Abstract: A coupler array device may include an array of couplers arranged in a coupler plane, where each of the couplers couples light between the coupler plane and one or more directions outside of the coupler plane. A coupler array device may further include a pixel switch network to selectively couple light into or out of a selected subset of the plurality of couplers, where the pixel switch network may include one or more pixel-network waveguides and pixel-network switches to couple light between couplers and pixel-network waveguides. The coupler array device may further include one or more feed networks including a feed-line waveguide and one or more feed-network switches to couple light between the feed-line waveguide and at least some of the pixel-network waveguides. Light may be routable between selected couplers and selected feed-line waveguides along selected paths by controlling the pixel-network switches and the feed-network switches along the selected paths.

Abstract: An imaging transmitter (Tx) for free-space optical communications (FOC) includes a light source for providing modulated light, a pixel controller configured for dynamic selection of at least a portion of the modulated light to provide at least one pre-collimated FOC beam. An imaging lens assembly is for collimating the pre-collimated FOC beam to provide a transmitted FOC beam. The pixel controller controls a location of the pre-collimated FOC beam with respect to a focal surface of the imaging lens assembly so that the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a desired direction in object space that is determined by the location, or in the case that the light source is an emitting array, equivalently the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a unique angular volume described by the center line-of-sight (LOS) and instantaneous FOV (iFOV) of the emitting pixel(s) in the array.

Abstract: An imaging transmitter (Tx) for free-space optical communications (FOC) includes a light source for providing modulated light, a pixel controller configured for dynamic selection of at least a portion of the modulated light to provide at least one pre-collimated FOC beam. An imaging lens assembly is for collimating the pre-collimated FOC beam to provide a transmitted FOC beam. The pixel controller controls a location of the pre-collimated FOC beam with respect to a focal surface of the imaging lens assembly so that the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a desired direction in object space that is determined by the location, or in the case that the light source is an emitting array, equivalently the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a unique angular volume described by the center line-of-sight (LOS) and instantaneous FOV (iFOV) of the emitting pixel(s) in the array.

Abstract: A coupler array device may include an array of couplers arranged in a coupler plane, where each of the couplers couples light between the coupler plane and one or more directions outside of the coupler plane. A coupler array device may further include a pixel switch network to selectively couple light into or out of a selected subset of the plurality of couplers, where the pixel switch network may include one or more pixel-network waveguides and pixel-network switches to couple light between couplers and pixel-network waveguides. The coupler array device may further include one or more feed networks including a feed-line waveguide and one or more feed-network switches to couple light between the feed-line waveguide and at least some of the pixel-network waveguides. Light may be routable between selected couplers and selected feed-line waveguides along selected paths by controlling the pixel-network switches and the feed-network switches along the selected paths.

Abstract: An imaging transmitter (Tx) for free-space optical communications (FOC) includes a light source for providing modulated light, a pixel controller configured for dynamic selection of at least a portion of the modulated light to provide at least one pre-collimated FOC beam. An imaging lens assembly is for collimating the pre-collimated FOC beam to provide a transmitted FOC beam. The pixel controller controls a location of the pre-collimated FOC beam with respect to a focal surface of the imaging lens assembly so that the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a desired direction in object space that is determined by the location, or in the case that the light source is an emitting array, equivalently the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a unique angular volume described by the center line-of-sight (LOS) and instantaneous FOV (iFOV) of the emitting pixel(s) in the array.