Optical Switch Array Beam Steering with Digital Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical phased arrays for beam steering and receiving consume significant power and are complex to construct, especially with a large number of emitters, and are not robust to environmental temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
The use of an optical switch array that selectively routes light through a plurality of optical switches and emitters, with a lens to direct the light, allowing for beam steering and receiving with reduced power consumption and improved robustness through digital feedback control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional optical phased arrays are used for beam steering, then beam steering functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases proportionally to the number of emitters
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the beam steering function by using a single emitter combined with an optical switch array. Instead of requiring all emitters to be active simultaneously, the optical switches segment the optical paths, allowing one emitter to sequentially serve multiple beam directions through dynamic switching of waveguide connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical switch array acts as an intermediary between the single emitter and the multiple waveguides. The switches mediate the routing of light from the single emitter to different waveguides, enabling beam steering without requiring multiple active emitters, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining functionality.
2Reliability
If conventional optical phased arrays are used, then beam steering is achieved, but the system lacks robustness to environmental temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the actual beam direction and adjusting the optical switch states to compensate for temperature-induced drift. The feedback mechanism detects deviations caused by environmental changes and dynamically reconfigures the optical paths to maintain accurate beam steering, improving reliability without requiring complex hardware modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of emitters are used in optical phased arrays, then beam steering capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single emitter is designed to be universal, serving multiple beam steering functions through the optical switch array. Instead of dedicating one emitter per beam direction, the single emitter can be dynamically routed to any waveguide, making it multi-functional and capable of steering beams in multiple directions without requiring multiple physical emitters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic reconfiguration of optical paths through the optical switch array. The switches can change states in real-time to redirect light from the single emitter to different waveguides, enabling adaptive beam steering capability that matches or exceeds traditional multi-emitter systems while consuming less power.
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
The optical switch array method consumes less power, particularly in large-scale systems, and is more robust to environmental changes due to digital control, reducing power consumption by scaling as log2 n and enabling real-time adjustments to temperature variations.
Implementation Method 1
an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light to one or more of a plurality of waveguides
Implementation Method 2
a lens disposed to receive light exiting the one or more of a plurality of waveguides via the at least one emitter, wherein the lens is configured to direct the received light as an optical output
Data Source
AI summary
An optical apparatus comprising an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light through one or more of a plurality of waveguides, a plurality of emitters, wherein at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters is disposed in communication with the one or more of the plurality of waveguides and configured to receive light and cause at least a portion of the light to exit the waveguide, and a lens disposed to receive light exiting the one or more of a plurality of waveguides via the at least one emitter, wherein the lens is configured to direct the received light as an optical output, and wherein the position of the at least one emitter relative to the lens facilitates beam steering of the optical output.