US 11,960,117 B2
Optical phased array light shaping
Michael Robert Watts, Hingham, MA (US); and Katia Shtyrkova, Lexington, MA (US)
Assigned to Analog Photonics LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Analog Photonics LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on May 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/740,530.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/256,858, filed on Oct. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0117688 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/12 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G02B 6/124 (2006.01); G01S 17/32 (2020.01); G02B 6/44 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/124 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4818 (2013.01); G02B 6/12004 (2013.01); G01S 17/32 (2013.01); G02B 6/12009 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12102 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12104 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12107 (2013.01); G02B 6/4432 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
an optical phased array disposed on a photonic integrated circuit, wherein the optical phased array comprises an array of emitters, and phase shifters configured to impose respective phase shifts on light to be emitted from different emitters in the array of emitters, and wherein the emitters are configured to limit divergence of a beam formed by interference among light emitted from the emitters such that the beam is substantially collimated over at least some distance,
a first focusing element at a fixed position relative to the optical phased array and configured to couple an optical beam to or from the optical phased array, and
a second focusing element at a fixed position relative to the first focusing element and configured to couple the optical beam to or from the first focusing element;
wherein at least one of the first or second focusing element is externally coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, and the first and second focusing elements have different effective focal lengths.