The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 2015
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2010
Michael J. Escuti, Cary, NC (US);
Jihwan Kim, Raleigh, NC (US);
Chulwoo OH, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Steven Serati, Westminster, CO (US);
Michael J. Escuti, Cary, NC (US);
Jihwan Kim, Raleigh, NC (US);
Chulwoo Oh, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Steven Serati, Westminster, CO (US);
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US);
Boulder Nonlinear Systems, Inc., Lafayette, CO (US);
Abstract
A beam steering apparatus includes a first beam steering stage and at least a second beam steering stage arranged in-line with the first beam steering stage. The first beam steering stage includes a first polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a first periodic director pattern, and the second beam steering stage includes a second polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a second periodic director pattern. In nonmechanical embodiments, a polarization selector may be arranged to provide a circularly polarized input beam incident on the first polarization grating. In mechanical embodiments, at least one of the first polarization grating and the second polarization grating may be operable to be independently rotated about an azimuth thereof. Related methods of operation are also discussed.