Electro-optic beam deflector device
First Claim
1. A waveguide for adjusting an angle of a light beam in an out-of-plane direction, the waveguide comprising:
- a waveguide core configured to guide the light beam along a length of the waveguide;
a cladding including a liquid crystal material, the cladding being configured to provide an interaction between an evanescent portion of the light beam and the liquid crystal material and confine the light beam within the waveguide core in an out-of-plane direction in a first region of the waveguide;
an out-coupling medium configured to receive an evanescently coupled portion of the light beam at a first out-of-plane angle from the waveguide core in a second region of the waveguide; and
at least one electrode configured to adjust an angle of the light beam in an out-of-plane direction by adjusting an index of refraction of the liquid crystal material to establish the first out-of-plane angle at which the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam enters the out-coupling medium.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A substantially planar waveguide for dynamically controlling the out-of-plane angle at which a light beam exits the waveguide. Generally, liquid crystal materials may be disposed within a waveguide in a cladding proximate or adjacent to a core layer of the waveguide. In one example, the waveguide may contain one or more taper regions such that the light beam exits the waveguide and propagates out-of-the-plane of the waveguide into an out-coupling medium at a propagation angle. In one example, the waveguide may contain one or more electrodes onto which one or more voltages may be applied. The magnitude of the propagation angle may be electronically controlled by altered by controlling or altering the magnitude of the one or more applied voltages.
191 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A waveguide for adjusting an angle of a light beam in an out-of-plane direction, the waveguide comprising:
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a waveguide core configured to guide the light beam along a length of the waveguide; a cladding including a liquid crystal material, the cladding being configured to provide an interaction between an evanescent portion of the light beam and the liquid crystal material and confine the light beam within the waveguide core in an out-of-plane direction in a first region of the waveguide; an out-coupling medium configured to receive an evanescently coupled portion of the light beam at a first out-of-plane angle from the waveguide core in a second region of the waveguide; and at least one electrode configured to adjust an angle of the light beam in an out-of-plane direction by adjusting an index of refraction of the liquid crystal material to establish the first out-of-plane angle at which the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam enters the out-coupling medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A planar waveguide for adjusting an angle of a light beam in an out-of-plane direction, the planar waveguide comprising:
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a waveguide core configured to direct the light beam along a length of the waveguide; a first cladding including a liquid crystal material, the first cladding configured to confine the light beam within the waveguide core along an out-of-plane direction, the first cladding being further configured to provide an interaction between an evanescent portion of the light beam and the liquid crystal material; a second cladding configured to confine the light beam within the waveguide core along an out-of-plane direction in a first region of the waveguide; an out-coupling medium configured to receive an evanescently coupled portion of the light beam at a first out-of-plane angle from the waveguide core in a second region of the waveguide and transmit the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam out of the out-coupling medium at a second out-of-plane angle, wherein a thickness of the second cladding is tapered in the second region of the waveguide to provide the evanescent coupling between the waveguide core and the out-coupling medium; and at least one electrode configured to adjust the angle of the light beam in an out-of-plane direction by adjusting an effective index of refraction to establish the first out-of-plane angle at which the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam enters the out-coupling medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A planar waveguide for adjusting an angle of a light beam in an out-of-plane direction, the planar waveguide comprising:
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a waveguide core configured to direct the light beam along a length of the waveguide; a first cladding configured to confine the light beam within the waveguide core along an out-of-plane direction; a second cladding including a liquid crystal material and configured to confine the light beam within the waveguide core along an out-of-plane direction in a first region of the waveguide, the second cladding being further configured to provide an interaction between an evanescent portion of the light beam and the liquid crystal material; an out-coupling medium configured to receive an evanescently coupled portion of the light beam at a first out-of-plane angle from the waveguide core in a second region of the waveguide and transmit the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam out of the out-coupling medium at a second out-of-plane angle, wherein a thickness of the second cladding is tapered in the second region of the waveguide to provide the evanescent coupling between the waveguide core and the out-coupling medium; and at least one electrode configured to adjust the angle of the light beam in an out-of-plane direction by adjusting an effective index of refraction to establish the first out-of-plane angle at which the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam enters the out-coupling medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for adjusting an angle of a light beam in an out-of-plane direction, the method comprising:
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guiding the light beam along a length of a waveguide; providing an interaction between an evanescent portion of the light beam and a liquid-crystal material and confining the light beam within a waveguide core and a cladding in an out- of-plane direction in a first region of the waveguide; receiving, by an out-coupling medium, an evanescently out-coupled portion of the light beam at a first out-of-plane angle from the waveguide core and the cladding in a second region of the waveguide; and adjusting an angle of the light beam in an out-of-plane direction by adjusting an index of refraction of the liquid crystal material in the second region of the waveguide to establish the first out-of-plane angle at which the evanescently coupled portion of the light beam enters the out-coupling medium. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification