Integrated optical network with controlled optical beam deflection and optical transmitter

An electronic system, comprising:

• an optical transmitter including,
• an array of optical waveguides, each optical waveguide having a respective output and the outputs collectively defining an array of radiating elements, each waveguide adapted to receive a respective optical input signal and to output the optical input signal from the corresponding radiating element as a respective optical output signals, the array configured so that the optical output signals interfere with each other to form an optical beam;
• and
• a phase actuator including a plurality of individual phase control portions, each phase control portion being coupled to a corresponding waveguide in the array and each phase control portion being adapted to receive an electronic control signal, each phase control portion operable in response to the corresponding electronic control signal to adjust a phase of the optical signal propagating through the waveguide such that the phase control portions collectively adjust the optical signals propagating through the waveguides to deflect the optical beam.

A method of steering an overall optical beam, comprising:

• generating a plurality of optical subbeams, each optical subbeam having a corresponding phase shift;
• propagating each optical subbeam through a corresponding optical medium, each optical medium having an index of refraction;
• outputting each optical subbeam through an array of aligned apertures, each optical subbeam being output through a corresponding aperture of the array;
• and
• adjusting the index of refraction of each medium responsive to a control signal to adjust the phase shift of each subbeam as a function of the control signal and thereby steer the overall optical beam corresponding to the collective transmissions of the optical subbeams from the array of apertures.