Output steerable optical phased array

An optical phased array, comprising

• an input light source;
• a substrate having an optical waveguide pattern formed thereon, said pattern comprising an input waveguide having a light receiving end disposed to receive light from said light source and a plurality of optical waveguide channels terminating in respective light emitting ends, said waveguide pattern arranged to divide the light received in said input waveguide into said plurality of optical channels, wherein said light emitting ends comprise an array of monochromatic light emitters arranged along an axis;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative optical phase delay between adjacent light emitters to provide a progressive phase delay change across said array to steer a focussed spot of light resulting from said light emitters to a desired direction, wherein light is focussed at focal point FP by said array of monochromatic light emitters when the following condition is satisfied for all pairs (x,y) of said light emitters:
• .phi..sub.x +(2.pi.d.sub.x,FP).lambda.=+(2.pi.d.sub.y,FP)/.lambda.+2.pi.K
• where .phi..sub.x is the phase adjustment at light emitter x, d.sub.x,FP is the distance from light emitter x to the focal point, d is the wavelength of light, .phi..sub.y is the phase adjustment at light emitter y, d.sub.y,FP is the distance from light emitter y to the focal point, and k is an integer.

An optical phased array, comprising:

• an input light source;
• a substrate having an optical waveguide pattern formed thereon, said pattern comprising an input waveguide having a light receiving end disposed to receive light from said light source and a plurality of optical waveguide channels terminating in respective light emitting ends, said waveguide pattern arranged to divide the light received in said input waveguide into said plurality of optical channels;
• a plurality of optical fibers, a first end of each fiber being optically coupled to receive light from said light emitting ends, and wherein second ends of said fibers are arranged along an axis to comprise an array of monochromatic light emitters;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative optical phase delay between adjacent light emitters to provide a progressive phase delay change across said array to steer a focussed spot of light resulting from said light emitters to a desired direction, wherein said adjusting means comprises a plurality of optical waveguides, one for each fiber, a pair of electrodes straddling each said optical waveguide and a means for developing a potential difference across said electrodes, and wherein said optical waveguides comprise a light conducting material characterized by a relatively high electro-optic coefficient, wherein said optical phase delay may be varied by adjusting said potential difference, thereby changing the index of refraction of said optical waveguide material.

An optical phased array, comprising:

• an input light source;
• a substrate having an optical waveguide pattern formed thereon, said pattern comprising an input waveguide having a light receiving end disposed to receive light from said light source and a plurality of optical waveguide channels terminating in respective light emitting ends, said waveguide pattern arranged to divide the light received in said input waveguide into said plurality of optical channels;
• a plurality of optical fibers, a first end of each fiber being optically coupled to receive light from said light emitting ends, and wherein second ends of said fibers are arranged along an axis to comprise an array of monochromatic light emitters;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative optical phase delay between adjacent light emitters to provide a progressive phase delay change across said array to steer a focussed spot of light resulting from said light emitters to a desired direction, wherein said adjusting means comprises a plurality of optical waveguides, one for each said optical fiber, and wherein each said optical waveguide comprises a light conducting material characterized by a substantial piezoelectric characteristic, whereby the optical length of said material varies in dependence on the potential difference applied across said material, and said adjusting means further comprises means for applying a selectable potential difference across said electrodes, thereby varying the optical length of said optical waveguide in dependence on the magnitude of said applied potential difference.

An optical phased array, comprising:

• an input light source;
• a substrate having an optical waveguide pattern formed thereon, said pattern comprising an input waveguide having a light receiving end disposed to receive light from said light source and a plurality of optical waveguide channels terminating in respective light emitting ends, said optical waveguide channels comprising a light conducting material characterized by a relatively large electro-optic coefficient, said waveguide pattern arranged to divide the light received in said input waveguide into said plurality of optical channels, wherein said light emitting end comprise an array of monochromatic light emitters arranged along an axis;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative optical phase delay between adjacent light emitters to provide a progressive phase delay change across said array to steer a focussed spot of light resulting from said light emitters to a desired direction, wherein said adjusting means comprises for each channel a pair of metal electrodes straddling the optical waveguide comprising said channel and a means for developing a selectable potential difference across said electrode pair, whereby said optical phase delay may be varied by adjusting said potential difference, thereby changing the index of refraction of said light conducting material.

An optical phased array, comprising:

• a laser oscillator light source;
• a substrate having an optical waveguide pattern formed thereon, said pattern comprising an input waveguide having a light receiving end disposed to receive light from said light source and a plurality of optical waveguide channels terminating in respective light emitting ends, said waveguide pattern arranged to divide the light received in said input waveguide into said plurality of optical channels, wherein said light emitting ends comprise an array of monochromatic light emitters arranged along an axis;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative optical phase delay between adjacent light emitters to provide a progressive phase delay change across said array to steer a focussed spot of light resulting from said light emitters to a desired direction, said adjusting means comprising an optical waveguide comprising a light conductor for conducting the light from said light source, said light conductor characterized by a relatively large electro-optic coefficient, a pair of electrodes straddling said optical waveguide, and a means for developing a selectable potential difference across said electrode pair, whereby the optical phase delay through said optical waveguide may be varied by adjusting said potential difference, thereby changing the index of refraction of said light conducting material.