Integrated photonic array fed by free-space optics

1. An optical system that produces an optical probe beam, the optical system comprising:

a) an optical element positioned in a path of a free-space optical beam to project the free-space optical beam to generate a projected free-space optical beam; and

b) a photonic integrated phased-array component positioned in a path of the projected free-space optical beam to direct the projected free space optical beam, thereby generating the optical probe beam, the photonic integrated phased-array component comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a substrate positioned proximate to the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of fan-out electrical connections from at least some of the plurality of antenna elements such that a size of a region comprising the fan-out electrical connections is larger than a size of a region comprising the plurality of antenna elements.

2. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 further comprising an electro-optical element positioned in the path of the optical probe beam.

3. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 further comprising a receiver having an input that receives a portion of light from the optical probe beam that is reflected by the target.

4. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 3 wherein the received portion of light is reflected by the photonic integrated phased-array device.

5. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a silicon-photonics photonic integrated circuit component.

6. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component comprises an InP photonic integrated circuit component.

7. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a GaAs photonic integrated circuit component.

8. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component further comprises a transparent conducting layer proximate to the plurality of antenna elements.

9. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the optical element performs spatial tailoring of the projected optical beam that generates a desired spatial profile at a surface of the photonic integrated phased-array component.

10. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the optical element performs apodizing of the projected optical beam to generate a desired spatial profile of the projected optical beam at a surface of the photonic integrated phased-array component.

11. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises a lens.

12. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises a beam shaper.

13. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a modulator array.

14. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a detector array.

15. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 wherein the target is a sample to analyzed.

16. The optical system for producing the optical probe beam of claim 1 further comprising an optical source that generates the free-space optical beam.

17. An optical endoscope comprising:

a) a plurality of electrical wires connecting a proximal end of the optical endoscope to a distal end of the optical endoscope;

b) a photonic integrated phased-array component positioned at the distal end of the optical endoscope in a path of a free-space optical beam, the photonic integrated phased-array component comprising a plurality of antenna elements;

c) a target in the path of the free-space optical beam; and

d) an electrical conditioning circuit electrically connected between an electrical output of at least some of the plurality of antenna elements and the plurality of electrical wires such that a number of the plurality of electrical wires connected the proximal end of the optical endoscope to the distal end of the optical endoscope is less than a number of the plurality of antenna elements.

18. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a transmissive photonic integrated phased-array component.

19. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component comprises a reflective photonic integrated phased-array component.

20. The optical endoscope of claim 19 wherein the optical endoscope is configured to operate in a side imaging application.

21. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component further comprises a transparent conducting layer proximate to the plurality of antenna elements.

22. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component further comprises a substrate positioned proximate to the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the substrate is configured to provide a plurality of fan-out electrical connections from at least some of the plurality of antenna elements such that a size of a region comprising the fan-out electrical connections is larger than a size of a region comprising the plurality of antenna elements.

23. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the electrical conditioning circuit comprises a ladder network.

24. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component is configured to direct the free space optical beam to the target.

25. The optical endoscope of claim 17 wherein the photonic integrated phased-array component is configured to direct the free space optical beam from the target.