Patent Application
20250208478
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0191857, filed on Dec. 26, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
One or more example embodiments of the disclosure relate to a detection device using light, and more specifically, to an optical phased array, an operating method of the same, and an electronic device including the optical phased array.
An optical phased array (OPA) refers to a technique of irradiating light in an arbitrary pattern by using the principle of an electromagnetic phased array that outputs electromagnetic waves, which has been mainly used in existing radar technology, and uses optical frequencies instead of electromagnetic waves.
A light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which utilizes existing beam scanning, uses devices such as mechanical motors, rotation motors, and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMs) and has a simple structure. However, productivity and manufacturing costs are problematic. On the other hand, an OPA LiDAR device enables precise and fast control because non-mechanical beam scanning is used and has been attracting attention recently because it may be manufactured by utilizing existing semiconductor processes, and the manufacturing costs are significantly reduced through mass production.
One or more example embodiments provide an optical phased array with increased beamforming efficiency in a region of interest.
One or more example embodiments provide an optical phased array with increased light intensity in a region of interest.
One or more example embodiments provide a method of operating an optical phased array.
One or more example embodiments provide an electronic device including the optical phased array.
Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure
According to an aspect of an example embodiment of the disclosure, an optical phased array includes a light source configured to emit a light in an infrared band; a light irradiator spaced apart from the light source and configured to receive the light emitted from the light source and emit the light to an outside; a phase modulation optical amplification unit provided between the light source and the light irradiator; and an optical splitting portion disposed between the light source and the phase modulation optical amplification unit and configured to split the light emitted from the light source, the optical splitting portion including a plurality of optical splitters, wherein the phase modulation optical amplification unit is configured to amplify the light emitted from the light source while modulating a first phase of the emitted light to a second phase which is a target phase, and includes: a phase modulator configured to cause a portion of a phase difference between the first phase and the second phase; and a phase modulation optical amplifier configured to amplify the emitted light while causing a remaining portion of the phase difference.
In one example, the phase modulator and the phase modulation optical amplifier may be aligned in an order named in a direction from the light source to the light irradiator.
In one example, the phase modulation optical amplifier and the phase modulator may be aligned in an order named in the direction from the light source to the light irradiator.
In one example, an optical amplifier may be disposed between at least one optical splitter of the plurality of optical splitters and another at least one optical splitter of the plurality of optical splitters. In one example, the phase modulation optical amplification unit may include a plurality of the phase modulation optical amplification units spaced apart from each other, and one optical splitter among the plurality of optical splitters may be arranged to split the light to be provided to two optical splitters in a next stage among the plurality of optical splitters. In one example, two to four optical amplifiers may be disposed between a portion of the plurality of optical splitters and a remaining portion of the plurality of optical splitters.
In one example, the phase modulation optical amplifier may include a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA).
In one example, the light source may include a laser diode configured to emit an infrared light and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) configured to amplify the infrared light.
In one example, the light irradiator, the phase modulation optical amplification unit, and the optical splitting portion may be provided in one single chip, and the light source is coupled to the one single chip. In one example, the light source may be bonded to the one single chip using a flip chip method.
In one example, the phase modulation optical amplification unit may include a plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units, and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units may have different optical amplification rates from each other.
In one example, the light irradiator may include an antenna array, the antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements or a mirror type emitting element.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) includes a light source unit configured to emit a light toward an object, wherein the light source unit includes the optical phased array described above; a receiver configured to receive a light reflected from the object and generate an electrical signal in response to the received light; a processor configured to process the electrical signal transmitted from the receiver; and a controller configured to control an operation of the light source unit, the receiver, and/or the processor.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment the disclosure, an electronic device includes the optical phased array according to an example embodiment or the LiDAR according to an example embodiment.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment of the disclosure, a method of operating an optical phased array includes performing a first beamforming on a first region of interest by applying currents of different magnitudes to the plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers.
In one example, during the first beamforming, a voltage applied to each of the plurality of phase modulators is maintained constant at a same level of magnitude.
In one example, the method may further include: after performing the first beamforming, performing a second beamforming on the first region of interest by applying different voltages to the plurality of phase modulator.
In one example, the method may further include, after a third beamforming, including the first beamforming, for the first region of interest is completed, creating a lookup table for beam steering of the plurality of phase modulators and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers based on voltage data applied to the plurality of phase modulators and current data applied to the plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers for the third beamforming.
In one example, the method may further include, after performing the second beamforming, acquiring a beam image formed in the first region of interest by a third beamforming, and acquiring a beam profile from the beam image. In one example, the beam image may be acquired using an infrared camera provided outside an optical phased array chip on which the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units are provided or a detector formed within the optical phased array chip.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain example embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the example embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.
Hereinafter, an optical phased array, an operating method thereof, and an electronic device including the optical phased array according to one or more example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarification of the specification.
The following embodiments described below are merely illustrative, and various modifications may be possible from the embodiments of the disclosure. When an element or layer is referred to as being “on” or “above” another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In the descriptions below, like reference numerals in the drawings refer to like elements.
The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. When a part “comprises” or “includes” an element in the specification, unless otherwise defined, it is not excluding other elements but may further include other elements.
The term “above” and similar directional terms may be applied to both singular and plural. With respect to operations that constitute a method, the operations may be performed in any appropriate sequence unless the sequence of operations is clearly described or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The operations may not necessarily be performed in the order of sequence.
Also, in the specification, the term “units” or “ . . . modules” denote units or modules that process at least one function or operation, and may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.
The connections of lines and connection members between constituent elements depicted in the drawings are examples of functional connection and/or physical or circuitry connections, and thus, in practical devices, may be expressed as replaceable or additional functional connections, physical connections, or circuitry connections.
