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Abstract

An optical phased array (100) and a method (200) of forming an optical beam using an optical phased array (100) are disclosed. The optical phased array (100) comprises an optical head (116) for producing an output light beam, a spread spectrum modulation module (112), and a module (114) for controlling the phase of spread-spectrum-modulated light beams. The optical head (116) has a reference surface in the optical head (116) and comprises a number of sub-apertures (130) each for receiving a respective light beam. The reference surface (116) produces a backreflected light signal (126). The spread spectrum modulation module (112) modulates each of the light beams to have a spread spectrum signal for isolating the respective modulated light beam, which is provided to the optical head (116). The module (114) for controlling the phase of the spread-spectrum-modulated light beams is dependent upon the backreflected light signal (126) and the spread spectrum modulation.

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First Claim