Optical system including an optical body with waveguides aligned along an imaginary curved surface for enhanced beam steering and related methods
An optical system is provided which may include an optical body, and a plurality of optical devices carried by the optical body. Furthermore, a plurality of optical waveguides may extend within the optical body between respective optical devices and an imaginary curved surface within the optical body, and an optical element may be coupled to the optical body and be optically aligned with the plurality of optical waveguides. A controller may be configured to selectively operate the plurality of optical devices to generate at least one optical beam.
1. An optical system comprising:
an optical body;
a plurality of optical devices carried by the optical body;
a plurality of optical waveguides extending within the optical body between respective optical devices and an imaginary three-dimensional (3D) curved surface within the optical body;
an optical element coupled to the optical body and optically aligned with the plurality of optical waveguides; and
a controller configured to selectively operate the plurality of optical devices to generate at least one optical beam.
2. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the imaginary 3D curved surface is concave.
3. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the optical element comprises at least a portion of a spherical lens.
4. The optical system of claim 1 comprising a phase modulator carried by the optical body and associated with the plurality of optical waveguides.
5. The optical system of claim 4 wherein the phase modulator comprises at least one phase shifter associated with a respective optical waveguide.
6. The optical system of claim 4 comprising a controller coupled to the phase modulator.
7. The optical system of claim 1 further comprising at least one amplitude control element associated with a respective optical waveguide.
8. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers.
9. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of photodiodes.
10. The optical system of claim 1 wherein the optical body comprises a monolithic silica body.
11. An optical system comprising:
an optical body;
a plurality of optical devices carried by the optical body;
a plurality of optical waveguides extending within the optical body between respective optical devices and an imaginary three-dimensional (3D) concave surface within the optical body;
a lens coupled to the optical body and optically aligned with the plurality of optical waveguides; and
a controller configured to selectively operate the plurality of optical devices to generate at least one optical beam.
12. The optical system of claim 11 wherein the lens comprises at least a portion of a spherical lens.
13. The optical system of claim 11 comprising a phase modulator carried by the optical body and associated with the plurality of optical waveguides.
14. The optical system of claim 13 wherein the phase modulator comprises at least one phase shifter associated with a respective optical waveguide.
15. The optical system of claim 13 comprising a controller coupled to the phase modulator.
16. The optical system of claim 11 further comprising at least one amplitude control element associated with a respective optical waveguide.
17. The optical system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers.
18. The optical system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of photodiodes.
19. The optical system of claim 11 wherein the optical body comprises a monolithic silica body.
20. A method for making an optical system comprising:
forming a plurality of optical waveguides extending within an optical body between respective optical devices mounted on the optical body and an imaginary three-dimensional (3D) curved surface in the optical body;
coupling an optical element to the optical body and optically aligned with the plurality of optical waveguides; and
connecting a controller to the plurality of optical devices to selectively operate the plurality of optical devices to generate at least one optical beam.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein forming the plurality of optical waveguides comprises performing femtosecond laser direct writing.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the imaginary 3D curved surface is concave.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the optical element comprises at least a portion of a spherical lens.
24. The method of claim 20 comprising forming a phase modulator carried by the optical body and associated with the plurality of optical waveguides.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the phase modulator comprises at least one phase shifter associated with a respective optical waveguide.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the phase modulator comprises at least one amplitude control element associated with a respective optical waveguide.
27. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers.
28. The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of optical devices comprises a plurality of photodiodes.