Abstract: An optical unit for a laser processing system includes a laser diode including a plurality of laser emitters which emit laser light, a lens unit including a plurality of lenses, a holding block having a light-transmitting property, and a light-shielding film. The holding block and the laser diode are bonded to each other with a first adhesive, and the lens unit and the holding block are bonded to each other with a second adhesive. The light-shielding film is located between the lens unit and the holding block.

Abstract: A beam coupling device includes a light source, optical units, and a coupling optical system. The light source includes light emitters arranged in a first direction and a second direction, to emit light beams having a light ray direction intersecting the first and second directions from each of the light emitters. The optical units are arranged to guide each light beam for each set of light emitters arranged in the first direction in the light source. The coupling optical system is arranged to couple the light beams guided by each optical unit. Each of the optical units is arranged to direct outward the light ray direction of the light beam emitted by a light emitter that is located outside in the first direction for the set of light emitters, to guide the light beam from the light emitter into the coupling optical system.

Abstract: An optical resonator of wavelength beam combining type, includes: a laser diode array having a plurality of laser elements arranged along a predetermined direction and configured to emit light beams having wavelengths different from one another; a diffraction grating that diffracts the light beam emitted from each of the laser elements at a diffraction angle corresponding to the wavelength of the light beam; an output coupler that reflects a part of the light beam diffracted by the diffraction grating toward each of the laser elements; and an optical system provided between the laser diode array and the diffraction grating and configured to align the light beams emitted from the laser elements with one another; wherein the optical system includes a first lens element having a negative power only in the predetermined direction and a second lens element having a positive power only in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An optical unit for a laser processing system includes a laser diode including a plurality of laser emitters which emit laser light, a lens unit including a plurality of lenses, a holding block having a light-transmitting property, and a light-shielding film. The holding block and the laser diode are bonded to each other with a first adhesive, and the lens unit and the holding block are bonded to each other with a second adhesive. The light-shielding film is located between the lens unit and the holding block.

Abstract: An optical resonator includes: a light source that emits light; a diffractive element that diffracts the light emitted at the light source and incident thereon as s-polarized light; and an output coupler that resonates the s-polarized light diffracted by the diffractive element. The output coupler includes: a mirror arranged to reflect the light from the light source via the diffractive element; a polarization beam splitter arranged on a light path between the diffractive element and the mirror, and emitting, out of light incident thereon after emitted from the mirror, a p-polarized component to return to the light source and a s-polarized component as the output light; a quarter-wave plate arranged between the polarization beam splitter and the mirror, and having an optical axis providing a phase difference by a quarter wavelength in light incident thereon; and an adjuster that adjusts a direction of the optical axis of the quarter-wave plate.

Abstract: The laser module comprises: a laser diode including a plurality of emitters arrayed along a first line, and emitting a laser beam at an emitting surface; a first collimator lens disposed facing the emitting surface; a beam twister turning the laser beam by approx. 90 degrees; and an optical element disposed facing the laser beam given off from the beam twister, and including a plurality of incident surfaces placed in a stepped shape. The laser module satisfies conditional expression (1) below: x 2 ? ( f w 0 ) 2 ? ( W 2 16 - ( ? ? ? f ? ? ? w 0 ) 2 ) ( 1 ) where, x is a distance from the output surface of the beam twister to the incident surface of the optical element, W is a width of the incident surface along the first line, ? is a wavelength of the laser beam, f is a focal length of the first collimator lens, and w0 is a beam diameter of the laser beam along a line perpendicular to the first line.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a virtual image display apparatus, head-up display system, and vehicle that distribute a spatially divided parallax image between a left eye and right eye of a user appropriately. The virtual image display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a display device configured to spatially divide with a first pitch and to output right-eye images and left-eye images, first optical members periodically disposed with a second pitch, distributing light based on the output from the display device between a right-eye direction and a left-eye direction, and a second optical member configured to reflect or refract, by positive power, the light distributed between the right-eye direction and the left-eye direction by the first optical members. The first pitch is narrower than the second pitch.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: an image display panel; a backlight device; first and second liquid crystal prism elements each configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light according to a voltage applied thereto; a position detection section configured to detect a position of a user; and a control section configured to control the voltages applied to the liquid crystal prism elements, on the basis of information of the position of the user detected by the position detection section. Each liquid crystal prism element includes a pair of opposing substrates, a plurality of triangular prisms which have ridge lines extending in a first direction parallel to one side of the image display panel and are arranged between the pair of opposing substrates so as to be aligned along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a liquid crystal sealed between the opposing substrates.

Abstract: An image display apparatus is provided, which uses a light deflection element capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow the position of an observer, and suppressing reduction in the intensity of light reaching eyes of the observer, regardless of the position of the observer. The light deflection element according to the present disclosure is configured to deflect incident light, and includes: a first optical element that deflects incident light; a second optical element that changes a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a first electrode provided on the first optical element side; a plurality of second electrodes provided on the second optical element side; and a control section that controls the voltage applied to the second optical element.

