Stress-Optic Phase Shifter Array for Lidar Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Lidar systems face challenges in beam steering due to phase-shifting methods that often induce beam amplitude changes, consume high power, and have slow response rates, particularly in electro-optic and thermo-optic phase shifter arrays.
Innovation Solution
The use of stress-optic phase shifter arrays, incorporating a piezo-electric material like PZT, which mechanically deforms waveguides to induce phase shifts in light beams, allowing for dynamic beam steering without affecting beam intensity and with lower power consumption and faster response rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electro-optic or thermo-optic phase shifter arrays are used for beam steering, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but beam amplitude changes are induced and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electro-optic or thermo-optic phase shifting mechanisms with a stress-optic mechanism using piezoelectric actuators. The piezoelectric material converts electrical signals to mechanical stress, which deforms the waveguide structure to change the optical path length and induce phase shifts without affecting beam amplitude or requiring high power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the waveguide by applying mechanical stress through piezoelectric actuators. This stress alters the refractive index of the waveguide material via the stress-optic effect, enabling phase shifting without the amplitude changes and high power consumption associated with electro-optic or thermo-optic methods.
2Ease of operation
If electro-optic or thermo-optic phase shifter arrays are used for beam steering, then phase shifting capability is achieved, but response rate becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow thermo-optic mechanisms with fast piezoelectric actuation. The piezoelectric material responds almost instantaneously to electrical signals, converting them to mechanical stress that rapidly deforms the waveguide and induces phase shifts, achieving response rates orders of magnitude faster than thermo-optic methods.
3Ease of operation
If conventional phase shifter arrays are used, then beam steering is achieved, but beam amplitude changes affect measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanism of phase shifting from electro-optic or thermo-optic methods to stress-optic methods. By applying mechanical stress through piezoelectric actuators, the refractive index of the waveguide is altered without changing the beam amplitude, thereby maintaining measurement precision while achieving beam steering.
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 stress-optic phase shifter arrays enable precise beam steering in Lidar systems with reduced power consumption and higher response rates, improving the efficiency and accuracy of beam direction changes without altering optical beam intensities.
Implementation Method 1
The phase-shifter can include a layer of a piezo-electric material, such as PZT
Implementation Method 2
Stress-optic (or photoelastic) effect describes changes in refractive indices of a material under mechanical stress
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element for transmitting a light beam includes a waveguide configured to transmit the light beam from an input end to an output end and having an optical property that can be modified by deformation of the waveguide. A phase-shifter is affixed to the waveguide and is operable in response to a control signal to mechanically deform the waveguide sufficient to induce a phase shift in the light beam transmitted therethrough. The phase-shifter can include a PZT layer.