Patent ID: 6490076
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical phased array comprising:an optical window oriented to receive an incident optical beam having a polarization state with a first polarized component and a second polarized component, said second polarized component orthogonal to the first polarized component; a first transparent electrode layer positioned beneath the optical window; a transparent electro-optic layer positioned beneath the first transparent electrode layer, said electro-optic layer receiving said incident optical beam and aligned so as to phase shift only one polarized component; a second transparent electrode layer beneath the electro-optic layer, such that the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer; a polarization rotator positioned beneath said second transparent electrode layer, said polarization rotator receiving the incident optical beam from the electro-optic layer and rotating its polarization state; a mirror surface layer positioned beneath said polarization rotator, said mirror surface layer reflecting the incident optical beam back into the polarization rotator; and a voltage control means connected to the first transparent electrode layer and to the second transparent electrode layer, the voltage control means controlling voltages between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer, the voltages creating local variations of refractive index in the electro-optic layer.