An envelope-reconstructed optical phased array beyond MHz-rate for FMCW LiDAR

Optical phased arrays (OPAs) based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) offer a compelling platform for high-speed beam steering in LiDAR and free-space communications. Here, we demonstrate a novel envelope reconstruction OPA for field-of-view (FOV) broadening, along with a cascaded push-pull architecture for the dense integration of the phase shifter array. The fabricated device achieves a 100° beam-steering range with a narrow beam width. The architecture enables 64 individually controlled channels within a compact footprint of 9.4 mm × 4.2 mm. Crucially, the OPA system exhibits a fast system-level response time of 67 ns, highlighting its capability for high-speed beam reconfiguration. This performance highlights its potential for high-speed real-time three-dimensional sensing. Furthermore, the OPA chip has been successfully integrated into a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) system for ranging, paving the way for its practical application in LiDAR and real-time dynamic optical imaging.