System and method for applying orthogonal limitations to light beams using microelectromechanical systems

• US 10,073,417 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nxgen Partners Ip, LLC (NxGen Partners LLC)
• Inventors: Ashrafi, Solyman, Linquist, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US14/864,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20160041523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 359 9, 359 10, 359 34, 359 35, 3591971, 3591994, 3592011, 3592021
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2294 Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2645 Multiplexing processes, e.g. aperture, shift, or wavefront multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/24 Having movable pixels, e.g. microelectromechanical systems [MEMS]

Abstract

A system for generating a light beam having a plurality of orthogonal function modes includes a light source for generating a plane wave light beam. A MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) system including an array of micro-mirrors for generating the light beam having the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto responsive to the plane wave light beam and control signals for controlling the array of micro-mirrors. A controller generates the control signals to control a position of each of a plurality of micro-mirrors of the array of micro-mirrors. The controller controls the position of the micro-mirrors to generate a plurality of holograms for applying the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes to the plane wave light beam responsive to the control signals.

Claims

1. A system for generating a programmably structured light beam having a plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto, comprising:

a light source for generating a plane wave light beam;

a MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) system including an array of micro-mirrors for generating the programmably structured light beam having the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto responsive to the plane wave light beam and control signals for controlling the array of micro-mirrors;

a controller for generating the control signals to dynamically control a position of each of a plurality of micro-mirrors of the array of micro-mirrors, the controller further generating the control signals to cause the MEM system to switch between differing modes of the plurality of orthogonal function modes at a rate of at least 1000 times per second; and

wherein the controller controls the position of the plurality of micro-mirrors to dynamically generate a plurality of holograms for dynamically applying the plurality of orthogonal function modes to the plane wave light beam and to dynamically encode a phase and amplitude of the programmably structured light beam responsive to the control signals to generate the programmably structured light beam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller switches the array of micro-mirrors between different holograms to dynamically control the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied to the light beam and to dynamically encode the phase and the amplitude of the programmably structured light beam from the MEM system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the array of micro-mirrors to produce holograms having a radius substantially in a range of 100-200 micro-mirrors and a period substantially in a range of 50-100.

4. The system of claim 1 further including a memory for storing data enabling the controller to generate the plurality of holograms responsive to the data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the light beam comprises a light beam in frequencies in a range from infra-red to ultra-violet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the MEM system further comprises switching circuitry responsive to the control signals for switching micro-mirrors within the array of micro-mirrors between an “

on”

state and an “

off”

state at least 1000 times per second.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to present a plurality of holograms at a same time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to selectively present the plurality of holograms on a light background or a dark background.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to present the plurality of holograms with a separation between each of the holograms.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the MEM System comprises a digital light processor (DLP).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the position of the micro-mirrors to multiplex the plurality of orthogonal function modes within the programmably structured light beam.

12. A system for generating a programmably structured light beam having a plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto, comprising:

a light source for generating a plane wave light beam;

a MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) system including an array of micro-mirrors for generating the programmably structured light beam having the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto responsive to the plane wave light beam and control signals for controlling the array of micro-mirrors, wherein the orthogonal function modes comprise at least two of Laguerre Gaussian modes, Hermite Gaussian modes and vortex OAM modes;

a controller for generating the control signals to dynamically control a position of each of a plurality of micro-mirrors of the array of micro-mirrors, the controller further generating the control signals to cause the MEM system to switch between differing modes of the plurality of orthogonal function modes; and

wherein the controller controls the position of the plurality of micro-mirrors to dynamically generate a plurality of holograms for dynamically applying the plurality of orthogonal function modes to the plane wave light beam and to dynamically encode a phase and amplitude of the programmably structured light beam responsive to the control signals to generate the programmably structured light beam.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller switches the array of micro-mirrors between different holograms to dynamically control the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied to the light beam and to dynamically encode the phase and the amplitude of the programmably structured light beam from the MEM system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the array of micro-mirrors to produce holograms having a radius substantially in a range of 100-200 micro-mirrors and a period substantially in a range of 50-100.

15. The system of claim 12 further including a memory for storing data enabling the controller to generate the plurality of holograms responsive to the data.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the light beam comprises a light beam in frequencies in a range from infra-red to ultra-violet.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the MEM system further comprises switching circuitry responsive to the control signals for switching micro-mirrors within the array of micro-mirrors between an “

on”

state and an “

off”

state at least 1000 times per second.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to present a plurality of holograms at a same time.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to selectively present the plurality of holograms on a light background or a dark background.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller configures the array of micro-mirrors to present the plurality of holograms with a separation between each of the holograms.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the orthogonal function modes further comprises one of Laguerre-Gaussian functions, Hermite-Gaussian functions or twisted mode functions.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the light beam having the plurality of orthogonal function modes applied thereto is used for quantum key distribution.