Two-Dimensional Optical Beam Steering With InP-Based Photonic Integrated Circuits

Abstract

Two-dimensional optical beam steering using an InP photonic integrated circuit has been demonstrated. Lateral beam steering controlled by a 1-D phased array has been made easier through on-chip interferometer monitors. Longitudinal beam steering controlled by the input wavelength has demonstrated an efficiency of 0.14 • /nm. Very fast beam steering (>10 7 • /s) in both dimensions has been demonstrated as well. As the latest development, a widely tunable sampled-grating distributed Bragg reflector laser has been monolithically integrated and 2-D beam steering has been demonstrated with this on-chip tunable laser source.Index Terms-Light detection and ranging (LIDAR), optical beam steering, optical phased array (OPA), photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Photonic integration technologies for indoor optical wireless communications

“…Therefore it is only possible to realize 1 dimensional (1D) arrays for beam steering purpose at the edge of the chip. 2D beam steering can be achieved by realizing weak gratings close to the waveguide core, and utilize both phase and wavelength tuning [28]. The waveguide structure is shown in Figure 2(a) [28].…”

“…2D beam steering can be achieved by realizing weak gratings close to the waveguide core, and utilize both phase and wavelength tuning [28]. The waveguide structure is shown in Figure 2(a) [28]. Since the optical mode in this waveguide system is weakly confined and the interaction with the grating is weak, the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the far field beam profile, which directly relates to the FOV of the free-space coupler, is very limited.…”

“…A spacing as small as possible with low crosstalk is always preferred. However the waveguide spacing is as large as 5.5 µm in [28], due to the limitation of the optical confinement. The resulted steering range is about 16 • within the +1 st and −1 st order peaks.…”

Fast electro-optic switching for coherent laser ranging and velocimetry

“…These new beam scanning techniques have allowed improved sensing performance by increasing the size and refresh rate of the generated point cloud. Most of these beam scanning technologies still limit the point cloud size and refresh rate due to speed limitations, with the notable exception of indium phosphide optical phase arrays, who have angle sweep rates of > 10 ∘ / , [17].An alternative approach to spatial beam manipulation is to use a device with distinct separate spatial output modes to perform a discrete 'point-by-point' scan rather than a continuous sweep. A reconfigurable waveguide network can perform such a discrete scan.…”

“…These new beam scanning techniques have allowed improved sensing performance by increasing the size and refresh rate of the generated point cloud. Most of these beam scanning technologies still limit the point cloud size and refresh rate due to speed limitations, with the notable exception of indium phosphide optical phase arrays, who have angle sweep rates of > 10 ∘ / , [17].…”