A Switchable Holographic Circle to Point Converter for Use in LIDAR Receivers

Scientific Solutions, Inc.

North Chelmsford, MA

To optimize the materials, optical design, fabrication process and thus performance of the SCPC; to demonstrate and deliver one prototype of optical switches

• SCPC devices are fabricated and characterized as a function of switching and routing optical signals, with a diffraction efficiency of 30% and contrast ratio of more than 30 between two states: switching-off and switching-on. This was achieved after researching and optimizing the materials, optical design, and fabrication process.
• To fabricate a 32-channel SCPC for routing the signal from a Fabry-Perot, a 32-channel ring pattern was etched to match the ring pattern of the Fabry-Perot

• The largest commercial market is telecommunications where this beam steering technology can be used to randomly switch signals among different fiber channels
• A solid-state, dense, random optical cross-switch is commercialized to fill needs in the commercial metro-core telecom market, and to supply rapid, multichannel, covert, and frequency agile optical communications to the aerospace community
• The deliverable is entirely solid state and is fabricated using planar fabrication techniques, providing significant cost advantages over competing technologies

• A sealed, solid state etalon combined with a switchable holographic element can replace a tunable etalon system, and has advantages with respect to LIDAR system cost, complexity and weight
• The device can isolate hundreds of individual wavelengths across the tunable range of a tunable laser or LIDAR transmitter, which is accomplished with no moving parts, and with a significant cost advantage over competing technologies

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