrically connected to at least some electrodes of the plurality of lower electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.