Abstract: An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a display configured to emit first optical radiation in a first wavelength band through a front surface of the display. A planar optical waveguide, which is transparent in the first wavelength band, is overlaid on the display and is configured to guide second optical radiation in a second wavelength band along a direction transverse to the front surface. One or more diffractive structures are formed in the planar optical waveguide so as to couple the guided second optical radiation between the planar optical waveguide and a region in front of or behind the display.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide including a first medium, which is transparent and has a first index of refraction at a target wavelength and which has mutually-parallel first and second surfaces arranged so that light at the target wavelength propagates within the waveguide by internal reflection between the first and second surfaces. A coupling layer is disposed over the first surface of the waveguide and includes a second medium having a second index of refraction at the target wavelength, which is greater than the first index of refraction, and is patterned to define a periodic array of cylinders, which have respective cylinder axes perpendicular to the first surface and have respective heights and diameters that are smaller than the target wavelength, and which are spaced apart such that a distance between each of the cylinders and a neighboring cylinder in the array is less than the target wavelength.

Abstract: An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide including a first medium, which is transparent and has a first index of refraction at a target wavelength and which has mutually-parallel first and second surfaces arranged so that light at the target wavelength propagates within the waveguide by internal reflection between the first and second surfaces. A coupling layer is disposed over the first surface of the waveguide and includes a second medium having a second index of refraction at the target wavelength, which is greater than the first index of refraction, and is patterned to define a periodic array of cylinders, which have respective cylinder axes perpendicular to the first surface and have respective heights and diameters that are smaller than the target wavelength, and which are spaced apart such that a distance between each of the cylinders and a neighboring cylinder in the array is less than the target wavelength.

Abstract: An optical transmission device includes a waveguide including a transparent medium having mutually-parallel first and second surfaces arranged so that light propagates within the waveguide by internal reflection between the first and second surfaces. At least one light source is configured to inject coherent light into the waveguide. A first array of diffractive structures is applied to the waveguide and configured to couple respective beams of the coherent light out through the first surface of the waveguide. The device includes a second array of tunable optical phase modulators, which are overlaid on respective ones of the diffractive structures in the first array and are configured to apply different respective phase shifts to the respective beams, thereby modulating a far-field light pattern formed by interference between the beams.

Abstract: An optical element includes first and second transmission gratings positioned in mutual proximity and in a mutually-parallel orientation and having respective first and second phase modulation profiles with a common period and different, respective first and second numbers of modulation peaks and troughs in each period.

Abstract: An optical system for producing electromagnetic radiation with localized increases in irradiance or radiance at the system output includes a first optical mask containing localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays and/or amplitude attenuations and located within the input plane of said optical system. The system also includes at least a single optical component with positive optical power located after the input plane and at least one additional optical mask located after the optical component at non-conjugate locations with respect to the input plane of the system. The additional optical mask contains localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays. Locally increased radiation distributions are produced at the system output.

Abstract: An optical system for producing electromagnetic radiation with localized increases in irradiance or radiance at the system output includes a first optical mask containing localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays and/or amplitude attenuations and located within the input plane of said optical system. The system also includes at least a single optical component with positive optical power located after the input plane and at least one additional optical mask located after the optical component at non-conjugate locations with respect to the input plane of the system. The additional optical mask contains localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays. Locally increased radiation distributions are produced at the system output.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light source formed on the substrate and configured to emit coherent light at a predefined wavelength along a beam axis perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. A block of a transparent material is mounted on the surface of the substrate and forms, with the VCSEL, a resonant cavity at the predefined wavelength having an entrance face that is aligned with the beam axis and an exit face that is laterally displaced with respect to the entrance face along a cavity axis running parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) light source formed on the substrate and configured to emit coherent light at a predefined wavelength along a beam axis perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. A block of a transparent material is mounted on the surface of the substrate and forms, with the VCSEL, a resonant cavity at the predefined wavelength having an entrance face that is aligned with the beam axis and an exit face that is laterally displaced with respect to the entrance face along a cavity axis running parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A diode laser beam combining apparatus for producing a high combined beam power density in the far field at reduced levels of power consumption and heat dissipation includes an array of semiconductor laser emitters arranged in a collinear manner. The apparatus includes a cylindrical lens for collimating emitter beams generated by the laser emitters in a direction perpendicular to a junction plane of the laser emitters. The apparatus further includes a micro-optic array and a long focal length cylindrical lens. The micro-optic array is configured to perform a rotational transformation of the collimated emitter beams. The micro-optic array has a lateral spacing in a direction parallel to the junction plane of the laser emitters that matches the emitter pitch. The long focal length cylindrical lens collimates emitter beams in the direction perpendicular to the junction plane after passing through the micro-optic array.

