Apodized slanted teeth grating couplers for LiDAR applications

Solid state LiDAR systems traditionally rely on costly active components for efficient beam scanning. In this study, we propose a cost-effective, purely passive steering approach using apodized slanted grating couplers. Through apodization, we achieve a uniform upward emission profile and enhanced upward transmission. Theoretical calculations indicate successful steering of \(91.5^\circ \times 42.8^\circ\) $91.5^{\circ }\times 42.8^{\circ }$ . Experimental results closely match theoretical predictions, validating the capabilities of our passive steering concept. Additionally, the grating couplers, with a length of 3 mm, enable a farfield FWHM of 0.026 \(^\circ\) $_{}^{\circ }$ , further enhancing sensing resolution.