Two-dimensional surface normal slow-light photonic crystal waveguide optical phased array

US8200055B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Harish Subbaraman · Austin, US
• Ray T. Chen · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 2010
• Grant date: Jun 12, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 5, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03H2001/0264
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and devices for optical beam steering are disclosed including coupling a laser light into an apparatus comprising a first substrate; an array of air core photonic crystal waveguides; columnar members etched around each air core waveguide; a pair of metal electrodes around the columnar members; a trench around the pair of metal electrodes surrounding each air core photonic crystal waveguide; a second substrate coupled to the first substrate comprising electrical interconnection lines; and a holographic fanout array comprising a third substrate; a photopolymer film coated on the third substrate; a hologram written in the photopolymer film configured to couple the laser light into the third substrate; and an array of holograms recorded in the photopolymer film configured to couple a portion of the laser light into the waveguides; and passing a current through the electrodes to induce a refractive index change in the first substrate to control the phase of the portion of the laser light that passes through each waveguide. Other embodiments are described and claimed.