Phase front shaping in one and two-dimensional optical phased arrays
AssigneeAnalog Photonics LLC
InventorsEhsan Hosseini, Michael Watts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure describe optical phased array structures and devices in which hyperbolic phase envelopes are employed to create focusing and diverging emissions in one and two dimensions. Tuning the phase fronts moves focal point spot in depth and across the array. Grating emitters are also used to emit light upward (out of plane). Adjusting the period of the gratings along the light propagation direction results in focusing the light emitted from the gratings. Changes in the operating wavelengths employed moves the focal spot along the emitters.
Claims24
A optical structure comprising:
- an optical source that generates light;
- an array of waveguide-based emitters that emit the generated light;
- and
- an optical distribution network optically connecting the optical source to the array of waveguide-based emitters;
- wherein at least one of the optical distribution network or the waveguide-based emitters include passive optical delay lines having different effective optical path lengths based on effective refractive indices, where the effective optical path lengths are configured to at least partially determine a distribution of delays imposed upon different portions of the generated light, and the distribution of delays is configured such that the emitted light has a phase front that exhibits a substantially focusing or diverging shape.
A method of operating an optical structure, the optical structure comprising:
- an optical source that generates light;
- an array of waveguide-based emitters that emit the generated light;
- and
- an optical distribution network optically connecting the optical source to the array of waveguide-based emitters;
- wherein at least one of the optical distribution network or the waveguide-based emitters include passive optical delay lines having different effective optical path lengths based on effective refractive indices, where the effective optical path lengths are configured to at least partially determine a distribution of delays;
- the method comprising:
- operating the array of waveguide-based emitters such that the distribution of delays is imposed upon different portions of the generated light, wherein the distribution of delays is configured such that the emitted light has a phase front that exhibits a substantially focusing or diverging shape.
A optical structure comprising:
- an optical source that generates light;
- and
- an array of waveguide-based emitters that emit the generated light, wherein the emitted light has a phase front that exhibits a substantially focusing or diverging shape;
- an optical distribution network optically connecting the optical source to the array of waveguide-based emitters;
- and
- an iris positioned after the emitters and configured to spatially filter the phase front.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.