Optical antenna with phase control

• US 20090303573A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Hillis, W. Daniel, Wood, Lowell L. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/387,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303573A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/326
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/36 Micro- or nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/10 plasmon
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/13 involving THZ radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/101 Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2676 Optically controlled phased array
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission

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)

86-111. -111. (canceled)

112. An apparatus for interacting with incoming electromagnetic energy, comprising:

a. A first array of optical antenna elements oriented to interact with the incoming electromagnetic energy, the optical antenna elements being responsive to a first range of optical frequencies;

b. A first reference source oriented to emit reference electromagnetic energy at a first reference frequency within the first range of optical frequencies coupled to the first array of optical antenna elements in addition to the incoming electromagnetic energy; and

c. Electrical circuitry coupled to the first array of optical antenna elements and responsive to detect a signal corresponding to a difference between the incoming electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic energy at a first reference frequency.

113. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the difference between the incoming electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic energy at a first reference frequency is a frequency difference.

114. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the difference between the incoming electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic energy at a first reference frequency is an amplitude difference.

115. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the electrical circuitry includes mixing circuitry.

116. The apparatus of claim 115 further including phase detection circuitry coupled to the mixing circuitry.

117. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the first reference source oriented to emit electromagnetic energy at a first reference frequency within the first range of optical frequencies is an optical source.

118. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the array of optical antenna elements has a field of regard and the reference source is oriented to direct the emitted electromagnetic at a first reference frequency into the field of regard.

119. The apparatus of claim 112 the reference source is coupled to the first array of optical antenna elements from a direction different from an expected arrival direction of the incoming electromagnetic energy.

120. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the reference source is a coherent source.

121. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the reference source is a laser.

122. The apparatus of claim 112 further including a second array of optical antenna elements oriented to interact with the incoming electromagnetic energy, the optical antenna elements being responsive to a second range of optical frequencies.

123. The apparatus of claim 112 further including a second reference source oriented to emit electromagnetic energy at a second reference frequency within the second range of optical frequencies coupled to the second array of optical antenna elements.

124. A method of detecting optical energy, comprising:

a. Converting a portion of the optical energy into electron-transported energy;

b. Mixing the converted portion with a reference signal to produce a composite signal; and

c. Processing the composite signal.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein the composite signal has a component at a frequency corresponding to a difference between a frequency of the optical energy and a frequency of the reference signal.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein converting a portion of the optical energy into electron-transported energy includes extracting energy from the optical energy with at least a first antenna element.

127. The method of claim 126 wherein mixing the converted portion with a reference signal to produce a composite signal includes mixing the converted portion with a reference signal to produce a composite signal within the at least first antenna element.

128. The method of claim 126 wherein mixing the converted portion with a reference signal to produce a composite signal includes extracting energy from reference optical energy with at least a second antenna element.

129. The method of claim 128 wherein the at least first and second antenna elements are segments of a dipole.

130. The method of claim 128 wherein the first and second antenna elements are the same element.

131. A method of interacting with incoming electromagnetic energy at an optical frequency, comprising:

a. Driving antenna elements with an optical reference signal at a reference optical frequency in addition to the incoming electromagnetic energy;

b. Extracting a portion of the electromagnetic energy at the reference optical frequency with the antenna elements; and

c. Detecting electrical outputs of the antenna elements.

132. The method of claim 131 wherein the electrical outputs are plasmons.

133. The method of claim 132 further including guiding the plasmons to a detection location spatially separated from the antenna elements.

134. The method of claim 131 wherein driving antenna elements with a reference signal includes producing an electrical potential variation at an input location on each of the antenna elements.

135. The method of claim 134 wherein the antenna elements are spatially distributed and wherein producing an electrical potential variation at an input location on each of the antenna elements includes guiding the reference signal at a reference frequency through the spatially distributed antenna elements.

136. The method of claim 135 wherein guiding the reference signal at a reference frequency through the spatially distributed antenna elements includes guiding coherent optical energy through the spatially distributed antenna elements with at least one optical waveguide.

137. The method of claim 136 wherein the optical waveguide is a planar waveguide.