Phase-wrapping method for beam steering in optical phased arrays
US11409183B1 · kind B1 · utility
2Cited by
7References
14Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/2955
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the phase shifts produced in a binary corporate tree network of the kind, e.g., that can drive a phased array for steering an optical beam. The method employs a novel phase-wrapping technique in which an entire layer of the binary tree is disabled when the phase added in that layer reaches 2π. With that technique, it is possible to economize on electrical control lines and on the use of electric power, while still maintaining the ability to produce arbitrary phases at the output of the tree network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.