BEAM-STEERING SYSTEM BASED ON A MEMS-ACTUATED VERTICAL-COUPLER ARRAY

An integrated-optics MEMS-actuated beam-steering system is disclosed, wherein the beam-steering system includes a lens and a programmable vertical coupler array having a switching network and an array of vertical couplers, wherein the switching network can energize of the vertical couplers such that it efficiently emits the light into free-space. The lens collimates the light received from the energized vertical coupler and directs the output beam along a propagation direction determined by the position of the energized vertical coupler within the vertical-coupler array. In some embodiments, the vertical coupler is configured to correct an aberration of the lens. In some embodiments, more than one vertical coupler can be energized to enable steering of multiple output beams. In some embodiments, the switching network is non-blocking. 本发明揭示一种集成光学件MEMS致动式光束操纵系统，其中所述光束操纵系统包含：透镜；及可编程垂直耦合器阵列，其具有交换网络及垂直耦合器阵列，其中所述交换网络可供能给所述垂直耦合器，使得其有效地将光发射到自由空间中。所述透镜准直从所述经供能垂直耦合器接收的所述光及沿着由所述经供能垂直耦合器在所述垂直耦合器阵列内的位置确定的传播方向导引输出光束。在一些实施例