Abstract: This is directed to a LED light fixture having a light guide array with a retroreflective element used to redirect light into the light guide array, and methods for constructing the same. A LED light fixture includes a LED module providing light and an elongated light guide array placed adjacent to the LED module. Light emitted by the LED module propagates through the light guide array and is redirected by the light guide array into the environment of the fixture. To prevent light from propagating through the end of the light guide array opposite the LED module, the light guide array can include angled facets forming a retroreflective element at an end of the light guide array for redirecting light back into the LGA.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, includes preparing a light path conversion component including a structure in which a protruding portion having a light path conversion inclined surface is covered with a metal layer and the metal layer serves as a light path conversion mirror, and a structural body in which a core layer is formed on a first cladding layer and an opening portion is provided in an end side of a light path of the core layer, arranging the light path conversion mirror of the light path conversion component in the opening portion of the core layer, and forming a second cladding layer covering the core layer, wherein a light path of a light that propagates through the core layer is converted toward a first cladding layer side by the light path conversion mirror.

Abstract: Flexible unitary lightguide and a method of making the same are disclosed. The lightguide includes a structured input side that includes a first pattern having smaller features superimposed on a second pattern having larger features. The lightguide further includes a structured top surface that includes a first region and a different second region. The first region includes a plurality of discrete light extractors for extracting light that propagates within the flexible unitary lightguide by total internal reflection. The second region includes a taper portion for directing light from the structured input side to the first region. The light extractors form a periodic array that has a first period along the length of the flexible unitary lightguide. The first period is such that substantially no visible moir fringes occur when the flexible unitary lightguide is used as a backlight in a pixelated display.

Abstract: An elongate light guide includes a light incident portion provided at an end in the longitudinal direction of the guide, a light reflecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction, a light emitting portion extending in the longitudinal direction for emitting linear light, and a scatterer for scattering the light entering through the light incident portion. For instance, the scatterer is provided as a grained portion formed at least part of the reflecting portion.

Abstract: A light guide body includes a first solidified colloid layer, a second solidified colloid layer and a third solidified colloid layer. The first solidified colloid layer has a number of light-scattering microstructures at an upper portion thereof. The second solidified colloid layer is formed on and coming into contact with the upper portion of the first colloid layer, and the second colloid layer covers the microstructures. The third solidified colloid layer is formed on the second colloid layer, and the third colloid layer has a plurality of light condensing prisms at an opposite side thereof to the second colloid layer. The light guide body has an integral structure with a number of optical functions. A method for making the light guide body is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optical waveguide includes providing a biopolymer, unwinding the biopolymer progressively to extract individual biopolymer fibers, and putting the unwound fibers under tension. The tensioned fibers are then cast in a different polymer to form a biopolymer optical waveguide that guides light due to the difference in indices of refraction between the biopolymer and the different polymer. The optical fibers may be used in biomedical applications and can be inserted in the body as transmissive media. Printing techniques may be used to manufacture the biopolymer optical waveguides.

Abstract: A light guide plate mold is configured for manufacturing a light guide plate having a number of microstructures. The light guide plate mold includes a substrate and a number of heating members. The substrate defines a number of grooves therein. The heating members are respectively received in the grooves. Each heating member has a height less than a depth of the corresponding groove. The grooves and the heating members cooperatively define a number of receiving spaces for forming the microstructures of the light guide plate.

Abstract: An optical fiber preform manufacturing method includes: supporting a drilling jig in a radial direction of a preform that is cylinder-shaped; moving the drilling jig in a longitudinal direction of the preform; and forming a plurality of slits each extending in the longitudinal direction and each directed from an outer side of the preform toward a center the preform, and a plurality of holes each extending in the longitudinal direction and each connecting with an end of one of the plurality of slits in a depth direction of the one of the plurality of slits.

Abstract: An optically coupled device includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element which are electrically isolated from each other, and an optical waveguide allowing therethrough transmission of light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, wherein the optical waveguide is covered with an encapsulation resin containing a light reflective inorganic particle which is typically composed of titanium oxide, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are respectively provided on a base (for example, package terminals), and the entire portion of the outer surface of the optical waveguide, brought into contact with none of the light emitting element, the light receiving element and the base, is covered with the encapsulation resin.

Abstract: Provided is an optical sensor and an optical sensor fabricating method. The optical sensor includes: a substrate; and an ommatidia located on or inside the substrate, the ommatidia comprising a microlens which receives light, an optical waveguide which transfers the light received through the microlens, and a cone structure comprising a first end connected to the microlens and a second end connected to the optical waveguide, the cone structure having a diameter or a width decreasing in a direction from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a light guide plate, such as a sign or guide display board, that guides light incoming from a side surface of a substrate thereof and guides the light outgoing from a major surface thereof. The method includes arranging fabrication dots in a matrix shape at a rectangular distal surface of a ultrasonic fabrication horn, forming, on a major surface of the light guide plate substrate, reflection dots corresponding to the fabrication dots on the distal surface upon pressing the distal surface of the ultrasonic fabrication horn to the major surface of the light guide plate substrate, and forming the reflection dots in a prescribed range on the major surface of the light guide plate substrate by repeating formation of the reflection dot upon correlative movement of the ultrasonic fabrication horn within the major surface with respect to the light guide plate substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the molding of an item having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure. One disclosed embodiment provides an injection molding device for molding a part having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure, the injection molding device comprising a pair of opposing end walls, a first mold surface being stationary with respect to the pair of opposing end walls, and a second mold surface being movable toward the first mold surface such that a first end of the second mold surface is movable a larger travel distance toward the first mold surface than a second end during a molding process. Further, the pair of opposing end walls comprises a slider with an undercut mold surface that is movable in a direction transverse to a direction in which the second mold surface is movable toward the first mold surface.

Abstract: An apparatus that comprises an optical-mode-converter. The optical-mode-converter includes a optical waveguide including a segment directly located on a substrate and a cantilevered segment located over said substrate and separated from said substrate by a cavity, and, said cantilevered segment includes a core surrounded by a cladding. The optical-mode-converter also includes a dielectric material filling said cavity and contacting said cantilevered segment over said cavity, wherein said dielectric material has a refractive index that is less than a refractive index of said cladding and that is no more than about 20 percent less than said refractive index of said cladding.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an optical fiber including a core and a cladding having a core material and a cladding material, respectively, wherein the fiber is a non-linear microstructured optical fiber, the microstructured optical fiber being obtainable by a method including loading the core material and optionally the cladding material with hydrogen and/or deuterium whereby the lifetime of the fiber may be extended in high pulse applications.

Abstract: A loading unit, surface scanning module, and an imprint module may be integrated into a single tool. Template may be loaded on loading unit and positioned within imprint module. Substrate may then be loaded on loading unit and scanned defects using surface scanning module. If substrate passes inspection by surface scanning module, substrate may be positioned imprint module where formable material may be dispensed thereon and imprinted. The imprinted substrate may then be unloaded from imprinting module.

Abstract: Photodarkening resistant optical fiber lasing media and fiber lasers incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical fiber lasing medium includes a core portion formed from silica-based glass comprising a rare-earth dopant and deuterium, the core portion having an index of refraction nc, a numerical aperture NAc. A concentration of defect color centers in the core portion is less than 1×1016/cm3. Deuterium is combined with the defect color centers to form reacted defect color centers that do not absorb ultraviolet and visible wavelengths of light. A first cladding portion is formed from silica-based glass, the first cladding portion surrounding and directly contacting the core portion and having an index of refraction n1, wherein the index of refraction n1 of the first cladding portion is less than the index of refraction ncof the core portion. Methods of forming the photodarkening resistant optical fiber lasing media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Non-circular core optical preforms are provided whose core-cladding interface edge has a sharpness that can be accurately controlled according to application-specific needs. Preform design and fiber fabrication is handled such that precisely edged fiber cores are maintained in the drawn fibers. This provides for markedly improved fiber functions, which rely on the non-circular structure of the core. In short, optical fibers having non-circular wave-guiding regions with precise, controlled edges are provided. By using selected manufacturing techniques that employ lower temperatures than commonly used, prior art techniques and by choosing proper materials with appropriate viscosities for core and cladding, the rounding of the edges of the wave-guiding region is precisely maintained in the final optical fibers.

Abstract: In a light-guide module, a method of manufacturing the light-guide module and a backlight assembly having the light-guide module, the light-guide module includes a light-guide plate (“LGP”) and a thin-film layer. The LGP has a light-incident surface into which lights are incident and a light-exiting surface through which lights exit. The thin-film layer is formed on the LGP. The thin-film layer has a concavo-convex pattern formed on an opposite surface of a surface contacting the LGP. Accordingly, a thin-film layer having a concavo-convex pattern is formed on a light-incident surface of an LGP, so that a reflectance of light incident into the LGP may be decreased. Moreover, a light amount transmitted through the LGP is increased in accordance with a decreasing of reflectance, so that a light transmittance may be increased in total.

