Light receive scanner with liquid crystal beamsteerer
US11681199B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/24
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical system for receiving light scanned from different light origination locations in space can include a Liquid Crystal (LC) waveguide (LCW), including first and second LCW light ports. A beamsteering LC electrode can be included in or coupled to the LCW and can be configured to vary a receiving direction of light received at the second LCW light port in response to a varying electrical input signal applied to the LC electrode to scan receiving of light at the second LCW light port from different light origination locations in space. A photodetector can be optically coupled to the first LCW light port, such as to detect waveguided light from different light origination locations in space received in response to the varying electrical input signal applied to the first LC electrode. Ranger, bright-spot locking, laser detection, direct detect and coherent lidar, wavelength detection, and other techniques and use cases are possible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.