Method and apparatus of wide-angle optical beamsteering from a nanoantenna phased array
US9104086B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 2014 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/932
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical beam-steering apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes one or more optical waveguides and at least one row of metallic nanoantenna elements overlying and electromagnetically coupled to a respective waveguide. In each such row, individual nanoantenna elements are spaced apart along an optical propagation axis of the waveguide so that there is an optical propagation phase delay between successive pairs of nanoantenna elements along the row. The apparatus also includes a respective single electric heating element in thermal contact with each of the waveguides. Each heating element is arranged to heat, substantially uniformly, at least that portion of its waveguide that directly underlies the corresponding row of nanoantenna elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.