18576906. FAST ACTIVE BEAM-STEERING DEVICE AND APPARATUS OPERATING IN TRANSMISSION MODE simplified abstract (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE)
Contents
FAST ACTIVE BEAM-STEERING DEVICE AND APPARATUS OPERATING IN TRANSMISSION MODE
Organization Name
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
Inventor(s)
Christina Kyrou of ANTIBES (FR)
Patrice Genevet of GRASSE (FR)
Renato Juliano Martins of ANTIBES (FR)
FAST ACTIVE BEAM-STEERING DEVICE AND APPARATUS OPERATING IN TRANSMISSION MODE - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18576906 titled 'FAST ACTIVE BEAM-STEERING DEVICE AND APPARATUS OPERATING IN TRANSMISSION MODE
The beam-steering device described in the patent application consists of a dielectric substrate and a cover window, both transparent, along with multiple transparent conducting rails that divide the space between the substrates into elongated cells filled with nematic liquid crystal.
- The conducting rails are positioned parallel to each other and have a pitch smaller than an optical wavelength, while their height is at least equal to λ/Δn, with Δn being the birefringence of the liquid crystal at the optical wavelength.
- The device includes electrical interconnections to apply an electric potential to each conducting rail, allowing for precise control of the liquid crystal within the cells.
- By manipulating the electric potential applied to the conducting rails, the device can steer a beam of light passing through the liquid crystal, enabling various optical applications.
- The design of the device ensures efficient beam steering with high precision and minimal optical distortion, making it suitable for use in advanced optical systems.
- The technology offers a compact and versatile solution for beam steering applications in fields such as telecommunications, display technologies, and optical sensing.
Questions about Beam-Steering Device:
1. How does the height of the conducting rails impact the performance of the beam-steering device?
- The height of the conducting rails is crucial as it determines the optical characteristics and efficiency of beam steering in the device.
2. What are the potential challenges in scaling up this technology for industrial applications?
- Scaling up the technology may pose challenges related to manufacturing processes, cost-effectiveness, and integration with existing optical systems.
Original Abstract Submitted
A beam-steering device (BSD) including a dielectric substrate (DS) and a cover window (DCW), both transparent; a plurality of transparent conducting rails (VEL), extending parallel to each other between the dielectric surfaces, dividing a space between the substrates into a plurality of elongated cells (LC-LC); a nematic liquid crystal (LC) filling the elongated cells; and a plurality of electrical interconnections (ELI) suitable to apply an electric potential (V-V) to each one of the conducting rails. The pitch P of the conducting rails is smaller than an optical wavelength λ; and the height H of the conducting rails is at least equal to λ/Δn, Δn being the birefringence of the liquid crystal at the optical wavelength.
