US 11,886,057 B2
Advanced optoelectronic system architectures and associated methods using spatial light modulation
Charles C. Partee, Golden, CO (US); and Kevin D. Mckinstry, Westminster, CO (US)
Assigned to Syght, Inc., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed by Syght, Inc., Golden, CO (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/105,665.
Application 18/105,665 is a division of application No. 16/936,340, filed on Jul. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,586,062.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/878,728, filed on Jul. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0185120 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. G02F 1/09 (2006.01); G02F 1/095 (2006.01); H04N 9/31 (2006.01); G02B 3/00 (2006.01); G02F 1/03 (2006.01); G02F 1/035 (2006.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01)
CPC G02F 1/09 (2013.01) [G02F 1/092 (2013.01); G02F 1/095 (2013.01); H04N 9/3167 (2013.01); G02B 3/0056 (2013.01); G02F 1/035 (2013.01); G02F 1/0311 (2013.01); G02F 1/0322 (2013.01); G02F 2201/08 (2013.01); G02F 2203/00 (2013.01); G02F 2203/02 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optoelectronic system, comprising:
a concentration layer including an array of optical concentrators, each optical concentrator including a concentrator input area and a concentrator output area that is smaller than the concentrator input area such that each concentrator concentrates a portion of an input light beam received at the concentrator input area into the concentrator output area; and
a modulation layer including an array of electrically controllable light modulators that are spaced apart from one another in the modulation layer for modulating each portion of the input light with each light modulator having:
(i) a modulator input area in optical communication with the concentrator output area of one of the optical concentrators, and
(ii) a modulator waveguide for receiving the modulated portion of light and externally outputting the modulated portion of light;
a collector waveguide defining a waveguide input for the modulator waveguide of each light modulator in the array of light modulators and the collector waveguide combines the outputted modulated light from the array of electrically controllable light modulators to produce a collector waveguide output; and
a detector for receiving the collector waveguide output to produce a detector output that is responsive to the combined outputted modulated light.