US 11,835,838 B2
System, method and apparatus for non-mechanical optical and photonic beam steering
Paul F. McManamon, Dayton, OH (US); and Abtin Ataei, Oakwood, OH (US)
Assigned to Exciting Technology LLC, Dayton, OH (US)
Filed by Exciting Technology LLC, Dayton, OH (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/128,160.
Application 18/128,160 is a continuation of application No. 18/088,369, filed on Dec. 23, 2022.
Application 18/088,369 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/027986, filed on Apr. 19, 2021.
Application PCT/US2021/027986 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2020/064071, filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Application PCT/US2020/064071 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/999,815, filed on Aug. 21, 2020.
Application PCT/US2020/064071 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/999,815, filed on Aug. 21, 2020.
Application 16/999,815 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/916,731, filed on Jun. 30, 2020, granted, now 10,989,982, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Application PCT/US2021/027986 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/916,731, filed on Jun. 30, 2020, granted, now 10,989,982, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Application 16/916,731 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/057616, filed on Oct. 23, 2019.
Application 16/999,815 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/023915, filed on Mar. 25, 2019.
Application PCT/US2019/057616 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2019/023915, filed on Mar. 25, 2019.
Application PCT/US2019/023915 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/796,055, filed on Oct. 27, 2017, granted, now 10,845,671, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/945,720, filed on Dec. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/868,286, filed on Jun. 28, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/749,487, filed on Oct. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0324762 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G02F 1/29 (2006.01); G02B 5/32 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/29 (2013.01) [G02B 5/32 (2013.01); G02F 2201/12 (2013.01); G02F 2203/02 (2013.01); G02F 2203/07 (2013.01); G02F 2203/24 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a polarization birefringence grating (PBG) interposed between an electromagnetic (EM) source and a first volume hologram;
the first volume hologram interposed between the PBG and a second volume hologram;
the second volume hologram interposed between the first volume hologram and a continuous steering element;
wherein the continuous steering element comprises:
a high-side electrode layer comprising:
a first plurality of electrical members alternated with, and electrically coupled to adjacent ones of a second plurality of electrical members;
wherein one of the first plurality of electrical members or the second plurality of electrical members comprises a plurality of discrete electrodes; and
wherein the other one of the first plurality of electrical members or the second plurality of electrical members comprises a plurality of resistors;
a low-side electrode layer; and
an electro-optic (EO) layer comprising an EO active material at least partially interposed between the high-side electrode layer and the low-side electrode layer, thereby forming a plurality of active cells of the EO layer;
wherein the PBG is responsive to a polarization of an incident beam from the EM source to selectively steer the incident beam to one of a first selected angle or a second selected angle;
wherein the first volume hologram is responsive to the first selected angle of the incident beam to increase a steered angle of the incident beam in a direction of the first selected angle; and
wherein the second volume hologram is responsive to the second selected angle of the incident beam to increase the steered angle in a direction of the second selected angle.