Optical phased array with grating structure
Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first optical communications terminal comprising. The first optical communications terminal may include a common aperture for transmitting signals and receiving signals. The first optical communications terminal may also include an optical phased array (OPA) architecture including a micro-lens array including a plurality of micro-lenses. Each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses may have a plurality of concentric grooves arranged on a respective surface of that micro-lens. The OPA architecture may be configured for bidirectional communication with a second optical communications terminal.
1 . A system comprising:
a first optical communications terminal comprising:
a common aperture for transmitting signals and receiving signals; and
an optical phased array (OPA) architecture including a micro-lens array including a plurality of micro-lenses, each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses having a plurality of concentric grooves arranged on a respective surface of that micro-lens, and wherein the OPA is configured for bidirectional communication with a second optical communications terminal.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising the second optical communications terminal.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pluralities of concentric groves are imprinted on the respective surfaces of the plurality of micro-lenses.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the pluralities of concentric grooves functions as a Fresnel lens structure.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the Fresnel lens structures are configured to:
expand a transmit signal prior to launch of the transmit signal from first communications terminal; and
focus a received signal received at the first optical communications terminal from the second optical communications terminal.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the OPA architecture further includes an arrangement of 64 phase shifters or fewer.
7 . A method of transmitting and receiving light in an optical communications terminal, the method comprising:
receiving a receive signal through an aperture;
passing the receive signal through an optical phased array (OPA) architecture including a micro-lens array including a plurality of micro-lenses, each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses having a plurality of concentric grooves on a respective surface of that micro-lens;
passing a transmit signal through the optical phased array including the plurality of concentric grooves; and
sending the transmit signal through the aperture.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the pluralities of concentric grooves functions as a Fresnel lens structure.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the pluralities of concentric grooves cause the transmit signal to expand when passed through a corresponding one of the plurality of micro-lenses.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the pluralities of concentric grooves cause the receive signal to contract when passed through a corresponding one of plurality of micro-lenses.