Abstract: Multi-mode displays are described. In particular, multi-mode displays having an emissive display element, a partial reflector disposed on the emissive display element, a spatial light modulator disposed on the partial reflector, and an absorbing polarizer disposed on the spatial light modulator are described. Multi-mode displays having at least reflective display modes and emissive display modes are described. The display is configured such that switching between these modes happens quickly or even automatically.

Abstract: A head-mounted display including a first optical system is described. The first optical system includes a partial reflector and a multilayer reflective polarizer disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the partial reflector. The multilayer reflective polarizer is curved about orthogonal first and second axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. Each chief ray that passes through the first optical system is first incident on the multilayer reflective polarizer at an angle of incidence less than 30 degrees.

Abstract: A light source suitable for general lighting applications combines at least one remote phosphor LED and at least one direct emitting LED in a single unit. Both the remote phosphor LED and the direct emitting LED are carried by a base and covered by a bulb or other suitable cover member, which may be light-diffusing. The remote phosphor LED includes a first LED, a phosphor layer, and a first dichroic reflector. Excitation light from the first LED is reflected by the first dichroic reflector onto the phosphor layer to generate phosphor light, which is substantially transmitted by the first dichroic reflector. At least some light from the direct emitting LED propagates to the cover member without passing through any dichroic reflector, including the first dichroic reflector. The light source may provide white light output using relatively small amounts of phosphor material.

Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface and a stop surface are described. First second and third optical lenses, a partial reflector, a multilayer reflective polarizer and a quarter wave retarder are disposed between the image surface and the stop surface. A plurality of major surfaces are disposed between the image surface and the stop surface with each major surface convex toward the image surface along orthogonal first and second axes. At least six different major surfaces have six different convexities.

Abstract: A method of coating a plurality of sheets. A fluid is forced through gaps in the plurality of sheets. The fluid has a substantially plug flow profile and the fluid deposits a coating on at least one surface of the plurality of sheets in a self-limiting deposition process.

Abstract: Integral optical stacks and optical systems including the integral optical stack are described. The integral optical stack may include first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer curved about two orthogonal axes, and a quarter wave retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically biaxial at at least one first location on the at least one layer away from an optical axis of the optical stack and substantially optically uniaxial at at least one second location away from the optical axis.

Abstract: An image combiner, also referred to as a combiner optic, of a near-eye display system or the like transmits enough light so a user can see remote objects in a “world view”, while also reflecting enough light so the user can simultaneously see a projected image in a “projected” (augmented) view. The disclosed image combiners use two partial reflectors configured to form a wedged reflective cavity. In the display system, light from an imaging device follows a path to the user's eye that includes three reflections in the wedged cavity. By using this capability of the wedged cavity, the combiner optic can have a substantially reduced thickness, and lower profile, than a combiner optic that uses only one partial reflector and only one reflection in the optical path.

Abstract: Optical systems including a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer are described. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and has at least one location having a radial distance r1 from an optical axis passing through an apex of the reflective polarizer and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at an apex of the reflective polarizer, where s1/r1 is at least 0.1. The optical system is adapted to provide an adjustable dioptric correction.

Abstract: A folded light path illuminator is provided. The illuminator may include a polarizing beam splitter having an input face, an output face and an imager face, a light source disposed adjacent the input face and defining an input active area on the input face, and an image forming device disposed adjacent the imager face for receiving light emitted from the light source and emitting a patterned light, which may be a converging patterned light. The image forming device may have a largest image area which defines an output active area on the output face. One or both of the input active area and the output active area may be less than about half the largest image area. The polarizing beam splitter may include first and second prisms and the volume of the first prism may be no greater than half the volume of the second prism.

Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface, a partial reflector disposed between the image surface and the stop surface, a reflective polarizer disposed between the stop surface and the partial reflector, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector are described. The reflective polarizer is convex along two orthogonal axes. The reflective polarizer may be a thermoformed multilayer reflective polarizer.