The use of all examples or illustrative terms is simply for explaining the technical idea in detail, and the scope is not limited by the examples or illustrative terms unless limited by the claims.
Referring to
In one example, the light source 20 may be provided with an amplifier therein to amplify infrared rays emitted from the light source 20 or may not be provided with the amplifier. In one example, the light source 20 may include, but is not limited to, a ring-resonator type tunable laser including two optical amplifiers. In one example, the optical amplifier may include, but is not limited to, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The light source 20 may be referred to as a light source, a light-emitting unit, a light source unit, a light-releasing unit, etc.
In one example, a plurality of channels ch1, ch2 . . . ch(n−1), . . . ch(n) connecting the light source 20 to the antenna array ATA may be provided between the light source 20 and the antenna array ATA. The plurality of channels ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n) may be optical transmission paths or optical transmission media through which light emitted from the light source 20 is transmitted to the antenna array ATA. Therefore, the plurality of channels ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n) may be referred to as optical transmission channels or optical signal transmission channels. The plurality of channels ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n) may be a result of division in which a first light transmission medium LP1 directly connected to the light source 20 is divided into multiple lines through a plurality of division steps performed along with a direction from the light source 20 to the antenna array ATA. In one example, the first light transmission medium LP1 may be a medium for transmitting light emitted from the light source 20 to the antenna array ATA. For example, the first light transmission medium LP1 may include, but is not limited to, a waveguide or an optical fiber.
In one example, the first light transmission medium LP1 may be divided into two at each step of the plurality of division stages, and optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) may be provided at a branch point of each division stage.
Light input to each optical splitter S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) may be split into two pieces of light having the same wavelength and phase as the input light. The split light may propagate along a path divided into two in each optical splitter S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm). A plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be provided between the light source 20 and the antenna array ATA. The number n of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be the same as the number of channels ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n) of the first OPA 100. That is, one phase modulation optical amplifier may be disposed for each channel ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n).
Each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may modulate the phase of light input (transmitted) through the corresponding channel and may be provided to amply light. In one example, each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may include elements for phase modulation and amplification of input (transmitted) light. However, the phase modulation and amplification of the light may also be performed with one single element. The phase of the light before being incident on the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may all be the same or different at the each channel ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n), and the intensity of the light may all be the same or different.
In one example, each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may include one phase modulator and one phase modulation optical amplifier. For example, a first phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(1) may include one first phase modulator 4P(1) and one first phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1). An n-th phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(n) may include one n-th phase modulator 4P(n) and one n-th phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(n). In the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n), the phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4Pn) and the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may be respectively connected to a light transmission medium or a light transmission element that does not affect the phase of light.
As a result, the number of the plurality of phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) in the first OPA 100 may be equal to the number of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). The number of phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) and the number of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be the same.
Each of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be configured to amplify the light emitted from the light source while modulating a first phase of the emitted light to a second phase which is a target phase. To this end, each of phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) may be configured to cause a portion of a phase difference between the first phase and the second phase (which may be referred to as a primary phase modulation), and each of phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may be configured to amplify the emitted light while causing a remaining portion of the phase difference (which may be referred to as a secondary phase modulation).
In one example, the primary phase modulation with respect to incident light may be performed at each phase modulator 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n). The secondary phase modulation (also may referred to as a secondary phase modulation and optical amplification) may be achieved in each phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n). The primary phase modulation may also be expressed as main phase modulation. The secondary phase modulation may be expressed as auxiliary phase modulation. If the secondary phase modulation is greater than the primary phase modulation, they may be expressed in reverse (e.g., the secondary phase modulation may be expressed as the main phase modulation). In one example, an amount (or degree) of the primary phase modulation may be greater than an amount of the secondary phase modulation but is not limited thereto. In one example, a sum of the primary phase modulation and the secondary phase modulation may be a phase modulation amount or phase modulation value of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). The optical amplification performed by each of the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may be the optical amplification performed by each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). In one example, each phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may include an amplification element, for example, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), in which phase modulation occurs when a current for optical amplification is applied. In one example, if the light transmitted from the light source 20 is laser light in the form of a continuous wave or pulse, each phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may also be driven according to the type of transmitted light.
In a beam steering, the amount of phase modulation and the degree of optical amplification of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be controlled based on a lookup table (LUT) created through a beamforming process of the first OPA 100.
The amount of phase modulation and the degree of optical amplification of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may vary depending on an area to which a light beam (e.g., infrared laser light or infrared light) is irradiated, the irradiation angle, and/or irradiation direction of the light beam.
For example, if a light beam is irradiated to an area of interest or a first area from the antenna array ATA of the first OPA 100 on a set horizontal plane, a phase of first light incident on the first phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(1) may be changed by a first value, light intensity of the first light may be increased by a second value, and a phase of second light incident on a second phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(2) may be changed by a third value, and light intensity of the second light may be increased by a fourth value. In one example, the first and third values may be the same as or different from each other, and the second and fourth values may also be the same or different from each other. The first and second lights may be the same from each other in wavelength and intensity.
For such phase modulation and optical amplification, a first voltage may be applied to a first phase modulator 4P(1) of the first phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(1) and a first current may be applied to the first modulation amplifier 6A(1) according to the lookup table. And, a second voltage may be applied to a second phase modulator 4P(2) of the second phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(2), and a second current may be applied to the second phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(2). In one example, the magnitude of the first voltage and the magnitude of the second voltage may be the same or different from each other, and the amount of the first current and the amount of the second current may be the same or different from each other. For example, the magnitudes of the first and second voltages may be the same, and the amounts of the first and second currents may be different from each other. For example, the magnitudes of the first and second voltages may be different from each other, and the amounts of the first and second currents may be the same. For example, the magnitudes of the first and second voltages may be different from each other, and the amounts of the first and second currents may be different from each other.
