Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based imager blade includes a number of PIC imager units stacked on top of one another. Each PIC imager unit includes a PIC coupled, at a first end and a second end, to a first set of lenslets and a second set of lenslets, respectively. An electronic integrated circuit (EIC) is coupled to the PIC. Pairs of lenslets of the first and second set of lenslets are optically coupled to respective waveguides embedded in the PIC. The PIC imager units have different lengths, and longer PIC imager units include larger lenslets.

Abstract: A multi-aperture optical system includes a photonic integrated circuit, a spacer substrate coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, a plurality of optical cells, a beam combiner, and a photodetector coupled to the beam combiner. The photonic integrated circuit, the spacer substrate, the plurality of optical cells, the beam combiner, and the photodetector are integrated as a single monolithically formed optical head. Each optical cell includes a focusing optical element formed on the spacer substrate and configured to focus the light through the substrate and onto a folding element. The folding element is integrated into the photonic integrated circuit to couple light incident on the optical cell into a waveguide. The waveguide is coupled to the phase shifter to transport the light reflected by the folding element through a phase shifter. The phase shifter is coupled to the focusing optical element to shift a phase of an optical signal received by the focusing optical element.

Abstract: A multi-aperture optical system includes a photonic integrated circuit, a spacer substrate coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, a plurality of optical cells, a beam combiner, and a photodetector coupled to the beam combiner. The photonic integrated circuit, the spacer substrate, the plurality of optical cells, the beam combiner, and the photodetector are integrated as a single monolithically formed optical head. Each optical cell includes a focusing optical element formed on the spacer substrate and configured to focus the light through the substrate and onto a folding element. The folding element is integrated into the photonic integrated circuit to couple light incident on the optical cell into a waveguide. The waveguide is coupled to the phase shifter to transport the light reflected by the folding element through a phase shifter. The phase shifter is coupled to the focusing optical element to shift a phase of an optical signal received by the focusing optical element.

Abstract: A tunable interferometric scanning spectrometer is provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, the interferometric scanning spectrometer splits incoming light beams among different optical paths in the spectrometer, recombines the light beams from the different optical paths to produce combined light beams, detects intensities of the combined light beams across a focal plane (e.g., with a sensor array), and calculates a spectra based on the detected intensities and a filter function that is a function of optical path difference (OPD) between the optical paths. In one aspect, the filter function varies across the focal plane. In another aspect, the spectrometer comprises a rotatable dispersive element (e.g., glass plate) in one the optical paths and/or a moveable mirror in the other optical path. In this aspect, the spectrometer may be adjusted away from zero OPD by rotation of the dispersive element and/or displacement of the mirror.

Abstract: A system and method of calibrating an optical measurement system utilizing polarization diversity is disclosed. A waveplate having a rotation axis is provided. A first light polarization component and a second light polarization component are caused to propagate in the waveplate while the waveplate is rotated about the rotation axis. An equal common phase shift is caused in the first and second light polarization components while a differential phase shift in the first and second light polarization components is maintained. A relative phase between the first and second light polarization components is sensed. At least one calibration parameter is determined based on the relative phase.