A cascade of microlens arrays that are decentered with respect to each
other is one potential method for beam steering; the magnitude of the
steering depends on the amount of decenter. A simple, heuristic geome
tric analysis is presented that suggests that the output of the arrays
is analogous to a blazed grating. The periodic nature of the exiting
wavefront restricts allowed steering angles to values determined by th
e element-to-element spacing of the microlens arrays. The efficiency o
f steering into a desired mode of the grating is determined both by th
e amount of decenter of the microlens arrays and the fill factor at th
e output of the arrays. It is shown that maximum fill factor is desire
d, which can be achieved through the addition of a microlens array tha
t acts like a field lens. Assumptions are identified under which the g
rating nature of the output can be predicted using Fresnel diffraction
theory. Future work in the area of microlens beam steering is suggest
ed.