Abstract: A direct view display device includes a light unit, a collimating unit, an image display unit, and a contrast enhancement unit. The contrast enhancement unit includes opposing first and second major surfaces. The first major surface includes an array of optical elements. The second major surface includes a light absorbing layer and an array of apertures in the light absorbing layer and corresponding to the array of optical elements. The optical elements are disposed between the light unit and the light absorbing layer. The collimating unit is disposed between the light unit and the contrast enhancement unit. The image display unit is disposed between the collimating unit and the contrast enhancement unit. The contrast enhancement unit and the image display unit are arranged such that each optical element of the contrast enhancement unit is aligned with at least one corresponding pixel of the image display unit.

Abstract: Backlight units include a light guide plate having a plurality of light extraction features, at least one light source optically coupled to a second major surface of the light guide plate, a rear reflector positioned proximate the second major surface, and a patterned reflective layer positioned proximate a first major surface of the light guide plate. Display and lighting devices comprising such backlight units are further disclosed.

Abstract: A material system for a surface display unit that includes a first side (i.e., a proximal side) that faces a viewer of the surface display unit and a second side (i.e., a distal side) facing away from the viewer. The material system provides at least three appearance states, including a generally opaque first appearance state when the surface display unit is “off” (i.e., not used to display images), a second appearance state in which the material system is illuminated from the first (i.e., proximal) side to display a first image (e.g., information and/or decoration) that is perceptible to the viewer, and a third appearance state in which the material system is illuminated from the second (i.e., distal) side to display a second image (e.g., information and/or decoration) that is perceptible to the viewer. Surface display units, systems, and methods comprising the material system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are speaker assemblies and acoustic devices comprising a panel having a long side and a short side, at least one transducer configured to excite the panel at a plurality of excitation locations on the panel to generate a wave having a wave front substantially perpendicular to the long side and propagating toward the short side of the panel and, optionally, at least one attenuating component mounted to the panel. Methods for generating an acoustic sound are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved light extraction from top-emitting OLEDs used to form displays include an array of light-emitting apparatus (60) each having the OLED (32) and a light-extraction apparatus (64) that includes an index-matching layer (70) and a tapered reflector (51). The tapered reflector (51) has the form of an inverted truncated pyramid, with the narrow end (58) interfacing with the OLED (32) through the index-matching layer (70). Light from the OLED undergoes total internal reflection within the tapered reflector (51) at the tapered reflector side surfaces (56) and is directed toward the top surface (54) of the tapered reflector (51). This light falls within the escape cone (59) of the top surface (54) and so exits the top surface (54). The OLED display (30) has a substrate that supports an array of OLEDs (32) and also includes an array of the tapered reflectors (51) operably arranged with respect to the OLEDs (32), and an encapsulation layer (100) atop the tapered reflector array.

Abstract: A light-emitting unit is disclosed that includes a light source and a Fresnel optical system operably arranged relative thereto. The Fresnel optical system includes spaced apart upper and lower surfaces each including micro-prisms. The lower surface is closest to the light source and receives divergent light therefrom. The lower surface directs the divergent light to the upper surface as first redirected light. The upper surface then forms from the first redirected light collimated light having a uniform radiant exitance. Some of the micro-prisms on the lower surface toward the outer edge operate by both refraction and total-internal reflection while the micro-prisms closer to the center of the lower surface operate by refraction only. A light emitting apparatus is formed by an array of the light-emitting units. A display system is formed by an arrangement of the light-emitting apparatus, an image display unit and a contrast-enhancement unit.

Abstract: A direct view display device includes a light unit, a collimating unit, an image display unit, and a contrast enhancement unit. The contrast enhancement unit includes opposing first and second major surfaces. The first major surface includes an array of optical elements. The second major surface includes a light absorbing layer and an array of apertures in the light absorbing layer and corresponding to the array of optical elements. The optical elements are disposed between the light unit and the light absorbing layer. The collimating unit is disposed between the light unit and the contrast enhancement unit. The image display unit is disposed between the collimating unit and the contrast enhancement unit. The contrast enhancement unit and the image display unit are arranged such that each optical element of the contrast enhancement unit is aligned with at least one corresponding pixel of the image display unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are light-emitting devices comprising a glass substrate having a first surface, and a plurality of color-converting elements disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of color-converting elements comprises a convex surface. Also disclosed herein are display devices comprising such light-emitting devices and methods for making the light-emitting devices.

