| US 7,454,091 B2 | ||
| Integrated optical network with controlled optical beam deflection and optical transmitter | ||
| Guido Chiaretti, Novate Milanese (Italy); and Antonio Fincato, Cameri (Italy) | ||
| Assigned to STMicroelectronics, S.r.l., Agrate Brianza (Italy) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 05, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/198,875. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 04425611 (EP), filed on Aug. 05, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0029320 A1, Feb. 09, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G02F 1/295 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 385—4 [385/14] | 32 Claims |

| 1. An integrated optical network, comprising:
an array of optical waveguides having respective output ends defining an array of radiating elements, the waveguides being
able to receive respective optical input signals and output the optical signals, the array configured so that the optical
signals interfere with each other to form an optical beam;
actuator means to introduce in the array of waveguides relative phase differences between the optical signals in order to
deflect the optical beam formed, wherein the actuator means include at least one actuator track comprising a plurality of
track sections substantially aligned with respective optical guides, the sections being fed by a common control signal to
locally modify refractive indexes of the respective optical guides in order to introduce the phase differences; and
wherein the array includes optical guides having substantially the same length and the same refractive indexes or, alternatively,
defining the same optical path for an optical signal which passes through the optical guide.
|