US Patent 11994785 Dispersive beam steering based on optical-frequency shift patterns

Methods and apparatus for optical beam steering including a laser to generate a beam having an optical frequency and an optical phase modulator (OPM) to impart a shift in the optical frequency of the beam from the laser. A dispersive optical element maps the shift in the optical frequency to a corresponding angle with respect to the dispersive optical element, which can comprise a diffraction grating.