Abstract: A laser system and method includes control of the direction of polarization of a laser beam that forms laser-induced channels in a substrate along a process path. Control of the direction of polarization is useful while forming laser-induced channels in substrate materials having a crystalline component. An optical element, such as a waveplate, imparts the laser beam with a direction of polarization that is controllable with respect to an axis of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the system for processing. The direction of polarization is changeable and controllable with respect to the direction of the process path and/or a crystalline plane of the substrate via movement of the optical element or the substrate or both.

Abstract: A substrate has a first side and an opposing second side. The opposing second side has a first portion and a second portion. The substrate is at least partially transparent to visible light. A coating layer is disposed over the first portion but not the second portion of the opposing second side of the substrate. The second portion has an ablated surface including a hexagonal packed surface profile.

Abstract: A method for removing a material from a surface includes passing a laser through a lens such that the laser impinges on the material. The surface from which the material is removed has an array of artifacts thereon with a spacing between the artifacts and a pitch between lines of the artifacts. At least the spacing between the artifacts is varied.

Abstract: An electro-optic element is provided that includes a first substrate having a first surface, and a second surface having a first electrically conductive portion disposed thereon. The element also includes a second substrate having a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second electrically conductive portion disposed on at least the third surface. A primary seal is between the second and third surfaces, wherein the seal and the second and third surfaces define a cavity. An electro-optic medium disposed in the cavity. In addition, the second surface further includes at least one indicia disposed thereon between the electro-optic medium and the second surface.

Abstract: A laser ablated product exhibits a diffraction severity of less than about 5. The product may include a substrate that is at least partially transparent to visible light, and a periodic structure formed on at least one surface of the substrate by laser ablation. The periodic structure has a period in at least one direction of at least about 4,500 nm to at most about 850,000 nm, and the periodic structure has a peak-to-valley dimension of less than about 25 nm. The product may be employed in an electrochromic device, such as a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a light source configured to emit a first handedness polarization of light onto a body, the first handedness polarization of light having at least one of a circular and an elliptical polarization. The body reflects a second handedness polarization of light. An optical filter is configured to at least one of absorb and reflect the second handedness polarization of light and transmit the first handedness polarization of light.

Abstract: An illumination system for a medical suite comprises a light assembly comprising at least one illumination source configured to selectively direct a light emission in a region of the surgical suite. The system further comprises an imager configured to capture image data in a field of view in the medical suite. A controller is in communication with the light assembly and the imager. The controller is configured to detect a location of the marker in the image data and control the light assembly to direct the light emission within the region based on the location of the marker.

Abstract: A product includes a substrate that is at least partially transparent to visible light. The substrate includes a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a conductive layer disposed on the opposing second surface. The conductive layer has a first ablated area and a second ablated area entirely disposed within and overlapping a portion of the first ablated area. The second ablated area includes a selectively visible indicia.

Abstract: A laser ablated product exhibits a diffraction severity of less than about 5. The product may include a substrate that is at least partially transparent to visible light, and a periodic structure formed on at least one surface of the substrate by laser ablation. The periodic structure has a period in at least one direction of at least about 4,500 nm to at most about 850,000 nm, and the periodic structure has a peak-to-valley dimension of less than about 25 nm. The product may be employed in an electrochromic device, such as a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: An imager assembly including calibration functionality and a housing. An imager is disposed inside the housing. The imager includes a lens assembly. An electro-optic element is disposed on a wall of the housing and operable between a substantially clear condition and a substantially darkened condition. A light source directs light at the electro-optic element which redirects the light toward the lens assembly.

Abstract: A laser system includes a buffer material at an entry surface of a substrate in which laser-induced channels are formed. The laser beam propagates through the buffer material and impinges the substrate with a central axis of the laser beam at an oblique angle of incidence. The buffer material has a refractive index that may be closer to that of the substrate than is the refractive index of the atmosphere, such as air, in which the laser system operates. The buffer material facilitates forming laser-induced channels at relative large angles with respect to the substrate surface by attenuating energy loss or other effects on the laser beam that are normally caused by the mismatch in refractive index between the environment and the substrate in the absence of the buffer material.

Abstract: A product includes a substrate, at least one of a conductive layer or a coating layer, and an ablated surface on the substrate. The substrate is at least partially transparent to visible light. The at least one of the conductive layer or the coating layer are disposed over at least a portion of the substrate. The ablated surface includes an interleaved surface profile having a plurality of non-overlapped laser spots and a plurality of overlapped laser spots formed by subjecting the substrate to an interleaving laser ablation process.

Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.

Abstract: The roughness of a separation surface formed along a process path along which a plurality of laser-induced channels is formed in a substrate can be controlled through process parameters. Laser pulse power can be varied to vary the resulting roughness. Higher laser pulse power can form larger laser-induced channels, enabling larger inter-channel spacing and/or higher roughness in applications where it is desired. Lower laser pulse power can be employed to achieve smoother separation surfaces when desired.

Abstract: A method of removing material from an opposite side of workpiece includes directing a laser beam at a first side of the workpiece to remove the material from an opposite second side of the workpiece.

Abstract: A vehicle display mirror system is disclosed. The system comprises an electro-optic device configured to switch between a mirror state and a display state. The electro-optic device comprises a first substrate and a second substrate forming a cavity. The cavity is configured to retain an electro-optic medium that is variably transmissive such that the electro-optic device is operable between substantially clear and darkened states. The system further comprises a substantially transparent display disposed adjacent to the electro-optic device. The substantially transparent display comprises a switchable output grating configured to selectively diffract light outward from the waveguide.

Abstract: A method of removing material from an opposite side of workpiece includes directing a laser beam at a first side of the workpiece to remove the material from an opposite second side of the workpiece.

Abstract: A laser system is configured to form laser-induced channels in a substrate at a plurality of spaced apart locations along a process path. The laser system includes a laser delivery assembly that receives the laser beam along a receiving axis and directs the laser beam toward the substrate along an impingement axis that forms an oblique angle with a surface of the substrate. The substrate can be divided into separate first and second portions along a separation surface having a draft angle, thereby facilitating substrate division with a zero-kerf process.

Abstract: A laser system comprising a laser that produces a pulsed laser beam is configured to form a laser-induced channel in a multi-layer substrate including first and second material layers. The material layers may have different refractive indices. The laser-induced channel includes a uniform distribution of self-focus damage volumes through at least a portion of the thickness of one or both of the material layers. One of the material layers may be partially transparent or non-transparent. An optical assembly of the laser system can be configured to produce uniformly distributed self-focus damage volumes at an effective focal region corresponding to the substrate thickness. The distribution of damage volumes can be tailored to include areas or peaks of high damage volume density where it is desired to ablate material.

Abstract: A method for removing a material from a surface includes passing a laser through a lens such that the laser impinges on the material. The surface from which the material is removed has an array of artifacts thereon with a spacing between the artifacts and a pitch between lines of the artifacts. At least the spacing between the artifacts is varied.