Optical antenna with optical reference

• US 20070122155A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence, Myhrvold, Nathan, Wood, Lowell, Hillis, W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2676 Optically controlled phased array

Abstract

An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.

Claims

1-85. -85. (canceled)

86. An optical gain apparatus, comprising:

a. A plurality of passive gain elements arranged in a selected pattern, the passive gain elements being sized to respond to electromagnetic waves at optical frequencies;

b. An optical phase reference source operatively coupled to each of the passive gain elements; and

c. Electrical circuitry coupled to the phase reference source and the passive gain elements and configured to produce a signal indicative of a difference between one or more outputs of the plurality of gain elements and the phase reference.

87. The apparatus of claim 86 further including a plurality of phase adjusting elements coupled to the passive gain elements and responsive to control relative phases of outputs of the plurality of gain elements.

88. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the optical phase reference source is operative to provide a phase reference signal, further including a plurality of phase adjusting elements coupled between the phase reference source and the plurality of passive gain elements and responsive to control local phase of the optical phase reference signal.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein the phase adjusting elements include optical elements having controllable refractive indexes.

90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the phase adjusting elements include electrooptic elements.

91. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein the electrooptic elements include electrooptic polymers.

92. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the electrical circuitry includes a photodetector.

93. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the electrical circuitry includes a component responsive to plasmons.

94. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the electrical circuitry includes a combining structure coupled to the passive gain elements and the optical phase reference source.

95. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the combining structure includes a signal mixer.

98. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the combining structure includes a freespace optical.

99. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the combining structure includes an optical mixer.

100. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the combining structure includes a nonlinear photoelectric device.

101. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the combining structure includes a photodiode.

96. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein the combining structure includes a waveguide combiner.

97. The apparatus of claim 97 further including at least one variable delay element coupled between at least one of the passive gain elements and the combining structure.

102. An apparatus for interacting with electromagnetic energy comprising:

a. A plurality of antenna elements; and

b. An optical reference source oriented to emit a phase reference signal toward the plurality of antenna elements.

103. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein the phase reference signal is a substantially planar wave.

104. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein at least three of antenna elements in the plurality of antenna elements define a plane.

105. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein the optical reference source is aligned to direct the phase reference signal substantially perpendicular to the plane.

106. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein the optical reference source is aligned to direct the phase reference signal substantially parallel to the plane.

107. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein the plurality of antenna elements include a plurality of substantially parallel linear segments.

108. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein the plurality of antenna elements define an antenna pattern having a field of regard, wherein the optical reference source is configured to direct the phase reference signal into the field of regard.

109. The apparatus of claim 102 wherein plurality of antenna elements include a plurality of monopoles each having a base coupled to a supporting structure and a distal end separated from the supporting structure.

110. The apparatus of claim 109 wherein the optical reference source is positioned to direct the phase reference signal to the bases of the antenna elements.

111. A method of interacting with an optical wave, comprising:

a. Concentrating energy from portions of the optical wave in passive gain elements;

b. Combining portions of a phase signal at one or more optical frequencies with the concentrated energy; and

c. Producing a signal indicative of the optical wave from the portions of the phase signal at an optical frequency with the concentrated energy.

112. The method of claim 111 wherein combining portions of a phase signal at an optical frequency with the concentrated energy includes combining portions of a phase signal at an optical frequency with the concentrated energy within the passive gain element.

113. The method of claim 111 wherein the passive gain elements each include a respective output location, and wherein combining portions of a phase signal at an optical frequency with the concentrated energy includes receiving the concentrated energy at the output location and combining portions of a phase signal at an optical frequency with the concentrated energy with separate electrical circuitry.

114. The method of claim 111 wherein the phase signal is a coherent signal.

115. The method of claim 111 wherein the phase signal includes a first portion at a first optical frequency and a second portion at a second optical frequency different from the first optical frequency.