If a light beam is irradiated to the area of interest or the first area, as in the case of the first and second phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1) and PA(2), the phase modulation amounts of the third to nth phase modulation optical amplification units PA(3), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be the same, different from each other, or at least partially different from each other. The degrees of optical amplification of the third to nth phase modulation optical amplification units PA(3), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be the same, different, or at least partially different from each other.
The plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be directly or indirectly connected to the antenna array ATA. This connection may be achieved through a light transmission medium (element) (e.g., waveguide, optical fiber, etc.) but is not limited thereto.
In each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n), the phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) and the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), and 6A(n) may be aligned in a direction from the light source 20 towards the antenna array ATA. Each of the phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), 6A(n−1), . . . 6A(n) may be connected to the antenna array ATA through the light transmission medium. In each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n), the phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) may be spaced apart from the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). The phase modulators 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be connected through a light transmission medium.
The antenna array ATA may include a plurality of antenna elements AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) that may radiate (or irradiate) light (e.g., infrared laser or infrared light) into a space outside the antenna array ATA. The number of the antenna elements AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) may be the same as the number of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). In one example, the plurality of antenna elements AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be connected to each other to one-to-one correspondence. In other words, the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) of each phase modulation optical amplification unit PA(1), PA(2) . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) and each antenna element AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) may correspond one-to-one. Each phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) and each antenna element AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) may be connected to each other through a light transmission medium.
In one example, the plurality of antenna arrays ATA and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be provided in the same chip (e.g., an optical phased array chip) and may be arranged parallel to each other.
In one example, each antenna element AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) may include a grating antenna including a diffraction grating but is not limited thereto.
In one example, each antenna element AT(1), AT(2), . . . AT(n−1), AT(n) may be replaced by a non-antenna element, for example, may be replaced with a mirror type surface emitting or edge emitting element, but is not limited thereto. Because the antenna array ATA and the non-antenna elements are all elements that irradiate transmitted light to the outside of the OPA, they may be expressed as a light irradiation unit (or light irradiator). An optical splitting portion 25 may be provided between the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) and the light source 20 to split transmitted light. The optical splitting portion 25 may include the plurality of optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) arranged in a certain shape (structure) and spaced apart from each other. The plurality of optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be provided in the same chip. The plurality of optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34 . . . S(n1)-S(nm) may be connected to each other by a light (e.g., infrared laser or infrared light) transmission medium, such as a waveguide or optical fiber, but the light transmission medium is not limited thereto. The optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) may be arranged in a structure in which the number of the optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm) gradually increases in a direction from the light source 20 towards the antenna array ATA. For example, the first optical splitter S11 may be connected to the light source 20, a channel is divided into two at the first optical splitter S11, the second optical splitter S21 and the third optical splitter S22 may be provided at an end portion of the two divided channels, respectively, each of the divided channels may be again divided into two in each of the second and third optical splitters S21 and S22, and the fourth to seventh optical splitters S31, S32, S33, and S34 may be connected to each divided channel. In this way, as a number of an arrangement stage of the optical splitters increases, a number of an arrangement of the optical splitters may be doubled. For example, the number of the optical splitters may increase from 1 (1st stage), 2 (2nd stage), 4 (3rd stage), 8 (4th stage), 16 (5th stage), 32 (6th stage), and 64 (7th stage) . . . as the number of the arrangement stage of the optical splitters increases.
The light source 20 and the first optical splitter S11 may be directly or indirectly connected to each other. In one example, the light source 20 and the first optical splitter S11 may be connected to an optical transmission medium or optical transmission element capable of transmitting light (e.g., infrared laser or infrared light) emitted from the light source 20 to the first optical splitter S11. In one example, the optical transmission medium may include, but is not limited to, a waveguide or an optical fiber.
In one example, the light source 20 and the first optical splitter S11 may be provided in the same chip. For example, the light source 20 may be provided in the same chip together with the plurality of optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm), the plurality of phase modulation amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n), and the antenna array ATA. In one example, the light source 20 may include a Group III-V compound semiconductor laser emitting device formed directly within the chip, and may be formed by an epitaxy method.
In one example, the light source 20 may be manufactured outside the chip and coupled to the chip. For example, the light source 20 may be bonded to the chip using a flip chip method.
The first optical splitter S11 may be an optical splitter disposed at a first end of the plurality of optical splitters S11, S21, S22, S31-S34, . . . S(n1)-S(nm). The second and third optical splitters S21 and S22 may be optical splitters disposed at a second stage. The fourth to seventh optical splitters S31 to S34 may be optical splitters arranged in the third stage. The plurality of optical splitters S(n1)-S(nm) disposed immediately before the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n)) may be optical splitters arranged at the nth stage.
In the nth optical splitter S(nm), ‘n’ represents the number of stages where optical splitters are placed, and ‘m’ represents the number of optical splitters arranged at the nth stage. ‘n’ and ‘m’ are 1, 2, 3 . . . .
Two channels may be branched from one optical splitter, and the number n of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be equal to the number of the plurality of channels ch1, ch2, . . . ch(n−1), ch(n). Therefore, the number of the optical splitter S(n1)-S(nm) disposed immediately in front of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) may be ½ of the number of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). That is, m=n/2 or m is ½ of the number of channels of the first OPA 100. For example, if the number of channels of the first OPA 100 is 64, the number of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) is 64 (n=64), and the number of the optical splitters S(n1)-S(nm) arranged immediately in front of the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) is 32 (m=32).