Abstract: A head-mounted display including a first optical system is provided. The first optical system includes an image surface, a stop surface, a first optical stack disposed between the image surface and the stop surface and a second optical stack disposed between the first optical stack and the stop surface. The first optical stack includes a first optical lens and a partial reflector. The second optical stack includes a second optical lens and a curved multilayer reflective polarizer. A quarter wave retarder is disposed between the multilayer reflective polarizer and the partial reflector. The multilayer reflective polarizer and the partial reflector may be convex toward the image surface along orthogonal first and second axes.

Abstract: Integral optical stacks and optical systems including the integral optical stack are described. The integral optical stack may include first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer curved about two orthogonal axes, and a quarter wave retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically biaxial at at least one first location on the at least one layer away from an optical axis of the optical stack and substantially optically uniaxial at at least one second location away from the optical axis.

Abstract: An image combiner, also referred to as a combiner optic, of a near-eye display system or the like transmits enough light so a user can see remote objects in a “world view”, while also reflecting enough light so the user can simultaneously see a projected image in a “projected” (augmented) view. The disclosed image combiners use two partial reflectors configured to form a wedged reflective cavity. In the display system, light from an imaging device follows a path to the user's eye that includes three reflections in the wedged cavity. By using this capability of the wedged cavity, the combiner optic can have a substantially reduced thickness, and lower profile, than a combiner optic that uses only one partial reflector and only one reflection in the optical path.

Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface, a partial reflector disposed between the image surface and the stop surface, a reflective polarizer disposed between the stop surface and the partial reflector, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector are described. The reflective polarizer is convex along two orthogonal axes. The reflective polarizer may be a thermoformed multilayer reflective polarizer.

Abstract: Optical systems including first and second optical stacks and adapted to provide an adjustable dioptric correction are described. The first optical stack includes a first optical lens and a partial reflector. The second optical stack is convex along orthogonal first and second axes and includes a second optical lens and a reflective polarizer. The reflective polarizer has at least one first location having a radial distance r1 from an optical axis of the second optical stack and a displacement s1 from a plane perpendicular to the optical axis at an apex of the reflective polarizer, where s1/r1 is at least 0.1. A quarter wave retarder is disposed between the second optical stack and the first optical stack.

Abstract: A head-mounted display including a first optical system is provided. The first optical system includes an image surface, a stop surface, a first optical stack disposed between the image surface and the stop surface and a second optical stack disposed between the first optical stack and the stop surface. The first optical stack includes a first optical lens and a partial reflector. The second optical stack includes a second optical lens and a curved multilayer reflective polarizer. A quarter wave retarder is disposed between the multilayer reflective polarizer and the partial reflector. The multilayer reflective polarizer and the partial reflector may be convex toward the image surface along orthogonal first and second axes.

Abstract: An optical system and a magnifying device including the optical system are described. The optical system includes an exit pupil, a reflective polarizer proximate the exit pupil, a partial reflector disposed adjacent the reflective polarizer opposite the exit pupil, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and the partial reflector is spaced apart from the reflective polarizer.

Abstract: Projection systems and components thereof are described that are well suited to miniaturization.

Abstract: Light emitting systems and optical systems including a light emitting system and a lens system are described. The light emitting system includes a pixelated light source having a plurality of discrete spaced apart pixels, and includes a plurality of light redirecting elements, each light redirecting element corresponding to a different pixel in the plurality of pixels. The light redirecting elements may be adapted to alter one or both of a central ray direction and a divergence angle of light received from the corresponding pixel. A lens system disposed to receive light from the light emitting system may include a reflective polarizer and a partial reflector.

Abstract: A head-mounted display including a first optical system is provided. The first optical system includes an image surface, a stop surface, a first optical stack disposed between the image surface and the stop surface and a second optical stack disposed between the first optical stack and the stop surface. The first optical stack includes a first optical lens and a partial reflector. The second optical stack includes a second optical lens, a multilayer reflective polarizer and a first quarter wave retarder disposed between the multilayer reflective polarizer and the first optical stack. The multilayer reflective polarizer may be convex toward the image surface along orthogonal first and second axes.