Non-mechanical beam steering tracking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897892-B2
Application number	US-201414202302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A non-mechanical optical beam steering device includes one or more polarization gratings (PG) coupled to one or more Steerable Electro-Evanescent Optical Refractors (SEEOR). It provides the coarse steering advantage of the PG and also the continuous fine steering advantage of the SEEOR. The result is far less complexity, size, weight, and cost over the alternative non-mechanical beam steering approaches as well as considerably less complexity, size, weight, cost, scanning-time, and mechanical breakdown over the more traditional gimbaled mirrors commonly used.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A non-mechanical optical beam steering device, comprising:
one or more polarization gratings (PG) coupled to one or more Steerable Electro-Evanescent Optical Refractors (SEEOR),
wherein the field of regard is greater than 60° by 15°.

2. The device in claim 1 , where a single or multiple laser line(s) passes through the device in either direction.

3. The device in claim 1 , where a broad waveband of unspecified optical width passes through the device in either direction.

4. The device in claim 1 when used as a laser or optical transmitter.

5. The device in claim 1 when used as a two-way laser or optical transceiver.

6. The device in claim 1 when used as a laser or optical receiver.

7. The non-mechanical optical beam steering device of claim 1 , wherein the field of regard is greater than or equal to 80° by 80°.

8. A method for non-mechanical optical beam steering, comprising:
providing a steerable electro-evanescent optical refractor (SEEOR);
coupling the SEEOR to polarization gratings; and
using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings for non-mechanical beam steering;
wherein the field of regard is greater than 60° by 15°.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings as in one or multiple electromagnetic wavelengths ranging from the Ultraviolet through the far-Infrared as appropriate for the materials used in the PG and SEEOR components for any total field of regard up to complete spherical coverage.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings whether used in a commanded point-to-a-specific-angle or in a pre-programmed scanning mode.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings for any input/output instantaneous field of view for incoming light or laser beam divergence being emitted from the non-mechanical beam steerer.

12. A method for non-mechanical optical imager, comprising:
providing a steerable electro-evanescent optical refractor (SEEOR);
coupling the SEEOR to polarization gratings; and
using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings for non-mechanical beam steering;
wherein the field of regard is greater than 60° by 15°.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings as in one or multiple electromagnetic wavelengths ranging from the Ultraviolet through the far-Infrared as appropriate for the materials used in the PG and SEEOR components for any total field of regard up to complete spherical coverage.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings whether used in a commanded point-to-a-specific-angle or in a pre-programmed scanning mode.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings for any input/output instantaneous field of view for incoming light or laser beam divergence being emitted from the non-mechanical beam steerer.

16. A method for non-mechanical optical transceiver, comprising:
providing a steerable electro-evanescent optical refractor (SEEOR);
coupling the SEEOR to polarization gratings; and
using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings for non-mechanical beam steering used in a two way (input-output) optical path; that is, both transmitting and receiving light;
wherein the field of regard is greater than 60° by 15°.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings as in one or multiple electromagnetic wavelengths ranging from the Ultraviolet through the far-Infrared as appropriate for the materials used in the PG and SEEOR components for any total field of regard up to complete spherical coverage.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings whether used in a commanded point-to-a-specific-angle or in a pre-programmed scanning mode.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising using the SEEOR coupled with the polarization gratings whether used in a commanded point-to-a-specific-angle or in a pre-programmed scanning mode.

Assignees

• Auxier Jason
• Dunay Christopher
• Pauli Myron R
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Auxier Jason
• Dunay Christopher
• Pauli Myron R

Classifications

• G02B6/2753

  characterised by their function or use, i.e. of the complete device · CPC title

• G02F1/29

  for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection · CPC title

• G02F1/292 Primary

  by controlled diffraction or phased-array beam steering (controlled diffraction for optical switching G02F1/31) · CPC title

• G02F2001/291

  Physics · mapped topic

• G02F1/1326

  Liquid crystal optical waveguides or liquid crystal cells specially adapted for gating or modulating between optical waveguides · CPC title