Only parts that are different from the first OPA 100 of
Referring to
Accordingly, in the case of the second OPA 200, light amplification and first phase modulation (or primary phase modulation) may be performed first, and then second phase modulation (or secondary phase modulation) of the amplified light may be performed.
For the optical amplification and phase modulation, the principle of applying a voltage and a current to each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1)′, PA(2)′ . . . PA(n−1)′, PA(n)′, that is, an operation method of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1)′, PA(2)′ . . . PA(n−1)′, PA(n)′ may be the same the description given with reference to the first OPA 100.
Only parts that are different from the first OPA 100 of
Referring to
In one example, the first and second optical amplifiers 30A1 and 30A2 may include optical amplifiers of the same configuration but may also include optical amplifiers of different configurations. The first optical amplifier 30A1 and the first and second optical splitters S11 and S21 may be connected through an optical transmission medium. The second optical amplifier 30A2 and the first and third optical splitters S11 and S22 may also be connected through an optical transmission medium.
In one example, in each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), P(n), the positions of the phase modulator 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n).−1), 4P(n) and the positions of the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) may be exchanged. In other words, the phase modulator 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) may be arranged between the phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) and the antenna array ATA.
Only parts that are different from the third OPA 300 of
Referring to
Comparing
Next, a method of operating an OPA according to an example embodiment will be described.
As an example, an operation method of the third OPA 300 of
In the description of the operation method below, the operating principle of the phase modulation optical amplifier according to one or more example embodiments does not vary depending on the number of phase modulation optical amplifiers. Therefore, the operation method below may be equally applied even when the number of phase modulation optical amplifiers less than or more than four. In addition, the differences between the first to fifth OPAs 100 to 500 described above may be whether an optical amplifier is present or absent in the first stage, the difference in the number of optical amplifiers provided in the first stage, and the difference in arrangement or aligned order of the phase modulator 4P(1), 4P(2), . . . 4P(n−1), 4P(n) and the phase modulation optical amplifier 6A(1), 6A(2), . . . 6A(n−1), 6A(n) in each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n). These differences may not affect the method of operation described below. Accordingly, the operation method described below may be the operation method of not only the third OPA 300 but also the first, second, fourth, and fifth OPAs 100, 200, 400, and 500.
Referring to
The beamforming process may include a process of focusing light emitted from the third OPA 300 toward a first region of interest (ROI) A1 outside the third OPA 300 as much as possible on the first ROI A1. In one example, the first ROI A1 may be a partial region of an object to which light is irradiated from the third OPA 300, or may be a partial region of an environment around the third OPA 300. The first ROI A1 may be a region within a scanning range or light irradiation range of the third OPA 300. A horizontal scan range of the third OPA 300 may be within 180 degrees, for example, 170 degrees or less, 150 degrees or less, 120 degrees or less, 100 degrees or less, 90 degrees or less, or 60 degrees or less, and is not limited thereto.
In the third OPA 300, the beamforming may be achieved through adjusting a phase of light transmitted through first to fourth channels ch1 to ch4, and a beamforming process in the other OPAs 100, 200, 400, and 500 described above may be the same as in the third OPA 300.
In the third OPA 300, because the phase adjustment or modulation of light transmitted through the first to fourth channels ch1 to ch4 is performed through the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4, the beamforming process may include a method of operating the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4.
The beamforming process may be regarded as a process of controlling or a process of optimizing the operation of the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 such that the light emitted from the antenna array ATA of the third OPA 300 is focused as much as possible on the first ROI A1.
Therefore, in the beamforming process, the phase control or phase modulation characteristics of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may be optimized such that the light emitted from the antenna array ATA of the third OPA 300 is focused as much as possible on the first ROI A1. The optimization of phase control or phase modulation characteristics of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may be simply expressed as optimization of each phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4. A phase modulator and a phase modulation optical amplifier may be involved in the phase modulation in each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4, and the phase modulation by the phase modulation optical amplifier may be accompanied by the optical amplification process by the phase modulation optical amplifier. Therefore, optimization of each phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may include optimization of the phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 included in each phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 and optimization of the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1 to 6A4. Control of the phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 included in each phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may be achieved through a voltage applied to the phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4, and control of optical amplification of the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1 to 6A4 may be achieved through a current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1 to 6A4.
Therefore, the optimization process of each of the phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may ultimately include a process of optimizing the voltage applied to the phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 included in each phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 and a process of optimizing the current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier 6A1 to 6A4.
In one example, the optimization of the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 may be performed as follows.
Referring to
For the second phase modulation optical amplification unit PA2, a second phase modulation voltage Vp2 may be applied to the second phase modulator 4P2, and a second current I2 for optical amplification may be applied to the second phase modulation optical amplifier 6A2. Accordingly, light transmitted to the second phase modulation optical amplification unit PA2 and having passed through the second phase modulation optical amplification unit PA2 may have a second phase and may be amplified.
For the third phase modulation optical amplification unit PA3, a third phase modulation voltage Vp3 may be applied to the third phase modulator 4P3, and a third current I3 may be applied to the third phase modulation optical amplifier 6A3. Accordingly, light transmitted to the third phase modulation optical amplification unit PA3 and having passed through the third phase modulation optical amplification unit PA3 may have a third phase and may be amplified.
For the fourth phase modulation optical amplification unit PA4, a fourth phase modulation voltage Vp4 may be applied to the fourth phase modulator 4P4, and a fourth current I4 may be applied to the fourth phase modulation optical amplifier 6A4. Accordingly, light transmitted to the fourth phase modulation optical amplification unit PA4 and having passed through the fourth phase modulation optical amplification unit PA4 and may have a fourth phase and may be amplified.
