Zero optical path difference phased array for determining a direction of an incoherent optical source
First Claim
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1. A method for ascertaining a direction to an incoherent optical source, the method comprising:
- receiving light from the incoherent optical source by a first plurality of optical couplers;
guiding the light received by the first plurality of optical couplers along a first plurality of optical paths through a first plurality of optical waveguides to a first optical port, one optical path per optical coupler, such that optical lengths of all the first plurality of optical paths are equal, within one coherence length at a bandwidth greater than about 0.1% plus a spacing between two maximally spaced-apart optical couplers of the first plurality of optical couplers;
emitting the light by the first optical port toward an optical sensor;
automatically adjusting a first plurality of dynamically tunable optical delay lines, each dynamically tunable optical delay line of the first plurality of dynamically tunable optical delay lines being disposed in a respective optical path of the first plurality of optical paths, thereby steering sensitivity of the first plurality optical couplers to the light;
sensing intensity of the light by the first optical sensor, in relation to the steering; and
automatically calculating the direction to the incoherent optical source, based on the intensity of the light and the steering.
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Abstract
A zero-optical-path-length-difference optical phased array built with essentially planar photonic devices determines a direction to an incoherent optical source, such as a star. The phased array can replace a 3-dimensional star tracker with a nearly 2-dimensional system that is smaller and lighter. The zero-optical-path-length-difference phased array can be optically connected to an interferometer. Driven by a light source, the zero-optical-path-length-difference phased array can be used as an optical projector.
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3 Claims
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1. A method for ascertaining a direction to an incoherent optical source, the method comprising:
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receiving light from the incoherent optical source by a first plurality of optical couplers; guiding the light received by the first plurality of optical couplers along a first plurality of optical paths through a first plurality of optical waveguides to a first optical port, one optical path per optical coupler, such that optical lengths of all the first plurality of optical paths are equal, within one coherence length at a bandwidth greater than about 0.1% plus a spacing between two maximally spaced-apart optical couplers of the first plurality of optical couplers; emitting the light by the first optical port toward an optical sensor; automatically adjusting a first plurality of dynamically tunable optical delay lines, each dynamically tunable optical delay line of the first plurality of dynamically tunable optical delay lines being disposed in a respective optical path of the first plurality of optical paths, thereby steering sensitivity of the first plurality optical couplers to the light; sensing intensity of the light by the first optical sensor, in relation to the steering; and automatically calculating the direction to the incoherent optical source, based on the intensity of the light and the steering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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