Holographic Beam Steering Device

Researchers at Stanford have developed a highly efficient (>90%) holographic beam steering method for obtaining distance information of objects nearby, with applications from autonomous vehicles to home appliances. Combining simple and already matured components, this innovation enables a multi-selective scan method for fast and effective mapping. Existing beam steering methods (both mechanical and electrical) can increase the volume and cost of a device and have low efficiency. The Stanford innovation features a wavelength tunable laser for producing reading beams with different wavelengths, and a recording medium for storing multiplexed holograms. The output beams diffracted from the holographic medium have different direction and at least two or more divergent angles. The shape, size and direction of the output beam can be easily controlled.

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