In one example, magnitudes of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 may be the same, and magnitudes of the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be different from each other or at least some of the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be different from each other. In one example, the magnitudes of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 may be different from each other or at least partially different from each other, and the magnitudes of the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be different from each other or at least partially different from each other. Because each of the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 is used for current amplification, the magnitude of each current may be greater than 0.
In one example, the first to fourth phases may be the same or different from each other, or at least some of them may be different from each other. Each of the first to fourth phases may be approximately 0 to 2π. In one example, a phase difference between the first to fourth phases may be constant or different. For example, there may be a first phase difference between the first phase and the second phase, a second phase difference between the second phase and the third phase, and a third phase difference between the third phase and the fourth phase. The first to third phase differences may be the same or different from each other. In one example, among the first to third phase differences, two phase differences may be the same as each other and may be different from the remaining phase difference. The magnitude of each of the first to third phase differences may be greater than 0 and less than 2π.
To optimize the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4, the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be adjusted. The optimization may be a process of repeating the adjustment of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4.
In one example, in a first operation for the optimization, the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 may be kept constant at a first voltage, and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may respectively be adjusted within a first specified current range. In a second operation for optimization, the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 are maintained at a second voltage different from the first voltage, and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may respectively be adjusted within a second specified current range. The first specified current range may be the same or different from the second specified current range. Thereafter, these operations may be repeated a set number of times while changing the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4. In one example, the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be changed by changing the first phase modulation voltage Vp1, and this operation may be repeated up to the operation of changing the fourth phase modulation voltage Vp4 (e.g., repeating operations by sequentially changing the first phase modulation voltage Vp1, the second phase modulation voltage Vp2, the third phase modulation voltage Vp3, and the first phase modulation voltage Vp4).
In one example, while changing the first phase modulation voltage Vp1, the second to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp2 to Vp4 may be maintained at constant values, and while changing the fourth phase modulation voltage Vp4, the first to third phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp3 may be maintained at a constant value but are not limited thereto.
In this optimization process, at an end of each operation, a shape or a beam profile of a beam focused in the first ROI A1 is checked, and in a next operation, whether to change or maintain any one of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 applied to the first to fourth phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 and/or a degree of change thereof may be determined, and whether to change or maintain any one of the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 applied to the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1-6A4 and/or a degree of change thereof may be determined.
Profiles of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 to be applied in the next operation, that is, the degree of change in the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 and the degree of change in the first to fourth currents I1 to I4 may be determined using an algorithm based on the shape of a beam formed in the first ROI A1. In one example, an algorithm, such as, but is not limited to, a genetic algorithm, gradient descent, or hill climb may be used as the algorithm. The first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 to be applied to the first to fourth phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 determined from the profiles of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 obtained through the algorithm may be respectively applied to the first to fourth phase modulators 4P1 to 4P4 through a drive board. The first to fourth currents I1 to I4 to be applied to the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1-6A4 determined from the profiles of the first to fourth current I1 to I4 obtained through the algorithm may also be respectively applied to the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1-6A4 through the drive board.
This process may be repeated until the optimization of the first ROI A1 is completed.
As a result, the optimization process for the first ROI A1 may be viewed as a process of finding a combination, that maximizes the light intensity in the ROI A1, of the first to fourth phase modulation voltages Vp1 to Vp4 and the first to fourth currents I1 to I4. The combination that maximizes the light intensity may be a combination when the light intensity of the first ROI A1 becomes a set intensity or a combination when the light intensity becomes closest to the set intensity.
In one example, after the optimization process for the first ROI A1 is completed, a second ROI A2 may be set and optimization for the second ROI A2 may be performed. The optimization process for the second ROI A2 may be performed in the same manner as the optimization for the first ROI A1.
The second ROI A2 may be a region spaced apart from the first ROI A1. For example, in the same horizontal plane, a center of the first ROI A1 may be at a first angle from a baseline, and a center of the second ROI A2 may be at a second angle from the baseline. The first angle may be different from the second angle. In one example, the first angle may be 15° and the second angle may be 25°. The first and second angles may be angles within a beam steering range θs of the third OPA 300 in the horizontal plane. The beam steering range θs may be expressed as a scan range.
After performing the optimization for the second ROI A2, optimization of other ROIs within the scan range es of the third OPA 300 may also be performed in the same manner as the optimization of the first ROI A1.
In this way, the optimization for the third OPA 300 may be completed, a lookup table for beam steering for each ROI may be formed using data of voltages and currents applied to the first to fourth phase modulation optical amplification units PA1 to PA4 obtained in the optimization process.
In one example, the first and second ROIs A1 and A2 may be at a same first height, and after beamforming for another region at the first height is completed, that is, after one-dimensional beam steering is completed, a vertical angle emitted from the OPA 300 may be adjusted by changing a wavelength of light emitted from the light source 20. In this way, optimization (beamforming) for an ROI at a second height different from the first height may be performed in the same manner as optimization for the first ROI A1. That is, a two-dimensional beam steering may be performed by changing the wavelength of light emitted from the light source 20.
Referring to
Next, a beam profile may be generated from the beam image acquired in operation 7S1 (7S2). The beam profile may include information about light intensity distribution in the region of interest. In one example, instead of acquiring the beam image by capturing an image with an imaging device, the beam image may be obtained using a detector after forming the detector in an OPA chip.
Next, a beamforming efficiency (BFE) for the region of interest may be evaluated from the beam profile generated in operation 7S2 (7S3). The beamforming efficiency may be evaluated by comparing a reference light intensity (or reference beam profile) set in the region of interest with the beam profile generated in operation 7S2 but is not limited thereto.
Next, it may be determined whether the beamforming efficiency in the region of interest evaluated in operation 7S3 is equal to or greater than a set value (e.g., reference beamforming efficiency value) (7S4).
