High-Speed Solid State Scanner Based on Liquid Crystal Micro-Prism Array

A lightweight, compact, low-power, two-dimensional beam scanning device would greatly enhance compact, low cost imaging laser radars (ladars). Physical Optics Corporation proposes to develop a unique 2-D laser beam scanning device based on an electro-optically tunable Active Micro-Prism Array Scanner (AMPAS) concept. The device will build on three major POC innovations: 1) non-mechanical, electrooptic, tunable micro-prism arrays for high efficiency, wide spectral band, and large angle beam scanning; 2) a new variety of us-response ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) for high-speed, large-angle scanning driven by only 0 10 V; and 3) scalability to large arrays using well-developed integrated circuit processing and liquid crystal display technologies. Since the scanner is an analog device, it can have 40¿ x 40¿ field-of-regard. This monolithic scanning device will be small, light, and inexpensive and draw little power. Phase I will yield a preliminary system design, performance analyses, and a laboratory demonstration of the proposed AMPAS concept. The success of Phase I will lead us to fabricate preproduction prototypes of AMPAS in Phase II for eventual commercialization in Phase III. BENEFITS: This development will find many commercial applications for high-speed three-dimensional imaging. Applications include range finders, small aperture ladar systems, laser scanned displays, laser printers, engravers, copy machines, machine vision, highway safety, and environmental monitoring.