Multichannel /spl plusmn/ 1.1-kV arbitrary waveform generator for beam steering using ferroelectric device

Ferroelectric devices are one of the options available for beam steering. Applying an electric field to a ferroelectric beam deflector controls the direction of the light that propagates through the device. Currently, these devices require relatively high-driving voltages. In this paper, we present an arbitrary waveform generator designed to provide the driving voltages needed. It has five independent output channels, each capable of producing an arbitrary /spl plusmn/ 1.1-kV signal at up to 10 kHz, with 10 mA of drive current. Our design can achieve a total deflection angle of 62.5/spl deg/ with a five-stage ferroelectric beam deflector. It has been tested driving a two-stage LiTaO/sub 3/ ferroelectric beam deflector achieving a total deflection angle of 25/spl deg/. With 16-bit resolution, the driver accurately controls the propagation path of the beam from the first-stage deflector to the second-stage deflector for further deflection. No commercial equipment is available to drive multistage ferroelectric beam-deflector devices. Our design provides a low-cost and compact solution that can be readily adapted for application and device specific requirements.