An optical system for receiving light scanned from different light origination locations in space can include a Liquid Crystal (LC) waveguide (LCW), including first and second LCW light ports. A beamsteering LC electrode can be included in or coupled to the LCW and can be configured to vary a receiving direction of light received at the second LCW light port in response to a varying electrical input signal applied to the LC electrode to scan receiving of light at the second LCW light port from different light origination locations in space. A photodetector can be optically coupled to the first LCW light port, such as to detect waveguided light from different light origination locations in space received in response to the varying electrical input signal applied to the first LC electrode. Ranger, bright-spot locking, laser detection, direct detect and coherent lidar, wavelength detection, and other techniques and use cases are possible.

A programmable optical chip and a terminal is provided, wherein the optical chip includes: one or more first transmission paths for transmitting an optical signal in the programmable optical chip; first programmable basic devices arranged in an array; and optical IP cores, wherein the optical IP cores and the first programmable basic devices are optically coupled, and the optical IP cores are optically coupled. The optical IP cores include optical soft cores and/or optical firm cores. Each type of optical soft core includes second programmable basic devices and one or more second transmission paths for transmitting the optical signal in the optical soft core. Each type of optical firm core includes third programmable basic devices, one or more third transmission paths for transmitting the optical signal in the optical firm core, and first optical devices used to process the optical signal. In the solution of the present disclosure, operations such as programming are performed on the optical chip such that the optical chip can implement a plurality of different functions.

Described are various configurations of reduced crosstalk optical switches. Various embodiments can reduce or entirely eliminate crosstalk using a coupler that has a power-splitting ratio that compensates for amplitude imbalance caused by phase modulator attenuation. Some embodiments implement a plurality of phase modulators and couplers as part of a dilated switch network to increase overall bandwidth and further reduce potential for crosstalk.

Structures for response shaping in frequency and time domain, include an optical response shaper and/or a modulator device with multiple injection. The device comprises a resonator having an enclosed geometric structure, for example a ring or racetrack structure, at least two injecting optical waveguides approaching the resonator to define at least two coupling regions between the resonator and the injecting waveguides, and may define at least two Free Spectral Range states. One or both of the coupling regions has a coupling coefficient selected for a predetermined frequency or time response, and the coupling coefficient or other device parameters may be variable, in some case in real time to render the response programmably variable.

An ultralow-energy electro-optical 2×2 cross-bar switch comprises an identical pair of semiconductor nanobeams that are incorporated in the central arms of a waveguided Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Each nanobeam includes a one dimensional “lattice” of holes along the nanobeam axis that defines a resonant cavity whose fundamental mode is the operating wavelength of the switch. A localized, lateral lengthwise extending portion of the semiconductor nanobeam is doped P type, while the other lateral half of the nanobeam wing is doped N type, forming a P-N junction in the body. Application of an electric potential across the P-N junction alters the effective index of refraction of the lengthwise extending portion and controls both the transmission and reflection of an incoming optical signal at the operating wavelength of the switch through the semiconductor nanobeam. Constructive and destructive interference of component signals within the interferometer controls the spatial routing of the incident light.

A system for integrated power combiners is disclosed and may include receiving optical signals in input optical waveguides and phase-modulating the signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, where the first optical coupler may generate output signals having substantially equal optical powers. Output signals of the first optical coupler may be phase-modulated to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, which may generate an output signal having an optical power of essentially zero and a second output signal having a maximized optical power. Optical signals received by the input optical waveguides may be generated utilizing a polarization-splitting grating coupler to enable polarization-insensitive combining of optical signals. Optical power may be monitored using optical detectors. The monitoring of optical power may be used to determine a desired phase offset between the signals received at the first optical coupler.

A system for integrated power combiners is disclosed and may include receiving optical signals in input optical waveguides and phase-modulating the signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, where the first optical coupler may generate output signals having substantially equal optical powers. Output signals of the first optical coupler may be phase-modulated to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, which may generate an output signal having an optical power of essentially zero and a second output signal having a maximized optical power. Optical signals received by the input optical waveguides may be generated utilizing a polarization-splitting grating coupler to enable polarization-insensitive combining of optical signals. Optical power may be monitored using optical detectors. The monitoring of optical power may be used to determine a desired phase offset between the signals received at the first optical coupler.

A fingerprint identification structure and a display panel are disclosed. display panel includes a fingerprint identification structure. The fingerprint identification structure includes a light energy switch and a thermosensitive light path adjustment structure. The light energy switch is configured to switch from an open circuit to a closed circuit under light irradiation. The thermosensitive light path adjustment structure is connected to a surface of the light energy switch, is able to transmit light internally, and is configured to adjust a light path of light to drive the light to irradiate the light energy switch when receiving a heat source.

A fingerprint identification structure and a display panel are disclosed. display panel includes a fingerprint identification structure. The fingerprint identification structure includes a light energy switch and a thermosensitive light path adjustment structure. The light energy switch is configured to switch from an open circuit to a closed circuit under light irradiation. The thermosensitive light path adjustment structure is connected to a surface of the light energy switch, is able to transmit light internally, and is configured to adjust a light path of light to drive the light to irradiate the light energy switch when receiving a heat source.

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, where 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.