Abstract: In this work, we review different approaches for generating optical vortices. Specifically, we examine novel approaches that use the transmission electrode technique with a curved electrode and other approaches in which the modal principle is combined with the conventional transmission electrode layout. These devices achieve a fully continuous phase distribution across their entire aperture, improving efficiency and eliminating the fill-factor limitations seen in segmented electrodes. Experimental validations confirm robust performance, uniform phase gradients, and greater control over vortex beam characteristics, making these new designs ideal for high-precision optical tweezing, OAM multiplexing, and advanced free-space communication systems. We conclude that the transmission electrode approach represents a scalable, reconfigurable, and efficient solution for next-generation optical vortex generation.

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