Beam steering and receiving method based on an optical switch array
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.
1 . An optical apparatus, comprising:
an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light to be emitted from a respective different position of each emitter of a plurality of emitters; and
a lens disposed to receive the light emitted by the plurality of emitters and configured to perform spatial Fourier transform to the light emitted from each respective different position to transmit the light as a collimated optical output beam directed in a respective different direction.
2 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each emitter of the plurality of emitters is disposed in communication with one or more waveguides and configured to receive light therefrom and cause at least a portion of the light to exit the emitter, wherein the plurality of emitters are arranged to define a two dimensional pattern, and wherein the respective different positions of the emitters relative to the lens facilitates beam steering in two dimensions.
3 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical switch array is controllable to toggle a state of the plurality of optical switches.
4 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of optical switches are configured in series so as to define an optical path to one or more of the plurality of emitters.
5 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least some the plurality of optical switches are configured to define parallel optical paths, and wherein light is routed to at least one of the parallel optical paths.
6 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of emitters comprises a grating.
7 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of emitters comprises a microresonator emitter.
8 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein groups of the plurality of emitters are arranged to define a linear pattern to facilitate one-dimensional beam steering.
9 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a metasurface lens.
10 . The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical apparatus is configured with wavelength tuning to facilitate beam steering.
11 . An optical apparatus, comprising:
an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light received from a respective different position of each receiver of a plurality of receivers; and
a lens disposed to direct received light toward the plurality of receivers wherein the lens is configured to perform spatial Fourier transform to the light received as a directional optical beam input from a respective different direction and to direct the received light toward each respective different position.
12 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each receiver of the plurality of receivers is disposed in communication with one or more waveguides and configured to cause at least a portion of the light received by the receiver to be transmitted over the one or more waveguides, wherein the plurality of receivers are arranged to define a two dimensional pattern, and wherein the respective different positions of the receivers relative to the lens facilitates directional optical beam input reception in two dimensions.
13 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the optical switch array is controllable to toggle a state of the plurality of optical switches.
14 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least some of the plurality of optical switches are configured in series to define an optical path from one or more of the plurality of receivers.
15 . The optical apparatus of any claim 11 , wherein at least some of the plurality of optical switches are configured to define parallel optical paths, and wherein light is routed from at least one of the parallel optical paths.
16 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers comprises a grating.
17 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers comprises a microresonator.
18 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein groups of the plurality of receivers are arranged to define a linear pattern.
19 . The optical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the lens comprises a metasurface lens.