Chip-scale two-dimensional optical phased array with simplified controls

US9989831B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Marcel W. Pruessner · Chevy Chase Section Five, US
• William S. Rabinovich · Silver Spring, US
• Rita Mahon · Silver Spring, US
• Peter G. Goetz · Springfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 2017
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 2, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2201/06
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A device includes an optical splitter comprising a plurality of splitter outputs. The splitter outputs are out of phase and include a non-uniform phase front. The device includes a one-dimensional phase compensation array communicating with the optical splitter. The phase compensation array receives the non-uniform phase front and outputs a uniform phase front. The phase compensation array includes a plurality of array outputs. The device includes a tunable linear gradient phase shifter communicating with said phase compensation array to impart a linearly-varying phase shift across said plurality of array outputs, thereby steering a beam along a first angle in a first plane. The device includes a waveguide grating out-coupler communicating with said linear gradient phase shifter, and a uniform phase shifter communicating with the waveguide grating out-coupler. The uniform phase shifter steers the flat phase front along a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.