Abstract

A fast digital–analog control polarization-based optical scanner with complete three-dimensional beam-forming programmability is described. Its features include low power consumption and large-aperture liquid-crystal-based optics, digital repeatability, and time-multiplexed accurate analog beam forming. Analog frequency and amplitude control of the nematic liquid-crystal beam-former cells permits continuous fine-scan programmability over a 0.66-mrad horizontal deflection, a 0.75 mrad vertical deflection, and an infinity-to-1.84-m focal-length longitudinal scan. First demonstrations included an 8-point volumetric scan and a 2-bit digital lens scan, both at 1310 nm, with a $35‐\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{s}$ random-access time.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

Demonstration of 3-dimensional wide angle laser beam scanner using liquid crystals

Sajjad A. Khan and Nabeel A. Riza
Opt. Express 12(5) 868-882 (2004)

Space-multiplexed optical scanner

Nabeel A. Riza and Zahid Yaqoob
Appl. Opt. 43(13) 2703-2708 (2004)

Code-multiplexed optical scanner

Nabeel A. Riza and Muzammil A. Arain
Appl. Opt. 42(8) 1493-1502 (2003)

Superwide-angle coverage code-multiplexed optical scanner

Nabeel A. Riza and Muzammil A. Arain
Opt. Lett. 29(9) 1004-1006 (2004)

In-line liquid-crystal microcell polarimeter for high-speed polarization analysis

Bharat R. Acharya, C. K. Madsen, K. W. Baldwin, R. A. MacHarrie, J. A. Rogers, L. Möller, C. C. Huang, and R. Pindak
Opt. Lett. 28(13) 1096-1098 (2003)