Tunable optical wedge for beam steering
US11422429B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2021 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/24
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A voltage-controlled optical wedge is formed by creating an adjustable voltage gradient along the length of a relatively large-sized LC cell. A pair of bias voltages (AC voltages) are applied at the opposing side terminations of the LC cell, their RMS values selected to create a continuous phase variation along the length of the cell, where a defined phase variation is associated with a specific beam steering angle. Adjustments in the applied bias voltages (specifically, changes in the RMS values of the bias voltages) result in changing the beam steering angle, providing for active, controllable beam steering as a function of time. The LC cell may be configured to provide either a linear or nonlinear continuous phase variation, as preferred for different beam steering applications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.