A photonics sensing system includes, in part, first and second multipath integrated optical networks, an optical radiator, and an optical receiver. The first multipath integrated optical network includes, in part, N optical delay elements each supplying one of N delayed optical signals of a received optical pulse, N optical modules each supplying a portion of a different one of the N delayed optical signals, and an optical combiner adapted to combine the N delayed portions to generate a modulated optical signal. The smallest of the N delays is smaller than a width of the received optical pulse. The optical radiator is adapted to radiate the modulated optical signal. The optical receiver is adapted to receive a reflection of the transmitted signal. The second multipath integrated optical network is adapted to demodulate the reflected signal received by the optical receiver.

A device system for constituting a 3D image sensor based on optical phased array is provided. The device system includes an optical modulator that is integrated on the same photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip as a laser diode array with different output wavelengths and a multiplexer for transmitting an optical wave having a wavelength selected from the laser diode array to an optical waveguide and modulates the optical wave into a specific optical signal, an optical phased array that radiates the optical signal received via an optical switch to the free space using a tunable transmit and receive (TRx) antenna array, and a photodetector that converts an Rx optical signal received by a Tx optical signal transmitted via the optical phased array into an electrical signal.

An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.

An optical phased array includes a first multitude of tiles forming an array of optical signal transmitters and/or receivers. Each such tile includes optical components for processing of an optical signal. The phased array further includes a second multitude of tiles each positioned below one of the first multitude of tiles. Each of the second multitude of tiles includes a circuit for processing of an electrical signal and is in electrical communication with one or more of the first multitude of tiles. Each of the first multitude of tiles is adapted to receive in a modular form, be adjacent to, and couple to at least one additional tile that is similar to that tile. Each of the second multitude of tiles is adapted to receive in a modular form, be adjacent to, and couple to at least one additional tile that is similar to that tile.

A circular optical antenna array system is disclosed. The system includes a phase modulator configured to control an input phase of an input beam, and a polarization unit configured to feed the input beam in a predetermined input polarization mode. The system also includes a plurality of waveguide elements positioned in a predetermined configuration with a predetermined element spacing (D). Each waveguide element comprises a mirror inclined at a predetermined angle (θ°) to generate a beam having an output polarization based on the predetermined configuration.

Various embodiments may provide an optical phase array. The optical phase array may include a laser source configured to emit a laser. The optical phase array may further include an integrated photonic network with n stages of optical splitters, the optical splitters being 1 χ 2 optical splitters, each optical splitter of the integrated photonic network having an input, a first output, and a second output. The integrated photonic network may be configured to separate the laser into N outputs. Each output of the N outputs may differ from a neighbouring output of the N outputs by a constant phase difference (Δφ). N may be equal to 2 to the power of n.

An optical antenna, an optical phased array transmitter, and a lidar system using the same are provided. The optical antenna includes a substrate that forms at least a portion of a reflector layer having a first material, a waveguide layer disposed above the reflector layer and having a second material, a separation layer disposed between the waveguide layer and the reflector layer and having a third material. The waveguide layer further has a first grating array. The reflector layer reflects the light emitted downwards from the waveguide layer. The refractive index of the third material is smaller than that of either the first material or the second material.

Methods, apparatus, devices, and systems for reconstructing three-dimensional objects with display zero order light suppression are provided. In one aspect, a method includes illuminating a display with light, a portion of the light illuminating display elements of the display, and modulating the display elements of the display with a hologram corresponding to holographic data to diffract the portion of the light to form a holographic scene corresponding to the holographic data, and to suppress display zero order light in the holographic scene. The display zero order light can include reflected light from the display.

An optical device includes a first substrate having a first surface, a second substrate having a second surface, at least one optical waveguide, and a plurality of spacers, disposed on at least either the first surface or the second surface, that include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the plurality of elastic spacers is at least one elastic spacer located in a region between the first substrate and the second substrate in which the first substrate and the second substrate overlap each other as seen from an angle parallel with a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The second portion of the plurality of elastic spacers is at least one elastic spacer located in a region in which the first substrate and the second substrate do not overlap each other as seen from an angle parallel with the direction perpendicular to the first surface.

An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log.sub.2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution.