Abstract: Optical connectors for connecting optical fiber to a light source are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a housing with a first end having an open aperture and a second end having a blind aperture. A chamber is disposed in the housing such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the chamber. The chamber includes a first material. A light collecting region formed from a second material is disposed in the housing between the second end of the housing and the chamber. A blind aperture is positioned in the light collecting region such that a termination of the blind aperture is spaced apart from the chamber by at least a portion of the second material. A refracting surface is disposed in the housing between the open aperture and the light collecting region such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the refracting surface.

Abstract: A display apparatus has an image generator that generates image-bearing light from a f surface and a lens spaced apart from the image generator and having an aspheric incident refractive surface concave to the image generator and having an aspheric reflective surface concave to the image generator, wherein a principal axis of the reflective surface is normal to the image generator. A beam splitter plate disposed in free space between the image generator and the lens has first and second parallel surfaces that are oblique to a line of sight of a viewer. The lens and the beam splitter plate define a viewer eye box for the image-bearing light along the line of sight of the viewer.

Abstract: A grazing-incidence interferometer includes first and second spaced-apart diffractive optical elements with a generally planar object disposed therebetween. The first diffractive optical element forms sheared first-diffracted-order light beams that reflect from opposite first and second surfaces of the object at grazing-incidence angles, while a zero-diffracted-order light beam goes unreflected. The second diffractive optical element combines the unreflected zero-diffracted-order light beam and the sheared reflected beams to form a collimated, combined beam. A 1× double-telecentric relay system relays the combined beam to a folding optical system that forms first and second interference images on a diffusing screen located at an image plane. Digital images of the first and second interference images are obtained and processed to characterize the thickness variation of the object.

Abstract: A light multiplexing system includes a color combining element and first, second, and third color channels. Each color channel includes a light source that directs light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward the color combining element. The color combining element includes first and second windows. The first and second windows are made of a solid transparent material and include, collectively, three coated surfaces. The surfaces may be non-contiguous. A first coated surface receives light of the first, second and third wavelength bands. The first coated surface reflects the light of the first wavelength band and transmits the light of the second and third wavelength bands. A second coated surface receives light of the second and third wavelength bands transmitted by the first coated surface. The second coated surface reflects the light of second wavelength band and transmits the light of the third wavelength band.

Abstract: A lighting device is provided that includes a plurality of laser diodes each producing light in respective beams and a plurality of collimating lenses optically aligned with respective beams of the plurality of laser diodes. The lighting device also includes a field lens optically aligned to receive the laser light emitted by each of the plurality of laser diodes and directed thereto by the plurality of collimating lenses. The lighting device further has a light diffusing fiber having a terminal end located near a focal point of the field lens to receive the laser light, wherein the light diffusing fiber emits light from a side wall.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for detecting light of first and second fluorescent wavelength bands has a light source to generate an excitation wavelength to a first collimator element. A dichroic multiplexer has a first coated surface oblique to the optical axis and treated to transmit the excitation wavelength and to reflect the second fluorescent wavelength band and a second coated surface treated to transmit the excitation wavelength and the second fluorescent wavelength band and to reflect the first fluorescent wavelength band. A focusing element focuses the excitation light toward a light guide and directs collimated light of the first and second fluorescent wavelength bands from the light guide to the dichroic multiplexer. A first detector element is in the path of reflected light of the first fluorescent wavelength band and a second detector element is in the path of reflected light of the second fluorescent wavelength band.

Abstract: Optical connectors for connecting optical fiber to a light source are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connector includes a housing with a first end having an open aperture and a second end having a blind aperture. A chamber is disposed in the housing such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the chamber. The chamber includes a first material. A light collecting region formed from a second material is disposed in the housing between the second end of the housing and the chamber. A blind aperture is positioned in the light collecting region such that a termination of the blind aperture is spaced apart from the chamber by at least a portion of the second material. A refracting surface is disposed in the housing between the open aperture and the light collecting region such that the optical axis of the housing passes through the refracting surface.

Abstract: A light multiplexing system includes a color combining element and two or more first, second, and third color channels. Each color channel includes a light source that directs light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward the color combining element. The color combining element includes first and second. The first and second windows are made of a solid transparent material and include, collectively, three coated surfaces. The surfaces may be non-contiguous. A first coated surface receives light of the first, second and third wavelength bands. The first coated surface reflects the light of the first wavelength band and transmits the light of the second and third wavelength bands. A second coated surface receives light of the second and third wavelength bands transmitted by the first coated surface. The second coated surface reflects the light of second wavelength band and transmits the light of the third wavelength band.

