This SBIR Phase II project builds upon Digital Optics Corporation's experience in the design, fabrication, and integration of diffractive optics with lasers and electronics to provide an innovative laser beam steering approach for laser radar systems. The proposed project uses a micro-optical beam steering architecture in conjunction with specially designed diffractive optical elements to provide a compact, innovative laser beam steering system. Use of the proposed methods offer potential size, weight, performance, and cost advantages over current techniques. This Phase II effort will demonstrate the application of specialty diffractive optics to the problem of laser beam steering. Both analytical and experimental work will be performed to verify the objectives of the proposes project.
Benefits: The proposed beam steering methods offer potential benefits for munitions guidance as well as other airborne and space-based LADAR systems. The tele-communications industry is also a potential benefactor of this technology. This proposed system could be used to re-route optical signals at fiber junctions. Other industries requiring optical scanning, such as the bar code scanning industry and laser marking industry, would also benefit from this technology.
