System, method and apparatus for non-mechanical optical and photonic beam steering

Abstract

A device may include a high-side electrode layer comprising a plurality of discrete electrodes. A device may include a low-side electrode layer. A device may include an electro-optic (EO) layer comprising a solid EO active material at least partially interposed between the high-side electrode layer and the low-side electrode layer, thereby forming a plurality of active cells of the EO layer. A device may include a controller, comprising: a steering request circuit structured to interpret a steering request value, a steering configuration circuit structured to determine a plurality of EO command values in response to the steering request value; and a steering implementation circuit structured to provide a plurality of voltage commands in response to the plurality of EO command values.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a high-side electrode layer comprising a plurality of discrete electrodes;   a low-side electrode layer;   an electro-optic (EO) layer comprising a solid EO active material at least partially interposed between the high-side electrode layer and the low-side electrode layer, thereby forming a plurality of active cells of the EO layer; and   a controller, comprising:
 a steering request circuit structured to interpret a steering request value; 
 a steering configuration circuit structured to determine a plurality of EO command values in response to the steering request value; and 
 a steering implementation circuit structured to provide a plurality of voltage commands in response to the plurality of EO command values. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EO command values comprises a same voltage value for each of the plurality of discrete electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of discrete electrodes comprises a resistive electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the low-side electrode layer comprises a continuous transparent electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete electrodes comprises a reflective electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a reflective layer, wherein the high-side electrode layer is interposed between the reflective layer and the EO layer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the low-side electrode layer comprises a reflective electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete electrodes comprises a transparent electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflective layer, wherein the low-side electrode layer is interposed between the reflective layer and the EO layer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the low-side electrode layer comprises a continuous transparent electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete electrodes comprises a transparent electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EO command values correspond to a half-wave voltage profile. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EO command values comprises a ground voltage command for the low-side electrode layer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EO command values comprises a negative voltage command for the low-side electrode layer. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a high-side electrode layer comprising a plurality of discrete resistive electrodes;   a low-side electrode layer;   an electro-optic (EO) layer comprising a solid EO active material at least partially interposed between the high-side electrode layer and the low-side electrode layer, thereby forming a plurality of active cells of the EO layer; and   a controller, comprising:
 a steering request circuit structured to interpret a steering request value; 
 a steering configuration circuit structured to determine a plurality of EO command values in response to the steering request value, wherein the plurality of EO command values comprises a same voltage value for each of the plurality of discrete resistive electrodes, wherein the same voltage value provides a 2πn phase delay progression across each of the plurality of active cells of the EO layer; and 
 a steering implementation circuit structured to provide a plurality of voltage commands in response to the plurality of EO command values. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of EO command values comprises a ground voltage command for the low-side electrode layer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the low-side electrode layer comprises a continuous transparent electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete resistive electrodes comprises a transparent electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a reflective layer, wherein the high-side electrode layer is interposed between the reflective layer and the EO layer. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the low-side electrode layer comprises a continuous reflective electrode.