Abstract: A diode laser beam combining apparatus for producing a high combined beam power density in the far field at reduced levels of power consumption and heat dissipation includes an array of semiconductor laser emitters arranged in a collinear manner with respect to each other and having an emitter pitch between about 0.7 mm and 2.5 mm. The apparatus also includes a cylindrical lens for collimating emitter beams generated by the array of laser emitters in a direction perpendicular to a junction plane of the laser emitters. The apparatus further includes a micro-optic array and a long focal length cylindrical lens. The micro-optic array is configured to perform a rotational transformation of the collimated emitter beams. The micro-optic array has a lateral spacing in a direction parallel to the junction plane of the laser emitters that matches the emitter pitch.

Abstract: A diode laser beam combining apparatus for producing a high combined beam power density in the far field at reduced levels of power consumption and heat dissipation includes an array of semiconductor laser emitters arranged in a collinear manner with respect to each other and having an emitter pitch between about 0.7 mm and 2.5 mm. The apparatus also includes a cylindrical lens for collimating emitter beams generated by the array of laser emitters in a direction perpendicular to a junction plane of the laser emitters. The apparatus further includes a micro-optic array and a long focal length cylindrical lens. The micro-optic array is configured to perform a rotational transformation of the collimated emitter beams. The micro-optic array has a lateral spacing in a direction parallel to the junction plane of the laser emitters that matches the emitter pitch.

Abstract: A high dynamic range integrated (HDRI) receiver includes a variable optical attenuator (VOA) for attenuating an incoming optical signal before the optical signal is directed to a photo-detector for conversion into an electrical signal. An optical block receives the optical signal from an optical fiber and includes optics for directing the optical signal to the VOA, and for directing the optical signal from the VOA to the photo-detector.

Abstract: A wavelength monitoring device for monitoring a beam of light is disclosed having a beam splitter, with opposing first and second spaced apart faces, for receiving optical radiation from the beam of light to be monitored. In operation the first face reflects a first portion of the optical radiation to a first photodiode. The second face includes a grating for reflecting a second portion of the optical radiation to the first photodiode. The grating also reflects a third portion of optical radiation to a second photodiode. The light received by the second photodiode corresponds proportionally to optical power of the incident beam of light. The first photodiode is for detecting a wavelength characteristic of the composite beam and is located so as to receive the first portion and the second portion of optical radiation after the first portion and the second portion of optical radiation have optically interfered to form a composite beam.

Abstract: An optical coupling assembly having an optical receiver that exhibits extended dynamic range, and, more particularly, an optical receiver that is integrated with a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) to extend the dynamic range of the receiver.

Abstract: An optical coupling assembly having an optical receiver that exhibits extended dynamic range, and, more particularly, an optical receiver that is integrated with a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) to extend the dynamic range of the receiver.

Abstract: Devices and methods for information processing in optical communications are provided. In its simplest embodiments, collimated light (1) passes through a non-grating diffractive structure (2) and a lens (3). The light is spatially processed in the focal plane (4) of the lens (3). Thereafter, the light can, for example, be coupled into a fiber or detector array (5).

Abstract: The linear dispersion of a dispersive optical system is increased by: (a) employing a transmissive diffraction grating (6) as a dispersive element; and (b) passing light through the grating twice. A reflector (7) is used to achieve the double passage through the grating. The system can be used to disperse light into its composite wavelengths (e g., the system can be a wavelength demultiplexer) or to combine dispersed light at different wavelengths into composite light (e.g., the system can be a wavelength multiplexer). The system can be employed in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems.