A method for microscanning in imaging sensors is developed that allows
liquid-crystal beam steerers to be used as nonmechanical microscan de
vices. This submicroscanning method involves using the beam steerers t
o shift images on a focal-plane array by a fraction of the amount used
in typical microscan methods. Interpolation techniques based on inter
laced sampling are used to produce images free of aliasing out to twic
e the Nyquist frequency determined by the focal-plane array. Since a c
ontinuous phase ramp is produced by the liquid-crystal beam steerer, d
ispersion effects due to the gratinglike nature of the devices are avo
ided. Simulations for both one- and two-dimensional cases are presente
d, as well as experimental results using a 3- to 5-mu m imaging sensor
and a liquid-crystal beam steerer designed for operation at 1.064 mu
m.