Optical Switch Array Beam Steering With Digital Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical phased arrays for beam steering and receiving consume significant power and are complex, especially in large-scale systems, and are not robust to environmental changes due to analog control methods.
Innovation Solution
The use of an optical switch array with a processor for executing instructions, which selectively routes light through optical switches and emitters, allowing for beam steering and receiving with reduced power consumption and improved robustness through digital control and feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional optical phased arrays are used for beam steering and receiving, then beam steering capability is achieved, but power consumption increases proportionally to the number of emitters and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into separate functional modules: an optical switch array for routing light paths and an emitter array for light emission. This segmentation allows the optical switching function to be independent from the emitter control, enabling more efficient power management where only the necessary components are activated for each beam steering operation, rather than requiring all emitters to be continuously controlled as in conventional optical phased arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional optical phased array approach with an optical switch array system. Instead of using phase shifters and analog control mechanisms in each emitter, the system uses optical switches to physically route light to selected emitters. This substitution fundamentally changes the control mechanism from analog phase modulation to digital optical switching, reducing power consumption and simplifying the control architecture.
2Reliability
If conventional optical phased arrays are used, then beam steering is achieved, but the system lacks robustness to environmental temperature changes due to analog control methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms that monitor the actual beam output and environmental conditions, then adjust the optical switch configurations to maintain accurate beam steering. This feedback loop compensates for environmental variations such as temperature changes, providing robustness that analog control systems lack. The digital nature of optical switching enables precise, programmable feedback control that can adapt to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces analog control mechanisms with digital optical switching and control. Instead of using continuous analog signals to modulate phase and amplitude in each emitter, the system uses digital optical switches that provide discrete, stable on/off states. This digital substitution eliminates the sensitivity to environmental drift inherent in analog systems and enables more reliable, temperature-stable operation.
3Measurement precision
If the number of emitters is increased in conventional optical phased arrays, then beam steering resolution is improved, but power consumption and construction complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam steering function into two independent parts: the optical switch array that handles light routing and the emitter array that handles light emission. This allows the system to achieve high-resolution beam steering by selectively activating only the necessary emitters for each steering angle, rather than requiring all emitters to be actively controlled. The optical switches provide the fine-grained control needed for high resolution while consuming minimal power compared to driving all emitters simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by activating only the specific subset of emitters needed for each beam steering operation, rather than using all emitters continuously. The optical switch array enables selective activation of individual emitters or small groups, achieving the required beam steering resolution with minimal power consumption. This partial activation strategy maintains high precision while dramatically reducing the power burden compared to full-array operation.
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, scales more efficiently with the number of emitters, and provides better robustness to environmental changes by enabling straightforward feedback control, reducing power consumption by approximately 205 times in large-scale systems and maintaining beam direction stability under varying conditions.
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.