Patent ID: 7457493
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: G02B,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A device for receiving a plurality of m input laser beams of power P i and different wavelengths λi, where i runs from 1 to m, and dividing the power P i of at least two of the m input laser beams between at least two output laser beams for each of the at least two of the m input laser beams, comprising: at least one m×n fan-out scanner switch for receiving the plurality of m input laser beams, the m×n fan-out scanner switch comprising optical arrays of electrically controllable switchable dichroic mirrors (DC)'s, electrically controllable polarizing beamsplitters (PBS)'s and electrically controllable programmable wave plates (PWP)'s, the m×n fan-out scanner switch switching output laser beams into at least two of n equals at least 7 exit ports as the phase retardation of the electrically controllable programmable wave plates and the switching of the electrically controllable switchable dichroic mirrors are changed, wherein six exit ports output laser beams into directions having elevation angle of 30 degrees and azimuthal angles separated by approximately 60 degree angles, and wherein a seventh exit port outputs a laser beam into a direction having an elevation angle of 90 degrees, wherein the azimuthal and elevation angles are determined with respect to a coordinate system.