As a result of the determination in operation of 7S4, if the beamforming efficiency evaluated in operation 7S3 is equal to or greater than the set value (Yes (Y)), a lookup table for the phase modulator and the phase modulation optical amplifier may be created (7S7).
As a result of the determination in operation 7S4, if the beamforming efficiency evaluated in operation 7S3 is not equal to or greater than the above set value (No (N)), that is, if the evaluated beamforming efficiency in operation 7S3 is lower than the above set value, a voltage profile to be applied to the phase modulator and a current profile to be applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier may be obtained using an algorithm (7S5).
Next, based on the voltage and current profiles obtained in operation 7S5, a voltage may be applied to the phase modulator and a current may be applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier (7S6). The application of voltage and current in operation 7S6 may be performed using a drive board. By applying a voltage to the phase modulator and applying a current to the phase modulation optical amplifier, the phase modulated and amplified light may be emitted to the region of interest through the antenna array ATA, and thus, operation 7S6 may be an operation of irradiating light to the region of interest of the object.
Thereafter, the method may return to operation 7S1 and the above processes may be repeated from operation 7S1 until the beamforming efficiency of the region of interest is equal to or greater than the set value.
Next, a simulation and its result are described with reference to
In the simulation, the OPA operation method was divided into a first operation method and a second operation method.
Hereinafter, the first operation method refers to an operation method of an OPA according to an example embodiment, and the second operation method refers to a comparative method that is provided for comparison with the first operation method. The second operation method is an operation method of applying the same current to all phase modulation optical amplifiers of the phase modulation optical amplification units in the operation of the OPA according to an example embodiment. That is, the second operation method is a method in which phase modulation is performed only with the phase modulator of the phase modulation optical amplifier, and the optimization for beamforming is performed using only the phase modulator, similar to an existing optimization method. Therefore, the second operation method may correspond to an existing optimization method for beamforming, except that the second operation method was applied to the OPA according to an example embodiment.
In the above simulation, the first and second operation methods were performed on the fourth OPA 400 shown in
In the above simulation, a current applied to each of the third to sixth optical amplifiers 40A3 to 40A6 disposed between the light source 20 and the plurality of phase modulation optical amplification units PA(1), PA(2), . . . PA(n−1), PA(n) of the fourth OPA 400 of
The simulation was performed such that, as a first simulation, optimization was performed according to the first and second operation methods for one region of interest (corresponding to one scan angle) belonging to a scan range or beam steering range of the fourth OPA 400, and as a second simulation, optimization was performed according to the first and second operation methods with respect to multiple regions of interest (corresponding to multiple scan angles) within the above scan range. In the second simulation, the scan range was set to 60 degrees, and the number of regions of interest was set to 60. That is, in the second simulation, optimization was performed on 60 points within a scan range of 60 degrees.
Referring to
The region of interest set in operation 8S1 may be a region or point at a first angle (e.g., 5° or 20°) within a beam steering angle range of the OPA.
Operation 8S2 may be a process of optimizing the phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1 to 6A64 in 64 channels with respect to the region of interest set in operation 8S1, and may be a process of finding current application conditions (or current profiles) for 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers that may collect maximum light (e.g., maximize beam forming efficiency) in the set region of interest. Because there may be numerous combinations of the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers, in order to reduce cost and save time, the process of finding the current application conditions for the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers may be performed by selecting only some combinations among all of possible combinations through an algorithm. The algorithms may include, but are not limited to, genetic algorithms, gradient descent, or hill climbing. According to the current application conditions of each combination selected by the algorithm, currents of different sizes may be applied to 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers through a drive board, and accordingly, light may be emitted to the set region of interest, and beamforming may be performed in the set region of interest. As currents of different magnitudes are applied to the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers, the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers may have different optical amplification rates.
In this way, the beamforming performed in the set region of interest for each combination may be captured (e.g., photographed) with an infrared camera, and a beam profile for the corresponding beamforming may be obtained. By comparing these beam profiles of each combination, current application conditions that may maximize beamforming efficiency and light intensity in the set region of interest may be found. The current application conditions found in this way become the optimized current application conditions for 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers, and optimization of the phase modulation optical amplifiers may be completed. In operation 8S2, voltages applied to all 64 phase modulators were kept constant (e.g., all were maintained at 0V or maintained at 1500 mV, which is the middle of the set voltage scan range).
Operation 8S3 may be a process of optimizing the 64 phase modulators 4P1 to 4P64 in 64 channels for the set region of interest and may be a process of finding voltage application conditions (e.g., voltage profiles) for 64 phase modulators that may collect maximum light in the set region of interest (e.g., beamforming efficiency is maximized). This process may be performed in the same way as the process of finding optimal current application conditions for the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers 6A1 to 6A64 described in operation 8S2, and the same algorithm can be used.
In operation 8S3, the applied current to the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers was maintained constant at a value greater than 0 (e.g., 100 mA).
In operation 8S4, a lookup table that may be used for beam steering for the set region of interest is created based on the optimized current application condition for the 64 phase modulation optical amplifiers obtained in operation 8S2 and the optimized voltage application condition for the 64 phase modulators obtained in operation 8S3.
Through operations 8S1 to 8S4 of
Operations 8S1 to 8S4 of
The second operating method of the simulation is to optimize beamforming for the set region of interest using only a phase modulator. Therefore, the second operation method may be the same as omitting operation 8S2 in the first operation method of
In
Referring to
Comparing
That is, the results of
Referring to
The higher the beamforming efficiency, the more light emitted from the OPA may be collected in the region of interest, light may be irradiated to a greater distance, and thus, a beam steering range or scanning range of the OPA may be wider and deeper. Also, if there is a region of interest at the same distance, the region of interest may be recognized more clearly and accurately with higher beamforming efficiency, and more information about the region of interest may be obtained.
