Abstract: A laser system includes a plurality of laser sources and a plurality of collimating lenses. The system further includes a focus lens configured to receive laser beams outputted from the plurality of collimating lenses and focus the laser beams to at least one focal point in the core region or in the outer cladding region of the optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core region, an inner cladding region and an outer cladding region, the optical fiber configured to output a dual laser beam comprising a main beam generated from the core region and a ring beam generated from the outer cladding region, the ring beam surrounding the main beam. Each of the plurality of collimating lenses is individually arranged at a respective position so as to adjust a location of the focal point in one of the core region or the outer cladding region of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A wireless laser marking tool for use in a CNC machine is disclosed. The wireless laser marking tool includes a tool housing with top and bottom opposing ends, a beam delivery system between the ends, and an opening at the bottom end; a tool adapter connected to the top end of the housing for adapting the device to the CNC machine; a laser diode disposed in the beam delivery system; beam-shaping optics disposed in the beam delivery system to focus light emitted from the laser diode through the opening; electronic circuitry disposed in the beam delivery system and in electrical communication with the laser diode; a wireless communication device disposed in the beam delivery system and in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry; and a power source disposed in the beam delivery system and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry.

Abstract: A method for controlling a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes. The method includes rotating the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements, and tilting the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot about their pivot axes.

Abstract: A photovoltaic array includes a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.

Abstract: A light diffuser panel for coupling to an optical element, includes a plurality of first type layers of a first type of material with a refractive index n1, and a plurality of second type layers of a second type of material with a different refractive index n2, wherein each of the first type layers and each of the second type layers are arranged to form a plurality of interface surfaces between alternating first type layers and second type layers, tilted at a plurality of angles with tilt axes that are parallel to a plane of the light diffuser panel, such that visible light from the optical element is transmitted through the light diffuser panel and the interface surfaces, and a portion of the visible light from the optical element is reflected out of the light diffuser panel at each of the interface surfaces.

Abstract: A structured diamond tool having a predefined grayscale grating profile shape allows a corresponding grayscale grating profile to be machined into a work piece with a single pass with high accuracy. Manufacture of grayscale gratings using this technique saves time compared to the situation where the profile is machined by a single-point diamond tool with multiple passes. Also, more time-saving is realized if more than one period is machined in the diamond tool. Such a tool can be manufactured using a high precision focused ion beam (FIB), which is a true nanomachining tool that can machine features on the order of tens of nanometers. The diamond tool made by FIB therefore has extremely fine resolution and features required by the grayscale grating.

Abstract: A light diffuser panel for coupling to an optical element, includes a plurality of first type layers of a first type of material with a refractive index n1, and a plurality of second type layers of a second type of material with a different refractive index n2, wherein each of the first type layers and each of the second type layers are arranged to form a plurality of interface surfaces between alternating first type layers and second type layers, tilted at a plurality of angles with tilt axes that are parallel to a plane of the light diffuser panel, such that visible light from the optical element is transmitted through the light diffuser panel and the interface surfaces, and a portion of the visible light from the optical element is reflected out of the light diffuser panel at each of the interface surfaces.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a high-precision mold whereby a feature matching a desired feature design is carved into a hard mold material (41) using, for example, a diamond grinding wheel and/or a diamond turning point. Inherent imprecision and errors (49) introduced by the use of the grinding wheel/turning point are measured to determine deviations from the desired feature design. An ultrafast shortpulse laser is then activated to desirably ablate the deviations, thereby correcting the errors and conforming the feature to the desired shape. Furthermore, a thin film (1602) may be formed over the feature either prior to or after the laser ablation process, where the error measurement and laser ablation processes detects and ablates errors on the surface of the thin film, respectively. Additionally, the laser ablation process may be applied directly to, for example, an optical lens (1400) formed from an imprecise mold to remove any errors and imperfections thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for drilling holes in a material with a laser are disclosed. An apparatus for drilling holes in a material with a laser includes a first steering element, a second steering element, and a lens. The first steering element is positioned to steer a beam from the laser. The second steering element is positioned to steer the beam from the first steering element. The lens focuses the beam from the second steering element. The first and second steering elements are configured to move with respect to the beam. Moving the first and second steering elements changes an angle of the beam where it contacts the material. The apparatus is operable to drill holes having no taper or reverse taper.

Abstract: A surface light emitting apparatus capable of providing uniform illumination while efficiently using a laser light. The apparatus comprises a light source section that includes at least one light source which emits laser beam; an optical element section that includes at least one diffractive optical element section that modifies a wavefront of the laser beam emitted from the light source section by diffraction action; and an optical guiding section that guides from an incidence surface of the optical guiding section the laser beam emitted from the diffraction optical section and emits the laser beam from a radiation surface of the optical guiding section.

