Abstract: Grating couplers that enable efficient coupling between waveguides and optical fibers are disclosed. In one aspect, a grating coupler includes a transition region that includes a wide edge and tapers away from the edge toward a waveguide disposed on a substrate. The coupler also includes a sub-wavelength grating disposed on the substrate adjacent to the edge. The grating is composed of a series of non-uniformly distributed, approximately parallel lines and separated by grooves with a depth to output light from the grating with TM polarization.

Abstract: A directional backlight is disclosed. The directional backlight has a directional backplane that has a plurality of directional pixels to scatter a plurality of input planar lightbeams into a plurality of directional lightbeams. Each directional lightbeam has a direction and angular spread controlled by characteristics of a directional pixel in the plurality of directional pixels. A modulation layer having a plurality of modulators modulates the plurality of directional lightbeams. The directional backlight can be used to generate a 3D image with multiple views by specifying the characteristics of the directional pixels in the directional backplane.

Abstract: A directional pixel for use in a display screen is disclosed. The directional pixel receives a planar lightbeam and includes a light propagating layer and a grating to scatter a portion of the planar lightbeam into a directional lightbeam having a direction and angular spread controlled by the grating.

Abstract: A directional backlight is disclosed. The directional backlight has a plurality of light sources to generate a plurality of input planar lightbeams. The plurality of input planar lightbeams illuminates a directional backplane that has a plurality of directional pixels to scatter the plurality of input planar lightbeams into a plurality of directional lightbeams. Each directional lightbeam has a direction and angular spread controlled by characteristics of a directional pixel in the plurality of directional pixels. The directional backlight can be used to generate a 3D image by specifying the characteristics of the directional pixels in the directional backplane.

Abstract: A display is disclosed. The display has a backplane with a top surface and an edge surface. The edge surface makes an angle ? with respect to the top surface. An optical system is used to create a collimated light beam that is coupled to the edge surface. The collimated light beam makes an angle ? with respect to the top surface. The optical axis of the light beam has a refracted angle ?? with respect to the top surface. Angles ? and ? are selected such that ?? is no smaller than ?.

Abstract: An energy collection system is provided. The system can include an energy collection device and an energy concentration device disposed proximate at least a portion of the energy collection device. The energy concentration device includes a non-periodic, sub-wavelength, dielectric grating.

Abstract: A micro-ring resonator includes a bus optical waveguide and a circular optical waveguide positioned adjacent to the bus optical waveguide so as to provide evanescent coupling of light between the waveguides. The cladding of the circular optical waveguide comprises an electro-optic polymer with an index of refraction that can be changed through application of an electric field.

Abstract: A broadband optical beam splitter can comprise a non-metallic high contrast grating including a substrate and an array of posts attached to a surface of the substrate. The grating can have a subwavelength period with respect to a preselected optical energy wavelength, the preselected optical energy wavelength within the range of 400 nm to 1.6 ?m. Additionally, the broadband optical beam splitter can have a bandwidth of 80 nm to 120 nm and can have an optical energy loss of less than 5%.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for micro-ring optical resonators are provided. An example of a micro-ring optical resonator apparatus includes an array of input waveguides with each input waveguide optically coupled to an array of micro-rings, an output waveguide operatively associated with each of the micro-rings, and a scattering object operatively associated with each of the micro-rings, wherein the scattering object is connected to the output waveguide.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical waveguide coupling devices and associated methods. In one example, an optical waveguide coupling device can comprise a dielectric grating coupler, a first optical waveguide attached to a first surface of the dielectric grating coupler, and a second optical waveguide attached to a second surface of the dielectric grating coupler. The second optical waveguide can be oriented opposed to the first optical waveguide allowing for communication therebetween via the sub-wavelength grating. Additionally, the dielectric grating coupler can comprise a first dielectric material; a sub-wavelength grating attached to the first dielectric material, the sub-wavelength grating having a higher refractive index than the first dielectric material; and a second dielectric material optically coupled to the sub-wavelength grating.

Abstract: Planar reflective devices that operate as reflective blazed diffraction gratings are disclosed. In one aspect, a reflective device includes a substrate with a planar surface, and a planar, high-contrast, sub-wavelength grating disposed on the surface. The grating is divided into a number of regions that each reflect incident light of a particular wavelength and with a particular angle of incidence into a single diffraction order and associated diffraction angle.

Abstract: A compact sensor system comprising: an analysis cell configured for photon-matter interaction, where photons are received from a light source; and an integrated-optical spectral analyzer configured for identifying a set of frequencies, the integrated-optical spectral analyzer comprising: a waveguide coupled with the analysis cell, the waveguide configured for propagating a set of frequencies through the waveguide; one or more ring resonators coupled with the waveguide, the one or more ring resonators comprising a predetermined bandwidth and configured for capturing the set of frequencies corresponding to frequencies within the predetermined bandwidth; and one or more frequency detectors coupled with the one or more tunable ring resonators, the one or more frequency detectors configured for generating electrical signals that identify each of the set of frequencies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to multiplexer/demultiplexer systems. In one aspect, a multiplexer/demultiplexer system includes an input/output waveguide, two or more output/input waveguides, and a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating. The grating is configured so that when the system is operated as a multiplexer, each wavelength of light output from one of the two or more output/input waveguides is reflected by the grating toward the input/output waveguide. When the system is operated as a demultiplexer, each wavelength of light output from the input/output waveguide is reflected toward one of the two or more output/input waveguides.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical waveguide coupling devices and associated methods. In one example, an optical waveguide coupling device can comprise a dielectric grating coupler, a first optical waveguide attached to a first surface of the dielectric grating coupler, and a second optical waveguide attached to a second surface of the dielectric grating coupler. The second optical waveguide can be oriented opposed to the first optical waveguide allowing for communication therebetween via the sub-wavelength grating. Additionally, the dielectric grating coupler can comprise a first dielectric material; a sub-wavelength grating attached to the first dielectric material, the sub-wavelength grating having a higher refractive index than the first dielectric material; and a second dielectric material optically coupled to the sub-wavelength grating.

Abstract: A compact sensor system comprising: an analysis cell configured for photon-matter interaction, where photons are received from a light source; and an integrated-optical spectral analyzer configured for identifying a set of frequencies, the integrated-optical spectral analyzer comprising: a waveguide coupled with the analysis cell, the waveguide configured for propagating a set of frequencies through the waveguide; one or more ring resonators coupled with the waveguide, the one or more ring resonators comprising a predetermined bandwidth and configured for capturing the set of frequencies corresponding to frequencies within the predetermined bandwidth; and one or more frequency detectors coupled with the one or more tunable ring resonators, the one or more frequency detectors configured for generating electrical signals that identify each of the set of frequencies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to multiplexer/demultiplexer systems. In one aspect, a multiplexer/demultiplexer system includes an input/output waveguide, two or more output/input waveguides, and a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating. The grating is configured so that when the system is operated as a multiplexer, each wavelength of light output from one of the two or more output/input waveguides is reflected by the grating toward the input/output waveguide. When the system is operated as a demultiplexer, each wavelength of light output from the input/output waveguide is reflected toward one of the two or more output/input waveguides.

Abstract: A light emitting diode device is described which includes at least one planar non-periodic high-index-contrast grating. The light emitting diode device includes a cavity formed between a reflective optical element and a transmissive optical element. One or both of the optical elements can be a planar non-periodic high-index-contrast grating. The transmissive optical element can be a collimating lens used to collimate incident beams of light while the reflective optical element can be a parabolic reflector used to reflect incident beams of light along a direction opposite to an incidence direction. A light emitter can be disposed within the cavity and can emit beams of light.

Abstract: An energy collection system is provided. The system can include an energy collection device and an energy concentration device disposed proximate at least a portion of the energy collection device. The energy concentration device includes a non-periodic, sub-wavelength, dielectric grating.

Abstract: This invention provides various products and processes such as a process of making a theaflavins enriched extract of tea having a low content of high molecular weight thearubigins which comprises extracting theaflavins from tea using ethanol to produce an extract having a high theaflavins content and a low content of high molecular weight thearubigins.