Abstract: A near-eye display includes a compound waveguide for presenting viewers with virtual images visible within an eyebox at a limited relief distance from the compound waveguide. The compound waveguide is assembled from a plurality of waveguides that are at least partially optically isolated for conveying different portions of the virtual image. An input couple injects the different portions of the virtual image into predetermined combinations of the waveguides, and an output coupling ejects the different portions of the virtual image from the waveguides toward the eyebox in a form that at least partially constructs a pupil within the eyebox.

Abstract: The present invention provides for photonic nanoimprinted silk fibroin-based materials and methods for making same, comprising embossing silk fibroin-based films with photonic nanometer scale patterns. In addition, the invention provides for processes by which the silk fibroin-based films can be nanoimprinted at room temperature, by locally decreasing the glass sition temperature of the silk film Such nanoimprinting process increases high throughput and improves potential for incorporation of silk-based photonics into biomedical and other optical devices.

Abstract: A light guide member capable of guiding light received from at least a first light source and second light source, wherein the first light source is spaced a distance D3 from the second light source. The light guide member may include a first side including a plurality of first grooves extending along a first direction and a plurality of second grooves extending along the first direction, wherein the first grooves may have a first pitch and the second grooves have a second pitch, the first pitch being different from the second pitch.

Abstract: A light guide (102) for bending guided light from a first direction (12) into a second direction (13) using a set of curved slits (9, 10, 11) formed in the light guiding core. The set of curved slits delimits separate bent light guide channels (14, 15, 16, 17) which guide the light through the bent light guide channels by total internal reflection.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method for an optical fiber preform of which the core is doped with a rare earth element. The method includes: depositing glass particles within a silica tube by the modified chemical vapor deposition method, the glass particles mainly consisting of silicon dioxide; adding the rare earth element and aluminum to the glass particles within the silica tube by the solution doping method; heating the silica tube while flowing a phosphorous-containing gas into the silica tube to sinter the glass particles within the silica tube while adding the phosphorous; and heating and collapsing the silica tube to which the rare earth element, the aluminum, and the phosphorous are added.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and an arrayed waveguide diffraction grating, the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer having a simple configuration and being capable of reducing the degradation in the temperature compensation characteristics of a temperature compensation material provided in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer or the peeling-off of the temperature compensation material, and a method of manufacturing the same. A wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer comprises an AWG including two separated slab waveguides and an MZI including two arm waveguides.

Abstract: In a method for the production of optical bands with several optical fibers, the surface of the optic fibers in said bands is treated such as to increase the optical damping in sections of the optic fibers. The generated damping may be reliably adjusted, whereby during (or after) the processing of the surfaces a measuring light is introduced into the fiber optic and the light output at the other end of the band is measured by means of a sensor such as a CCD camera. Possible production errors can thus be compensated for during the production process, for example, by an increased process time for the optic fiber. Optical sensor bands can be produced by the above method for application in the bumpers of motor vehicles as recognition sensors for the impact of a pedestrian. Other applications in which the bending of a sensor band is to be determined by optical means are also envisaged.

Abstract: Optical sheets, light collection and conversion systems and methods of forming optical sheets are provided. An optical sheet includes a light guide layer having at least one light guide and a light concentrator layer adjacent to the light guide layer for concentrating incident light. Each light guide has a substantially uniform thickness with respect to a propagation direction of light through the light guide and includes a plurality of input-coupling elements and at least one output-coupling element. The light concentrator layer includes a plurality of concentrator elements optically coupled to the plurality of input-coupling elements of the respective light guide. Each light guide is configured to combine the concentrated light from the respective plurality of concentrator elements and to guide the combined light to the at least one output-coupling element.

Abstract: Optical qualities of a production lot of base material used in the fabrication of semi-finished lenses may be accurately determined by employing chipper plate samples produced from the base material in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In various implementations of the present invention, the chipper plates samples may be fabricated by subjecting base material to an extended cycle time and temperature profile using a mold having cavities of different thicknesses. The resulting chipper plates provide an improved indication of the color of semi-finished lenses molded from the production lot as well as an improved indication of resin stabilizer defects that may be utilized during a pelletizing process to control and enhance the quality of a production lot. Furthermore, the chipper plates may be provided by suppliers as samples of a production lot to enable customers to base purchasing decisions on a reliable and accurate measure of optical properties.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a light guide plate includes the follow steps. First, an injection mold including a cavity plate is provided. Then a plurality of microstructures is formed on the cavity plate by laser etching. Each microstructure includes a recess having a concave surface, and a protrusion formed around a periphery of the recess, wherein at least half of the concave surface is a mirror-like surface. Finally, a light guide plate is molded in the injection mold.