Abstract: A material system for a surface display unit that includes a first side (i.e., a proximal side) that faces a viewer of the surface display unit and a second side (i.e., a distal side) facing away from the viewer. The material system provides at least three appearance states, including a generally opaque first appearance state when the surface display unit is “off” (i.e., not used to display images), a second appearance state in which the material system is illuminated from the first (i.e., proximal) side to display a first image (e.g., information and/or decoration) that is perceptible to the viewer, and a third appearance state in which the material system is illuminated from the second (i.e., distal) side to display a second image (e.g., information and/or decoration) that is perceptible to the viewer. Surface display units, systems, and methods comprising the material system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device (100) includes an image display unit (130), an aesthetic layer (144), and a focusing layer (142). The aesthetic layer (144) includes a matrix material (148) and an array of apertures (150) in the matrix material (148). The focusing layer (142) is disposed between the image display unit (130) and the aesthetic layer (144) and includes an array of optical elements (146) positioned to collectively focus an image generated by the image display unit (130) through the array of apertures (150) of the aesthetic layer (144).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are light-emitting devices comprising a glass substrate having a first surface, and a plurality of color-converting elements disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of color-converting elements comprises a convex surface. Also disclosed herein are display devices comprising such light-emitting devices and methods for making the light-emitting devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are speaker assemblies and acoustic devices comprising a panel having a long side and a short side, at least one transducer configured to excite the panel at a plurality of excitation locations on the panel to generate a wave having a wave front substantially perpendicular to the long side and propagating toward the short side of the panel and, optionally, at least one attenuating component mounted to the panel. Methods for generating an acoustic sound are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of minimizing edge reflections of vibrational waves in a flat panel speaker assembly for a stereo device by characterizing the impulse response of the flat panel and associated components in response to a test signal to produce a cancellation signal, and applying the cancellation signal for each stereo channel to the opposing stereo channel.

Abstract: A method of minimizing edge reflections of vibrational waves in a flat panel speaker assembly for a stereo device by characterizing the impulse response of the flat panel and associated components in response to a test signal to produce a cancellation signal, and applying the cancellation signal for each stereo channel to the opposing stereo channel.

Abstract: A display element for viewing a display such as, for example, a display on an electronic device. The display element comprises a transparent substrate and a scattering anti-glare layer located between a front surface and back surface of the display element, wherein the scattering anti-glare layer comprises a plurality of scattering elements. The scattering anti-glare layer has low reflectivity and provides an anti-glare effect for light reflected by interfaces within the display element.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a few moded optical fiber includes a glass core structured to provide light amplification at an amplification wavelength and a cladding surrounding the core. According to some embodiments the core of the few moded optical fiber includes a portion that has an average concentration of rare earth dopant which is lower by at least 30%, and preferably by at least 50%, than the average concentration of the rare earth dopant at another portion of the core that is situated further from the core center.

Abstract: A multi-wavelength distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) semiconductor laser is provided where DBR heating elements are positioned over the waveguide in the DBR section and define an interleaved temperature profile that generates multiple distinct reflection peaks corresponding to distinct temperature dependent Bragg wavelengths associated with the temperature profile. Neighboring pairs of heating elements of the DBR heating elements positioned over the waveguide in the DBR section are spaced along the direction of the axis of optical propagation by a distance that is equal to or greater than the laser chip thickness b to minimize the impact of thermal crosstalk between distinct temperature regions of the interleaved temperature profile.

Abstract: Described herein are various articles that have anti-reflection properties, along with methods for their manufacture and use. The anti-reflection properties are imparted by way of an integral anti-reflection component on a surface of the articles. The articles exhibit a specular reflectance that is less than or equal to about 85 percent of a specular reflectance of the glass substrate alone when measured at wavelengths of about 450 nanometers to about 750 nanometers. The article may also exhibit a specular reflectance of less than 4 percent across the same spectrum.

Abstract: An antireflection article including: a transparent substrate having a refractive index of from 1.48 to 1.53; a binder layer associated with the substrate, the binder having a refractive index of from 1.55 to 1.75; and a nanoparticulate monolayer or near monolayer associated with the binder layer, the nanoparticulate layer having an effective refractive index less than the refractive index of binder. Methods of making and using the article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A few mode optical fiber comprising: a Ge-free core having an effective area Aeff of LP01 mode wherein 120 ?m2<Aeff<1000 ?m2 at 1550 nm, and a refractive index profile selected such that the core is capable of supporting the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with X number of LP modes at 1550 nm, X is an integer and 1<X?20, maximum refractive index delta of the core, ?0, wherein ?0.5%??0?0.08%; and, an annular cladding surrounding the core having a low index ring with a minimum refractive index delta ?rMIN, ?rMIN<?0 and ?rMIN??0.3 relative to pure SiO2, an outer cladding with a refractive index delta ?Outer-Clad, such that ?Outer-Clad>?rMIN; and |?0??Outer-Clad|>0.05%, the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of <0.18 dB/km at the 1550 nm, and LP11 cut off wavelength >1600 nm.