IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,379,640
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,640 · App. 17/968,705 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

System, method, and apparatus for high precision light beam steering using a triplet lens

Inventors: Paul F. McManamon (Dayton, OH); Abtin Ataei (Oakwood, OH)
Assignee: Exciting Technology LLC
G02F1/29G02B7/10G02B26/0875G02B26/0891G02B26/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,640
App. No.
17/968,705
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example system includes a first steering layer interposed between an electromagnetic (EM) source and an emission lens. The first steering layer includes a triplet lens having a Plano-convex lens, a Plano-concave lens, and an electro-optical (EO) crystal positioned between the lenses. The EO crystal includes transparent electrodes on each side, coupled to the respective lenslet and/or the EO crystal. The system includes the EM source providing an incident EM beam on the first steering layer, and the emission lens emitting a steered EM beam to a target location.

Claims (43)

1. A system, comprising:

a first steering layer interposed between an electromagnetic (EM) source and an emission lens, the first steering layer comprising:

a triplet lens comprising a stacked structure comprising, in order:

a Plano-convex lens; and

a first transparent electrode on the Plano-convex lens;

an electro-optical (EO) crystal having the first transparent electrode on a first side thereof;

a second transparent electrode on a second side of the EO crystal, opposite to the first side of the EO crystal; and

a Plano-concave lens on the second transparent electrode;

the EM source configured to provide an EM beam incident upon the first steering layer; and

the emission lens configured to emit a steered EM beam to a target location.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the EO crystal is configured to have a voltage applied across the EO crystal to change a refraction index of the EO crystal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the applying the voltage changes an optical distance between the Plano-convex lens and the Plano-concave lens.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the Plano-convex lens and the Plano-concave lens further comprises a respective circular cut curvature surface.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a bulk steering layer.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the bulk steering layer comprises a fishtail booster.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a thin steering layer.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin steering layer comprises a half-wave voltage profile thin steering layer.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thin steering layer comprises a resistive high-side electrode thin steering layer.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a lenslet steering layer.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a de-centered lens steering layer.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a rotating steering layer.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the rotating steering layer comprises two counter-rotating lens group assemblies.

14. A system, comprising:

a first steering layer interposed between an electromagnetic (EM) source and an emission lens, the first steering layer comprising:

a triplet lens comprising a stacked structure comprising:

a first rotatable lenslet;

a second rotatable lenslet; and

an electro-optical (EO) crystal interposed between the first rotatable lenslet and the second rotatable lenslet, the EO crystal having a first transparent electrode on a first side and a second transparent electrode on a second side; and

the EM source configured to provide an EM beam incident upon the first steering layer; and

the emission lens configured to emit a steered EM beam to a target location.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the first rotatable lenslet and the second rotatable lenslet further comprise a respective circular cut curvature surface.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a bulk steering layer.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the bulk steering layer comprises a fishtail booster.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a second steering layer interposed between the EM source and the emission lens, wherein the second steering layer comprises a thin steering layer.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the thin steering layer comprises a half-wave voltage profile thin steering layer.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the thin steering layer comprises a resistive high-side electrode thin steering layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2023
From: MCMANAMON, PAUL F.; ATAEI, ABTIN
To: EXCITING TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 064391/0334 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation PCTUS2022033640 · Jun 15, 2022
Continuation In Part PCTUS2021027986 · Apr 19, 2021
Continuation In Part PCTUS2020056253 · Oct 19, 2020
Provisional Application 63210734 · Jun 15, 2021
Provisional Application 63296086 · Jan 3, 2022
Provisional Application 63314989 · Feb 28, 2022
Provisional Application 63011706 · Apr 17, 2020
Provisional Application 63040319 · Jun 17, 2020
Related Publication 20230038746A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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