Abstract: A light guide plate mold is configured for manufacturing a light guide plate having a number of microstructures. The light guide plate mold includes a substrate and a number of heating members. The substrate defines a number of grooves therein. The heating members are respectively received in the grooves. Each heating member has a height less than a depth of the corresponding groove. The grooves and the heating members cooperatively define a number of receiving spaces for forming the microstructures of the light guide plate.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be provided which includes at least one biological medium that causes gain. According to another exemplary embodiment, an arrangement can be provided which is configured to be provided in an anatomical structure. This exemplary arrangement can include at least one emitter having a cross-sectional area of at most 10 microns within the anatomical structure, and which is configured to generate at least one laser radiation. In a further exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be provided which can include at least one medium which is configured to cause gain; and at least one optical biological resonator which is configured to provide an optical feedback to the medium. In still another exemplary embodiment, a process can be whereas, a solution of an optical medium can be applied to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide includes: forming a first reflective bump and a second reflective bump, which have inclined surfaces formed on sides opposite to each other and which are disposed with a predetermined distance in-between, on an upper side of a conductive carrier; polishing the surfaces of the first reflective bump and the second reflective bump; forming a core between the first reflective bump and the second reflective bump; stacking an upper cladding over the upper side of the carrier to cover the first reflective bump, the second reflective bump, and the core; removing the carrier; and stacking a lower cladding over a lower side of the upper cladding. Forming reflective bumps on a conductive carrier, and polishing the reflective bumps to form inclined surfaces, can reduce lead time and can provide a high degree of freedom in design.

Abstract: An optical device includes an electrooptic crystal substrate, a polarization-inverted region formed in a part of the electrooptic crystal substrate, an optical waveguide formed in the electrooptic crystal substrate, and a groove for relaxing stress disposed between a domain wall of the polarization-inverted region and the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for smoothing a surface of an optical element with a laser. Firstly, an optical element having a rough surface is provided. Next, the rough surface of the optical element is illuminated with a laser. The rough surface absorbs laser energy and melts into a liquid. The liquid is stretched and planarized by the surface tension of the rough surface and then solidifies into a smooth surface. The present invention can smooth the surface of an optical element and promote the resonant or waveguide performance of the optical element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light guide bodies having improved luminous intensity and transparency, to a method for their production and to their use.

Abstract: A product and process for fabricating an optical element from a capillary ferrule includes fusing the optical element onto an optical fiber. The optical element starts with a capillary ferrule that is sculpted on one end to form an optical property such as a flat window, ball lens, angled endface or other sculpted shape. The ferrule is fused onto an optical fiber that has been inserted into the ID of the capillary ferrule. As a result, the ferrule serves as a mechanical aligner for the optical element to fiber fusion process.

Abstract: Chemically or biochemically active agents or other species are patterned on a substrate surface by providing a micromold having a contoured surface and forming, on a substrate surface, a chemically or biochemically active agent or fluid precursor of a structure. A chemically or biochemically active agent or fluid precursor also can be transferred from indentations in an applicator to a substrate surface. The substrate surface can be planar or non-planar. Fluid precursors of polymeric structures, inorganic ceramics and salts, and the like can be used to form patterned polymeric articles, inorganic salts and ceramics, reactive ion etch masks, etc. at the surface. The articles can be formed in a pattern including a portion having a lateral dimension of less than about 1 millimeter or smaller. The indentation pattern of the applicator can be used to transfer separate, distinct chemically or biochemically active agents or fluid precursors to separate, isolated regions of a substrate surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber having increased mechanical strength is provided. The optical fiber includes an over cladding layer that has a compressive stress of at least 100 MPa.

Abstract: An optical transmission medium shaping method and an optical transmission medium shaping apparatus can accurately adjust desire curvature radius without cracking the optical transmission medium. The optical transmission medium shaping method for bending an optical transmission medium using a transferring means and a noncontacting heating means, includes a transferring and heating process for heating part of the optical transmission medium by the noncontacting heating means while transferring the transferring means, and a bending process for bending the optical transmission medium.

Abstract: A modified optical fiber comprises one Surface Light Field Emulation (s-LiFE) segment, comprising a core; a cladding; and multiple controlled nanoscale diffusion centers to emit light through the side of the optical fibers. Optionally, the modified optical fiber has a coating. The nanoscale diffusion centers are physical geometric patterns or composition patterns in the cladding or the coating. The s-LiFE optical fiber is a member of an illumination system further comprising a light source. The method of making of said s-LiFE optical fiber comprises a fiber spooning step.