In (a-3) and (b-3), a vertical axis represents SMSR.
In (a-4) and (b-4), a vertical axis represents light intensity of each region, which represents a total amount of beams focused on each region and corresponds to an integration of pixel values of an image of each region acquired with an infrared camera.
In
The second operation method is a related art operation method, and because the current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier is the same during the optimization process for all 60 regions, the average value of the current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier for each region is also the same in all 60 regions (as shown in the second graph 10G2).
On the other hand, if optimization is performed according to the first operation method, the average value of the current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier for each region may be different in the 60 regions, as may be seen in the first graph 10G1, and may differ from each other in at least some regions.
Comparing the first and second graphs 10G1 and 10G2, if optimization is performed according to the first operation method, the average value of current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier for each region is greater than the average value of the current applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier in each region when optimization is performed according to the second operation method.
Table 1 below shows the average values of the results of the second simulation as shown in
In Table 1, “Peak avg” represents an average light intensity of the 60 regions, “SNR” represents an average SNR of the 60 regions, “BFE” represents an average beamforming efficiency of the 60 regions, and “SMSR” represents an average SMSR of the 60 regions.
“PS” indicates a case when optimization (or beam forming) was performed using only a phase modulator for optical phase modulation, and corresponds to a case when optimization was performed according to the second operation method.
“PS+SOA” refers to a case when optimization (or beam forming) was performed by using a phase modulator together with a phase modulation optical amplifier for optical phase modulation, and corresponds to a case when optimization was performed according to the first operation method.
Comparing
The OPAs according to one or more example embodiments described above may be provided as one of parts or elements included in an electronic device or may be provided as an electronic device itself that may be combined with other electronic device(s). The other electronic device that may be combined may include any one of general vehicles, autonomous vehicles, manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, robots, and mobile phones, etc. In addition, the OPAs described above may be applied to various devices for recognizing an object and/or obtaining information about the object using light.
As an example,
Referring to
In one example, the controller 1140 may include a drive board 114A configured to control an operation of the OPA 112A. A voltage and a current may be applied to the phase modulator and/or phase modulation optical amplifier of the OPA 112A through the drive board 114A. In one example, the drive board 114A may be included in the light source unit 1120.
The controller 1140 may provide a synchronization signal related to light emission from the light source unit 1120 and a synchronization signal related to light reception from the receiver 1130, etc.
Referring to
In one example, the semiconductor device described with reference to
In the electronic device 2201, some of these components (e.g., the display device 2260) may be omitted or other components may be added. Some of these components may be implemented as one integrated circuit. For example, a fingerprint sensor 2211 of the sensor module 2210, an iris sensor, an illuminance sensor, etc. may be implemented in a form embedded in the display device 2260 (e.g., a display, etc.).
The processor 2220 may execute software (e.g., a program 2240, etc.) to control one or a plurality of other components (e.g., hardware, software components, etc.) of the electronic device 2201 connected to the processor 2220, and may perform various data processing or operations. As part of data processing or operations, the processor 2220 may load commands and/or data received from other components (e.g., the sensor module 2210, the communication module 2290, etc.) into a volatile memory 2232, and may process commands and/or data stored in the volatile memory 2232, and store resulting data in a non-volatile memory 2234. The processor 2220 may include a main processor 2221 (e.g., a central processing unit, an application processor, etc.) and an auxiliary processor 2223 (e.g., a graphics processing unit, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, a communication processor, etc.) that may be operated independently or together with the main processor 2221. The auxiliary processor 2223 may use less power than the main processor 2221 and may perform a specialized function.
The auxiliary processor 2223 may control functions and/or states related to some of the components (e.g., the display device 2260, the sensor module 2210, the communication module 2290) of the electronic device 2201 instead of the main processor 2221 while the main processor 2221 is in an inactive state (e.g., sleep state), or together with the main processor 2221 while the main processor 2221 is in an active state (e.g., application execution state). The auxiliary processor 2223 (e.g., an image signal processor, a communication processor, etc.) may be implemented as a part of other functionally related components (e.g., the camera module 2280, the communication module 2290, etc.).
The memory 2230 may store various data required by components of the electronic device 2201 (e.g., the processor 2220, the sensor module 2276, etc.). The data may include, for example, input data and/or output data for software (e.g., such as the program 2240) and instructions related to the command. The memory 2230 may include a volatile memory 2232 and/or a non-volatile memory 2234. The non-volatile memory 2234 may include an internal memory 2236 and an external memory 2238. The program 2240 may be stored as software in the memory 2230, and may include an operating system 2242, middleware 2244, and/or an application 2246.
The input device 2250 may receive commands and/or data to be used in a component (e.g., the processor 2220) of the electronic device 2201 from the outside of the electronic device 2201 (e.g., a user). The input device 2250 may include a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, and/or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).
The sound output device 2255 may output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 2201. The sound output device 2255 may include a speaker and/or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback, and the receiver may be used to receive incoming calls. The receiver may be integrated as a part of the speaker or may be implemented as an independent separate device.
The display device 2260 may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device 2201. The display device 2260 may include a control circuit for controlling a display, a hologram device, or a projector and a corresponding device. The display device 2260 may include a touch circuitry configured to sense a touch, and/or a sensor circuitry configured to measure the intensity of force generated by the touch (e.g., a pressure sensor, etc.).
The audio module 2270 may convert a sound into an electric signal or, conversely, convert an electric signal into a sound. The audio module 2270 may obtain a sound through the input device 2250 or may output a sound through a speaker and/or headphone of the sound output device 2255 and/or another electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 2202) directly or wirelessly connected to electronic device 2201.