Abstract: An image display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: an image display panel; a backlight device; a first optical element located between the image display panel and the backlight device and configured to deflect a light incident thereon; a second optical element located between the first optical element and the image display panel and configured to change a deflection angle of emitted light according to a voltage applied thereto; a plurality of first lenses located between the first optical element and the backlight device; a plurality of second lenses located between the second optical element and the image display panel; a position detection section configured to detect a viewing position of a viewer; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the second optical element, according to the detected viewing position. The first lenses and the second lenses constitute an afocal optical system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a virtual image display apparatus, head-up display system, and vehicle that distribute a spatially divided parallax image between a left eye and right eye of a user appropriately. The virtual image display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a display device configured to spatially divide with a first pitch and to output right-eye images and left-eye images, first optical members periodically disposed with a second pitch, distributing light based on the output from the display device between a right-eye direction and a left-eye direction, and a second optical member configured to reflect or refract, by positive power, the light distributed between the right-eye direction and the left-eye direction by the first optical members. The first pitch is narrower than the second pitch.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell according to the present disclosure includes: a light-receiving lens having condensing function; a light guide element disposed at an emission surface side of the light-receiving lens; a translucent glass substrate mounted to be in contact with an emission surface of the light guide element; and a photoelectric conversion element which is disposed at a position opposite the light guide element and on which light emitted from the glass substrate is incident. The light-receiving lens is configured such that an incidence surface is a convex surface and an emission surface is formed into a Fresnel shape having positive optical power.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell according to the present disclosure includes: a light-receiving lens having condensing function; a light guide element disposed at an emission surface side of the light-receiving lens; a translucent glass substrate mounted to be in contact with an emission surface of the light guide element; and a photoelectric conversion element which is disposed at a position opposite the light guide element and on which light emitted from the glass substrate is incident. An incidence surface of the light guide element is a convex surface.

Abstract: A light deflection element is capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow a position of an observer and suppressing reduction in intensity of light that reaches eyes of the observer regardless of their position. The light deflection element includes: a first optical element configured to deflect incident light; a second optical element configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a third optical element; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the second optical element. At least one of interfaces between the first and second optical elements and the second and third optical elements is an aspheric surface. The aspheric surface has an optical power that compensates enlargement of the emitted light which is caused by refractive index distribution caused when a voltage is applied to the second optical element.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display device, a parallax barrier, and a controller. The display device displays an image for right-eye and an image for left-eye, with the images having a parallax amount between them. The parallax barrier directs, toward a right eye and a left eye, light of the images which are output from the display device. The controller controls the display device such that the display device continuously varies the parallax amount and the luminance of the displayed images and switches between a mode of showing the images to the both eyes and a mode of showing the corresponding image to any one of the eyes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal prism element includes a pair of opposing substrates, a plurality of triangular prisms which have a ridge line extending in a Y axis direction and are arranged between the opposing substrates so as to be aligned along an X axis direction, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the opposing substrates. Each triangular prism has an inclined surface located on a center side of the opposing substrate in the X axis direction, an inclined surface located on a lateral side of the opposing substrate in the X axis direction, and a bottom surface. Both of the two inclined surfaces of a triangular prism provided at least in a portion of a region on the opposing substrate are formed so as to not be perpendicular to the opposing substrate.

Abstract: An image display apparatus is provided, which uses a light deflection element capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow the position of an observer, and suppressing reduction in the intensity of light reaching eyes of the observer, regardless of the position of the observer. The light deflection element according to the present disclosure is configured to deflect incident light, and includes: a first optical element that deflects incident light; a second optical element that changes a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a first electrode provided on the first optical element side; a plurality of second electrodes provided on the second optical element side; and a control section that controls the voltage applied to the second optical element.

Abstract: A light deflection element is capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow a position of an observer and suppressing reduction in intensity of light that reaches eyes of the observer regardless of their position. The light deflection element includes: a first optical element configured to deflect incident light; a second optical element configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a third optical element; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the second optical element. At least one of interfaces between the first and second optical elements and the second and third optical elements is an aspheric surface. The aspheric surface has an optical power that compensates enlargement of the emitted light which is caused by refractive index distribution caused when a voltage is applied to the second optical element.

Abstract: A backlight device and an image display apparatus which are capable of controlling the degree of diffusion of emitted light are provided. The backlight device according to the present disclosure includes: a light source; a light guide plate that causes surface emission of light emitted from the light source; a directivity control film that is provided on a light-emitting side of the light guide plate, and causes the light emitted from the light guide plate to have directivity; and a liquid crystal diffusion element that is switchable between a first state in which the light emitted from the directivity control film is transmitted as it is, and a second state in which the light emitted from the directivity control film is diffused.

Abstract: A luminous intensity distribution system includes a first optical element extending in a first direction, and distributes, given that a first direction is taken to be leftward-rightward when viewed frontward-rearward, light having entered a light-incident surface from a right-rear direction and emits the light through a light-emitting surface toward a right-forward direction when viewed from the frontward end, and distributes light having entered the light-incident surface from a left-rear direction and emits the light through the light-emitting surface toward a left-forward direction when viewed from the frontward end; and a second optical element extending in the first direction and that diffuses light having entered the light-incident surface and emits the light through the light-emitting side, with the first optical element and the second optical element being arranged in parallel with each other vertically when viewed frontward-rearward.