Abstract: An optical fibre that use index-guidance formed with a low index cladding or a microstructured cladding using voids/holes or low index features (404) together with multiple high index resonant cladding features (1205, 1206). One to three resonant cross sectional extending structure act as a filter by resonantly coupling light out to part of the cladding (1202) or other structures (fx. a high index outer cladding ring) that acts as light sink(s) at one to three wavelength when using one to three materials or features with different size, shape, refractive index profile or normalized frequency parameter. The fibre can be asymmetrical. The fibre can be adapted for suppression of higher order modes (HOM) and/or guiding light in a narrow spectral wavelength range and act as a band pass filter.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include composite articles having specific optical properties. In one embodiment of this invention, a composite comprises high and low refractive index light transmitting material and surface relief features. In further embodiments, the composite comprises volumetric dispersed phase domains that may be asymmetric in shape. In one embodiment of this invention, the composite is an optical film providing light collimating features along two orthogonal planes perpendicular to the surface of the film. In another embodiment, the composite has improved optical, thermal, mechanical, or environmental properties. In further embodiments of this invention, the composite is manufactured by optically coupling or extruding two or more light transmitting materials, and forming inverted light collimating surface relief features or light collimating surface relief features.

Abstract: Provided is an all-in-one type light guide plate including a plurality of prism-shaped structures that are integrally formed on the all-in-one light guide plate and which totally internally reflect light incident from a light source and emit the totally internally reflected light.

Abstract: A system for forming an optical trap comprising two or more photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and at least one source of radiation for inputting radiation to the photonic crystal fibers, the fibers being operable to provide counter-propagating outputs for forming the optical trap.

Abstract: This invention relates to a light guide (100). A first light guide portion (101) extending at least partly along the light guide is provided from conducting an incoming light along the first light guide portion. A second light guide portion (102) having a light out coupling structure is provided for coupling out an incoming light from the first light guide portion. The first and the second light guide portions are separated by a light separation structure (103), where the amount of light conducted from the first light guide portion towards the second light guide portion is determined by the thickness of the light separation structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical waveguide, in particular an optical fibre comprising a core, formed from a material based on rare-earth-ion-doped silica, covered by an optical cladding. Nanoparticles, at least some of which are metal nanoparticles, are dispersed in the material of the core. The optical devices, such as especially optical amplifiers, comprise an optical fibre having a core formed, from a material based on rare-earth-ion-doped silica covered with an optical cladding, nanoparticles, at least some of which are metal nanoparticles, being dispersed in the material of the core, and a pumping source delivering electromagnetic excitation radiation, which propagates in the core.

Abstract: An optical element adapted to be arranged between a white light source of a backlight and a color filter substrate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) in optical path, wherein the white light of the backlight is obtained by mixing blue light and yellow light by exciting yellow fluorescent powders with blue light, and wherein red particles are dispersed in the optical element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding a structure on the top surface of a substrate. Mold material is dispensed onto an area of the top surface of the substrate. The mold apparatus is positioned over the area. The mold portion of the mold apparatus is positioned above the mold material and the mold material is surrounded with a shroud of the mold apparatus. A seal is formed between the shroud and the top surface of the substrate. The pressure is reduced within the shroud to below the ambient pressure. The mold portion of the mold apparatus is lowered toward the top surface of the substrate, so that at least the outer edge of the mold portion is in contact with the mold material. The pressure within the shroud is raised to at least the ambient pressure, and the mold material is cured to form the structure.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) having a waveguide-grating coupler with two evanescently coupled waveguides. The first waveguide is fabricated using materials suitable for manufacturing active optical elements in the PIC. The second waveguide is fabricated using materials capable of providing a relatively high index-of-refraction contrast for the constituent waveguide grating. The waveguide-grating coupler is compatible with the III-V semiconductor technology while being relatively easy to fabricate on an industrial scale.

Abstract: An illuminated housing cover includes a light guide and light source sandwiched between an outer light transmissive layer and an inner layer. The light source is disposed at one end of the light guide and arranged so that the emitted light enters one end of the light guide. A light mask is disposed between the light guide and the outer light transmissive layer to generate a desired lighting effect or light pattern. The housing cover can be manufactured using a two-step molding process.

Abstract: A method of thermally rounding a section of a non-circular optical fiber is provided. The method includes heating the section of the optical fiber with a sweeping motion along a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical fiber by at least one of moving the optical fiber with respect to a heat source and moving the heat source with respect to the optical fiber, such that a cross-section of an inner cladding of the section of the optical fiber becomes substantially circular.