Controlling an optical phased array includes applying optical phase shifts by an array of phase shifter (PS) elements, each PS element applying an optical phase shift based on an input voltage signal applied across first and second terminals of the PS element, providing output voltage signals from an array of driver elements. During a charging time period, each driver element provides an output voltage signal to determine a corresponding input voltage signal applied across at least one of the PS elements; an array of switches control connectivity between the driver elements and respective PS elements; and all of the second terminals of all of the PS elements in the array of PS elements are maintained at a common voltage. The total number of switches in the array of switches is at least as large as the total number of PS elements in the array of PS elements.