公开(公告)号：US12044949B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-23

申请号：US18489116

申请日：2023-10-18

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Paul Epp ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: G02F1/29 ,  G02B27/00

CPC classification number: G02F1/292 ,  G02B27/0087 ,  G02F2203/50

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first communications terminal. The first communications terminal may include an optical phased array (OPA) including a plurality of phase shifters configured to receive an optical communications beam from a second communications terminal. The first communications terminal may also include one or more processors configured to determine a link axis for communication with the second communications terminal based on the received optical communications beam, identify a compensatory wavefront curvature for mitigating cross-coupling, and generate a wavefront of an outgoing optical communications beam using the plurality of phase shifters based on the determined link axis and the compensatory wavefront curvature.

公开(公告)号：US20240192572A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18489116

申请日：2023-10-18

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Paul Epp ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: G02F1/29 ,  G02B27/00

CPC classification number: G02F1/292 ,  G02B27/0087 ,  G02F2203/50

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first communications terminal. The first communications terminal may include an optical phased array (OPA) including a plurality of phase shifters configured to receive an optical communications beam from a second communications terminal. The first communications terminal may also include one or more processors configured to determine a link axis for communication with the second communications terminal based on the received optical communications beam, identify a compensatory wavefront curvature for mitigating cross-coupling, and generate a wavefront of an outgoing optical communications beam using the plurality of phase shifters based on the determined link axis and the compensatory wavefront curvature.

公开(公告)号：US20220206234A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-30

申请号：US17697581

申请日：2022-03-17

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-hyong Kim ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Paul Epp

IPC: G02B6/42

Abstract: A method of calibrating a collimating lens system includes transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system. The beam is reflected off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens, and received, via the collimating lens, at a power meter connected to the optical fiber. The method also includes adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter, selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading, and securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

公开(公告)号：US11307367B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-19

申请号：US16994927

申请日：2020-08-17

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Nam-hyong Kim ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Paul Epp

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  G02B6/42 ,  G02B27/30

Abstract: A method of calibrating a collimating lens system includes transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system. The beam is reflected off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens, and received, via the collimating lens, at a power meter connected to the optical fiber. The method also includes adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter, selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading, and securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

公开(公告)号：US20250093474A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-20

申请号：US18468114

申请日：2023-09-15

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Stephen Palese ,  Ondrej Cierny ,  Paul Epp

IPC: G01S7/481 ,  G01S7/484 ,  G01S17/931 ,  G02B27/00

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an optical phased array (OPA) architecture for a device capable of transmitting and receiving both optical communications signals and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) signals. The OPA architecture may involve the use of a single OPA chip with a plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PIC). In this regard, the transmitters and receivers (or transceivers) of the OPA architecture may include switches. The transceiver switch may enable changing between transmitting and receiving optical communications signals and LIDAR signals.

公开(公告)号：US12217885B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-04

申请号：US18219853

申请日：2023-07-10

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Nam-Hyong Kim ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Paul Epp

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  C01G39/00 ,  C01G55/00 ,  G02B6/42 ,  H01B1/22 ,  H01B1/24 ,  H01M4/131 ,  H01M4/36 ,  H01M4/485 ,  H01M4/505 ,  H01M4/525 ,  H01M4/58 ,  H01M4/62 ,  H01M10/052 ,  G02B27/30 ,  H01M4/02

Abstract: A method of calibrating a collimating lens system includes transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system. The beam is reflected off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens, and received, via the collimating lens, at a power meter connected to the optical fiber. The method also includes adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter, selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading, and securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

公开(公告)号：US12132523B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-29

申请号：US18475405

申请日：2023-09-27

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Devin Brinkley ,  Paul Epp ,  John Moody

IPC: H04B10/50 ,  H04B10/548

CPC classification number: H04B10/5053 ,  H04B10/5051 ,  H04B10/5055 ,  H04B10/548

Abstract: A system includes a transmitter configured to output an optical signal. The transmitter includes a seed laser, an optical array including a plurality of array elements, and a plurality of phase shifters in a multi-layer arrangement. The multi-layer arrangement includes a plurality of layers between the seed laser and the optical array, wherein a first layer of the plurality of layers transmits light to a second layer of the plurality of layers. The first layer has fewer phase shifters than the second layer. The multi-layer arrangement also includes a plurality of branches wherein each branch includes a phase shifter from each of the plurality of layers connected in series between the seed laser and one of the plurality of array elements. Each phase shifter is configured to shift the optical signal incrementally to amass a total phase shift for each of the plurality of array elements.

公开(公告)号：US20240195500A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18298532

申请日：2023-04-11

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Ondrej Cierny ,  Paul Epp ,  Jean-Laurent Plateau ,  Bruce Moision ,  Joaquin Matres Abril ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: H04B10/11

CPC classification number: H04B10/11

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of adjusting a plurality of phase shifters of an OPA. The method may include identifying, by one or more processors, one or more first subsets of phase shifters of the plurality of phase shifters based on an orthogonal set of functions; performing, by the one or more processors, one or more first dithers on the one or more first subsets of phase shifters of the plurality of phase shifters using one or more first frequencies of a predetermined set of frequencies; determining, by the one or more processors, one or more first corrections based on a first power output of the OPA resulting from the one or more first dithers; and adjusting, by the one or more processors, the one or more first subsets using the one or more first corrections, the adjustment resulting in a first set of corrected phase shifter values.

公开(公告)号：US20240192487A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18234197

申请日：2023-08-15

Applicant: X Development LLC

Inventor： Paul Epp ,  Andrei Kazmierski ,  Devin Brinkley

IPC: G02B27/00 ,  G02B5/18 ,  G02F1/29 ,  H04B10/112

CPC classification number: G02B27/0087 ,  G02B5/1885 ,  G02F1/292 ,  H04B10/1123

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a system including a first optical communications terminal comprising. The first optical communications terminal may include a common aperture for transmitting signals and receiving signals. The first optical communications terminal may also include an optical phased array (OPA) architecture including a micro-lens array including a plurality of micro-lenses. Each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses may have a plurality of concentric grooves arranged on a respective surface of that micro-lens. The OPA architecture may be configured for bidirectional communication with a second optical communications terminal.

公开(公告)号：US20230100620A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-30

申请号：US17897410

申请日：2022-08-29

Applicant: X DEVELOPMENT LLC

Inventor： Devin Brinkley ,  Baris Ibrahim Erkmen ,  Joaquin Matres Abril ,  Paul Epp

IPC: G02F1/295 ,  G02B6/124 ,  H04B10/548

Abstract: An optical phased array (OPA) photonic integrated chip includes a plurality of array elements, a plurality of phase shifters, a plurality of combiners, and an edge coupler configured to couple to a single mode waveguide. The plurality of phase shifters includes a layer of phase shifters that has a phase shifter connected to each array element in the plurality of array elements. The plurality of combiners is configured to connect the plurality of phase shifters to the edge coupler. The plurality of combiners includes a first combiner that has a first output that is connected to a second combiner or the edge coupler, and a second output of the first combiner is connected to a photodetector. An in-phase light portion at the first combiner is output through the first output, and an out-of-phase light portion at the first combiner is output through the second output.