Abstract: A grazing-incidence interferometer includes first and second spaced-apart diffractive optical elements with a generally planar object disposed therebetween. The first diffractive optical element forms sheared first-diffracted-order light beams that reflect from opposite first and second surfaces of the object at grazing-incidence angles, while a zero-diffracted-order light beam goes unreflected. The second diffractive optical element combines the unreflected zero-diffracted-order light beam and the sheared reflected beams to form a collimated, combined beam. A 1X double-telecentric relay system relays the combined beam to a folding optical system that forms first and second interference images on a diffusing screen located at an image plane. Digital images of the first and second interference images are obtained and processed to characterize the thickness variation of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light beam has a solid-state laser to emit a polarized input laser light beam that has a first aspect ratio of etendue R1. First and second cylindrical lenses collimate the light along orthogonal directions. An edge of a bisecting reflective surface splits the laser light beam into a first portion directed along a first beam path and a second portion along a second beam path, wherein the first and second beam paths each contain emitted light from the solid-state laser. One or more folding reflective surfaces are disposed along the first or second or both beam paths. A polarization rotator rotates polarization of the light along the second beam path. A polarization combiner combines light from the first and second beam paths to form an output beam, wherein the output beam has a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing pump light of a first wavelength ?1 to a laser that emits a second wavelength ?2 has first and second lasers of the wavelength ?1 to direct light along first and second axes in a first direction. The first and second axes define a first plane P1. To form a composite light beam of wavelength ?1, a filter apparatus has a first filter on a first surface at an oblique angle to the first and second axes and that transmits ?1 and reflects ?2. A second filter on a second surface parallel to the first surface, reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. A third filter formed on the first surface coplanar with the first filter reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. The filter apparatus re-aligns the first and second axes along a second plane P2, orthogonal to P1 and parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for detecting light of first and second fluorescent wavelength bands has a light source to generate an excitation wavelength to a first collimator element. A dichroic multiplexer has a first coated surface oblique to the optical axis and treated to transmit the excitation wavelength and to reflect the second fluorescent wavelength band and a second coated surface treated to transmit the excitation wavelength and the second fluorescent wavelength band and to reflect the first fluorescent wavelength band. A focusing element focuses the excitation light toward a light guide and directs collimated light of the first and second fluorescent wavelength bands from the light guide to the dichroic multiplexer. A first detector element is in the path of reflected light of the first fluorescent wavelength band and a second detector element is in the path of reflected light of the second fluorescent wavelength band.

Abstract: An apparatus emits a laser light beam with a first aspect ratio of etendue R1, wherein the optical invariant with respect to a first direction is less than half the optical invariant with respect to a second orthogonal direction. A first cylindrical lens collimates the beam in the first direction. A second cylindrical lens collimates the light beam in the second direction. A bisecting reflective surface has an edge that splits the collimated beam into undeviated and first deviated beam paths. A folding reflective surface redirects the first deviated beam path back toward the bisecting reflective surface, optically parallel with and displaced from the undeviated beam path with respect to the first direction. At least a portion of the redirected first deviated beam path passes the edge and combines with the undeviated path to form an output beam having a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.

Abstract: An apparatus emits a laser light beam with a first aspect ratio of etendue R1, wherein the optical invariant with respect to a first direction is less than half the optical invariant with respect to a second orthogonal direction. A first cylindrical lens collimates the beam in the first direction. A second cylindrical lens collimates the light beam in the second direction. A bisecting reflective surface has an edge that splits the collimated beam into undeviated and first deviated beam paths. A folding reflective surface redirects the first deviated beam path back toward the bisecting reflective surface, optically parallel with and displaced from the undeviated beam path with respect to the first direction. At least a portion of the redirected first deviated beam path passes the edge and combines with the undeviated path to form an output beam having a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.

Abstract: A Fizeau interferometer incorporates an off-axis paraboloidal reflector that forms virtual images of reference and test surfaces and a camera lens that converts the virtual images into real images on a camera detector surface. The camera detector surface is arranged together with the camera lens to accommodate tilting of the virtual images by the off-axis paraboloidal reflector.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light beam has a solid-state laser to emit a polarized input laser light beam that has a first aspect ratio of etendue R1. First and second cylindrical lenses collimate the light along orthogonal directions. An edge of a bisecting reflective surface splits the laser light beam into a first portion directed along a first beam path and a second portion along a second beam path, wherein the first and second beam paths each contain emitted light from the solid-state laser. One or more folding reflective surfaces are disposed along the first or second or both beam paths. A polarization rotator rotates polarization of the light along the second beam path. A polarization combiner combines light from the first and second beam paths to form an output beam, wherein the output beam has a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a color image has at least a first, a second, and a third illumination source, each illumination source energizable to provide continuous illumination of a first, a second, or a third wavelength band, respectively, to an optical multiplexer. The optical multiplexer is actuable to cyclically switch received light from each one of the illumination sources, in turn, to each one of at least a first, a second, and a third projector channel in a repeated sequence. The first projector channel connects to a first projector apparatus, the second projector channel connects to a second projector apparatus, and the third projector channel connects to a third projector apparatus. Each projector apparatus has a light modulator that is energizable to form an image from the light of the first, second, or third wavelength band that is cyclically switched onto its projector channel from the optical multiplexer.

Abstract: A color combining apparatus has first, second, and third color channels, each color channel having a light source that is energizable to direct light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward a color combining element. The color combining element is a single piece of a solid, transparent material having at least first and second flat coated surfaces that are noncontiguous. The first coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the first wavelength band onto an optical axis and to transmit incident light of the second and third wavelength bands. The second coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the second wavelength band and to transmit incident light of the third wavelength band.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing pump light of a first wavelength ?1 to a laser that emits a second wavelength ?2 has first and second lasers of the wavelength ?1 to direct light along first and second axes in a first direction. The first and second axes define a first plane P1. To form a composite light beam of wavelength ?1, a filter apparatus has a first filter on a first surface at an oblique angle to the first and second axes and that transmits ?1 and reflects ?2. A second filter on a second surface parallel to the first surface, reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. A third filter formed on the first surface coplanar with the first filter reflects ?1 and transmits ?2. The filter apparatus re-aligns the first and second axes along a second plane P2, orthogonal to P1 and parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A speckle reduction system includes an optical system and one or more beam steerers for directing light to successive off-axis areas around a diffuser and for reorienting and recentering distributions of the light from each of the successive off-axis areas of the diffuser along a common axis.