Abstract: A surface light emitting apparatus capable of providing uniform illumination while efficiently using a laser light. The apparatus comprises a light source section that includes at least one light source which emits laser beam; an optical guiding section that guides from an incidence surface of the optical guiding section the laser beam emitted from the light source section and emits the laser beam from a radiation surface of the optical guiding section; and an optical element section that includes at least one beam shaping optical element with a powered surface which converts an intensity distribution of the laser beam emitted from the light source section at the incidence surface of the optical guiding section to a uniform intensity distribution.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for drilling holes in a material with a laser are disclosed. An apparatus for drilling holes in a material with a laser includes a first steering element, a second steering element, and a lens. The first steering element is positioned to steer a beam from the laser. The second steering element is positioned to steer the beam from the first steering element. The lens focuses the beam from the second steering element. The first and second steering elements are configured to move with respect to the beam. Moving the first and second steering elements changes an angle of the beam where it contacts the material. The apparatus is operable to drill holes having no taper or reverse taper.

Abstract: Methods for laser micromachining a material are disclosed. The methods include machining a hole in the material by guiding a laser along a predefined path or applying the laser at a predefined beam angle. A shape of the hole is then characterized. Then, the difference between the shape of the hole and a target shape for the hole is calculated. The predefined path or beam angle of the laser is adjusted based on the difference between the shape of the hole and the target shape for the hole.

Abstract: Color separation gratings, color separation microlenses and imaging arrays are provided. A color separation grating includes a transparent grating material having a grating formed therein. The transparent grating material has a first surface configured to receive incident light and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is configured to pass selective separated colors from the incident light corresponding to different diffraction orders. The grating is formed in the first surface and includes a number of steps in a grating period and a number of sub-steps formed on each step. A combination of the number of steps and the number of sub-steps are selected to correspond to a number of diffraction orders produced by the color separation grating.

Abstract: A precision machining system with a variable projected machining width of the cutting surface of the machining tool, including: a workpiece holder to hold a workpiece; a machining tool holder to hold the machining tool such that the Z axis is substantially parallel to the tool's centerline; a Z translation stage and an X translation stage each coupled to one of the workpiece holder or the machining tool holder; a workpiece spindle coupled to the workpiece holder to rotate the workpiece about the workpiece axis that is parallel to the Z axis; a machining path controller electrically coupled to the X translation stage and the workpiece spindle; and a tool spindle coupled to the machining tool holder. The tool spindle rotates the machining tool about the centerline of the machining tool, which varies the width of the cutting surface of the machining tool projected perpendicular to the machining path.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of selecting composite sheet materials for use in ultra-fast laser patterning of layers of organic thin film material such as OLEDs. The material is selected to accomplish patterning of upper layers without damaging underlying layers by using an ultra-fast laser programmed with the appropriate laser processing parameters. These parameters are derived by examining each layer's absorption spectra, thermal, and chemical characteristics. The method of the present invention includes measuring each layer's absorption spectrum, examining each layer's thermal and chemical characteristics, determining if the layer is ablatable, determining the laser setup, patterning the layer through laser ablation processing, and determining if more layers need to be ablated. Further, the method includes a sub-method of selecting an alternate material if a layer's material characteristics are not favorable for ablation without damaging underlying layers.

Abstract: A method for forming a via in a sapphire substrate with a laser machining system that includes an ultrafast pulsed laser source. The sapphire substrate is provided. Pulses of laser light are substantially focused to a beam spot on the first surface of the sapphire substrate such that each focused pulse of laser light ablates a volume of the sapphire substrate having a depth less than the substrate thickness. The beam spot of the focused laser light pulses is scanned over a via portion of the first surface of the sapphire substrate. The sapphire substrate is moved in a direction substantially normal to the first surface to control the volume of the sapphire substrate ablated by each pulse of laser light to be substantially constant. The pulsing and scanning steps are repeated until the via is formed extending from the first surface to the second surface of the sapphire substrate.

Abstract: A machining tool with a cutting surface adapted to provide a variable projected machining width during machining, including the cutting surface and a back surface. The cutting surface includes a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge that extend to a tip of the machining tool and a cross section normal to a centerline of the machining tool that is concave between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge. The back surface forms a first acute angle with the cutting surface at the first cutting edge and a second acute angle with the cutting surface at the second cutting edge, such that the cross section of the back surface normal to the centerline of the machining tool is convex between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge.

Abstract: A surface light emitting apparatus capable of providing uniform illumination while efficiently using a laser light. The apparatus comprises a light source section that includes at least one light source which emits laser beam; an optical guiding section that guides from an incidence surface of the optical guiding section the laser beam emitted from the light source section and emits the laser beam from a radiation surface of the optical guiding section; and an optical element section that includes at least one beam shaping optical element with a powered surface which converts an intensity distribution of the laser beam emitted from the light source section at the incidence surface of the optical guiding section to a uniform intensity distribution.

Abstract: A surface light emitting apparatus capable of providing uniform illumination while efficiently using a laser light. The apparatus comprises a light source section that includes at least one light source which emits laser beam; an optical element section that includes at least one diffractive optical element section that modifies a wavefront of the laser beam emitted from the light source section by diffraction action; and an optical guiding section that guides from an incidence surface of the optical guiding section the laser beam emitted from the diffraction optical section and emits the laser beam from a radiation surface of the optical guiding section.