The sensor module 2210 may detect an operating state (e.g., power, temperature, etc.) of the electronic device 2201 or an external environmental state (e.g., user state, etc.), and may generate an electrical signal and/or data value corresponding to the sensed state. The sensor module 2210 may include a fingerprint sensor 2211, an acceleration sensor 2212, a position sensor 2213, a 3D sensor 2214, and the like, and in addition to the above sensors, may include an iris sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and/or an illuminance sensor.
The 3D sensor 2214 may sense a shape and movement of an object by irradiating a predetermined light to the object and analyzing light reflected from the object, and may include a meta-optical device. In one example, the 3D sensor 2214 may include one of the OPAs 100 to 500 according to the embodiments described above or a combination of the OPAs 100 to 500 and also may include the LIDAR 1100 illustrated in
The interface 2277 may support one or more designated protocols that may be used by the electronic device 2201 to connect directly or wirelessly with another electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 2102). The interface 2277 may include a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, and/or an audio interface.
The connection terminal 2278 may include a connector through which the electronic device 2201 may be physically connected to another electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 2202). The connection terminal 2278 may include an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, and/or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).
The haptic module 2279 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration, movement, etc.) or an electrical stimulus that the user may perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sense. The haptic module 2279 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, and/or an electrical stimulation device.
The camera module 2280 may capture still images and moving images. The camera module 2280 may include a lens assembly including one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, and/or flashes. The lens assembly included in the camera module 2280 may collect light emitted from an object, which is an imaging target. In one example, the camera module 2280 may be provided to capture at least one of a visible light image and an infrared image of the object. In one example, the image signal processor included in the camera module 2280 may perform an operation for converting the captured infrared image into a visible light image and also an operation of overlapping the captured infrared image on the visible light image. In one example, the camera module 2280 may include an infrared camera for recognizing an object or obtaining information about the object, and the infrared camera may include one of the OPAs 100 to 500 according to the embodiments described above or a combination of the OPAs 100 to 500 and also may include the LIDAR 1100 illustrated in
The power management module 2288 may manage power supplied to the electronic device 2201. The power management module 2288 may be implemented as part of a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC).
The battery 2289 may supply power to components of the electronic device 2201. The battery 2289 may include a non-rechargeable primary cell, a rechargeable secondary cell, and/or a fuel cell.
The communication module 2290 may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel and/or wireless communication channel between the electronic device 2201 and other electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device 2202, an electronic device 2204, server 2208, etc.) and may support the performance of communication through the established communication channels. The communication module 2290 may include one or more communication processors that operate independently of the processor 2220 (e.g., an application processor) and support direct communication and/or wireless communication. The communication module 2290 may include a wireless communication module 2292 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, etc.) communication module) and/or a wired communication module 2294 (e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module, etc.). Among these communication modules, a corresponding communication module may communicate with other electronic devices through the first network 2298 (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth, WiFi Direct, or Infrared Data Association (IrDA)) or the second network 2299 (e.g., a telecommunication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (LAN) and WAN, etc.). The various types of communication modules may be integrated into one component (e.g., a single chip, etc.) or implemented as a plurality of components (e.g., plural chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module 2292 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 2201 within a communication network, such as the first network 2298 and/or the second network 2299 by using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) stored in a subscriber identification module 2296.
The antenna module 2297 may transmit or receive signals and/or power to and from the outside (e.g., other electronic devices, etc.). The antenna may include a radiator having a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., PCB, etc.). The antenna module 2297 may include one or a plurality of antennas. If a plurality of antennas is included in the antenna module 2297, an antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network 2298 and/or the second network 2299 from among the plurality of antennas may be selected by the communication module 2290. Signals and/or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module 2290 and another electronic device through the selected antenna. In addition to the antenna, other components (e.g., an RFIC, etc.) may be included as a part of the antenna module 2297.
Some of the components are connected to each other through a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, a General Purpose Input and Output (GPIO), a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI), etc.), and may interchange signals (e.g., commands, data, etc.).
The command or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device 2201 and the external electronic device 2204 through the server 2208 connected to the second network 2299. The other electronic devices 2202 and 2204 may be the same or different types of electronic device 2201. All or some of operations performed in the electronic device 2201 may be performed in one or more of the other electronic devices 2202, 2204, and 2208. For example, when the electronic device 2201 needs to perform a function or service, the electronic device 2201 may request one or more other electronic devices to perform part or all function or service instead of executing the function or service itself. One or more other electronic devices receiving the request may execute an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit a result of the execution to the electronic device 2201. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, and/or client-server computing technologies may be used.
The OPA according to an example embodiment not only may use a phase modulator to modulate light for beamforming (optimization), but also may use a phase modulation optical amplifier (e.g., SOA).
Considering that phase modulation occurs due to a change in a refractive index as a current for optical amplification is applied to the phase modulation optical amplifier, currents of different magnitudes may be applied to a plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers provided in the optical phased array according to an example embodiment in the beamforming. That is, the plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers may have different optical amplification rates.
In this way, according to an example embodiment considering the phase modulation characteristics that appear in the operation of the phase modulation optical amplifier, the beamforming may be performed by applying amplification currents of different sizes to a plurality of phase modulation optical amplifiers, and thus, the beamforming efficiency and light intensity may be increased in a region of interest within a beam steering range compared to the related art OPA in which a current of the same magnitude is applied to all optical amplifiers.
While many matters have been described in detail in the above description, they should be construed as illustrative of embodiments rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should not be defined by the embodiments described above but should be determined by the technical spirit described in the claims.
It should be understood that example embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. While one or more example embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0191857 | Dec 2023 | KR | national |
