IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,546,990
Granted Patent B1
US 12,546,990 · App. 18/907,034 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Light-weight diffractive beam steering system with high efficiency and broad field of regard

Inventors: Robert Winsor (Hamilton, VA); David Roberts (Apopka, FL); Nelson Tabirian (Winter Park, FL); Aaron Becker (Altamonte Springs, FL)
Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co.; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
G02B26/0808G02B1/04G02B26/0816
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,546,990
App. No.
18/907,034
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

Opto-mechanical assemblies, systems, devices and methods for pointing laser and other optical beam, and for directing the field of view of sensors are disclosed. The assemblies include means for rotating a cycloidal diffractive waveplate optic around a predetermined axis, and a reflective or transmissive optic that turns a diffracted optical beam onto a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate, enabling a wide field of regard.

Claims (22)

1 . A light-weight large aperture diffractive beam steering system of wide field of regard comprising:

an optical beam;

a diffractive beam deflector comprising at least one cycloidal diffractive waveplate and means for rotating the cycloidal diffractive waveplate around a predetermined axis;

a reflective optics assembly directing the optical beam diffracted by the cycloidal diffractive waveplate onto a direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate; and

a rotary actuator rotating the diffractive beam deflector and the reflective optics assembly around an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate.

2 . The diffractive beam steering system as in claim 1 wherein the cycloidal diffractive waveplate comprises one of: a liquid crystal; a liquid crystalline polymer; and a combination of thereof.

3 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 1 , wherein the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate makes an angle with respect to the rotation axis of cycloidal diffractive waveplate and reflective optics assembly.

4 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective optics comprises one of: a flat mirror, a concave mirror, a deformable mirror; reflective bandgap films; cholesteric liquid crystal polymer.

5 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 4 , further comprising an optical system for controlling propagation of the optical beam, the system including one or a combination of: lenses; mirrors; adaptive optics; spatial light modulators; apertures; wavefront sensors; cameras; photovoltaic cells; filters, prisms.

6 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 1 fitted within aerodynamic enclosures.

7 . A light-weight large aperture diffractive beam steering system of wide field of regard comprising:

an optical beam;

a diffractive beam deflector comprising at least one cycloidal diffractive waveplate,

means for rotating the cycloidal diffractive waveplate around a predetermined axis;

a transmissive optics assembly directing the optical beam diffracted by the cycloidal diffractive waveplate onto a direction that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate; and

a rotary actuator rotating the diffractive beam deflector and the transmissive optics assembly around an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate.

8 . The diffractive beam steering system as in claim 7 , wherein the cycloidal diffractive waveplate comprises one of: a liquid crystal; liquid crystalline polymer; a combination of thereof.

9 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 8 , wherein the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate makes an angle with respect to the rotation axis of cycloidal diffractive waveplate and transmissive optics assembly.

10 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 7 , wherein the transmissive optics in the diffractive beam deflector assembly comprises one or a combination of: a cycloidal diffractive waveplate; a lens; a lens with off-axis parabolic profile; a prism; a cycloidal diffractive waveplate having optical power.

11 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 7 , wherein the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate makes an angle with respect to the rotation axis of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate and the transmissive optics assembly.

12 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 7 , further comprising an optical system for controlling propagation of the optical beam, the system including one or a combination of: lenses; mirrors; adaptive optics; spatial light modulators; apertures; wavefront sensors; cameras; photovoltaic cells; filters, prisms.

13 . The diffractive beam steering system of claim 7 fitted within aerodynamic enclosures.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: WINSOR, ROBERT
To: DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)
Reel/Frame 068804/0200 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2024
From: ROBERTS, DAVID; TABIRIAN, NELSON; BECKER, AARON
To: BEAM ENGINEERING FOR ADVANCED MEASUREMENTS CO.
Reel/Frame 068804/0235 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation In Part 18217853 · Jul 3, 2023
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