Tunable Liquid Crystal Metasurface Waveguide Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LiDAR systems face challenges in compact design and efficient beam steering for optical radiation transmission and reception, particularly in reducing system dimensions and effectively filtering out noise while maintaining optical transparency for specific steering angles.
Innovation Solution
The integration of tunable liquid crystal metasurfaces with optical waveguides and holographic lenses allows for steerable beamforming and noise filtering, using a single planar waveguide for both transmission and reception, and applying voltage differential patterns to modify the reflection phase of optical resonant antennas for precise beam steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If traditional LiDAR systems use separate transmit and receive optical paths with multiple lenses and mirrors, then beam steering capability is achieved, but system thickness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transmit and receive optical paths into a single shared optical path, where the same optical waveguide and metasurface are used for both transmitting optical radiation to targets and receiving reflected radiation. This merging eliminates the need for separate optical components for transmission and reception, directly reducing system thickness and complexity while maintaining full bidirectional functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide and metasurface assembly serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as both the transmission medium for outgoing optical radiation and the reception medium for incoming reflected radiation. The single metasurface performs both beam steering for transmission and beam steering for reception, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical radiation is transmitted through air or vacuum for beam steering, then steering flexibility is improved, but noise from environmental factors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical waveguide as an intermediary medium that guides optical radiation from the source through a controlled path to the metasurface and back to the detector. This waveguide intermediary isolates the optical path from environmental noise sources in air (such as dust, turbulence, and stray light) while maintaining beam steering flexibility through the integrated metasurface
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical components are used for beam steering and focusing, then optical precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically tunable metasurface made of liquid crystal materials that can change its optical properties in real-time through applied voltage. This dynamic metasurface replaces multiple fixed optical components (lenses, mirrors, beam steerers) with a single reconfigurable element that achieves the same or better optical precision through electronic control, significantly simplifying manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The metasurface achieves precise beam steering and focusing by changing the orientation and optical properties of liquid crystal molecules through applied electric fields. By dynamically adjusting parameters such as molecular alignment and refractive index through voltage control, the system achieves high optical precision without requiring multiple precisely manufactured static optical components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables a compact, efficient LiDAR system capable of precise beam steering and noise filtering, reducing system thickness and improving operational bandwidth while maintaining optical transparency within the steering range, enhancing data transfer and imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
applying voltage differential patterns to modify the reflection phase of optical resonant antennas for precise beam steering
Implementation Method 2
tunable liquid crystal metasurfaces with optical waveguides and holographic lenses allows for steerable beamforming
Implementation Method 3
The laser may be coupled to the transmit metasurface via an optical waveguide. The sensor may be coupled to the receive metasurface via the optical waveguide
Implementation Method 4
holographic lenses allows for steerable beamforming and noise filtering
Implementation Method 5
The transmit optical path may include a transmit holographic lens that is optically transparent at a first angle and optically opaque at a second angle
Data Source
AI summary
Optical receivers and transmitters can be used as stand-alone systems or combined together as a transceiver. Each of the receiver and transmitter may include an optically reflective steerable device, such as an optically reflective liquid crystal metasurface (LCM), to steer optical radiation to a target location. A transmit waveguide conveys optical radiation from a light source to the transmitter steerable device. A receive waveguide conveys received optical radiation reflected by the receiver optically steerable device to a sensor. In some embodiments, the transmit waveguide and the receive waveguide may be portions of the same planar waveguide. The receiver includes a holographic lens between the receiver LCM and the receive waveguide to pass through optical radiation received at a first range of incident angles and modify (e.g., collimate and/or spectrally filter) optical radiation reflected by the receiver LCM for conveyance by the receive waveguide to the sensor.