Abstract: Some embodiments provide a lens including a lens body and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light in certain spectral bands. At least some of the spectral bands can include spectral features that tend to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. In certain embodiments, eyewear incorporates an optical filter that enhances chroma within one or more spectral bands. In some embodiments, a wearer of the eyewear can perceive the increase in chroma when viewing at least certain types of scenes.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a top emission organic EL element includes a step of providing an insulating layer on a substrate, a processing step of processing a center area within a region in which the insulating layer is provided, a step of forming a bank on the insulating layer, a lower electrode material applying step, a luminescent material applying step, and an upper transparent electrode forming step. The insulating layer is provided such that a contact angle to a solution to be applied in forming a lower electrode becomes smaller at the center area than the contact angle at a peripheral area within the region.

Abstract: An ophthalmic spectacle lens having transmittance properties that block UV and violet light and partially block certain cyan wavelengths to enhance contrast between blue versus green and partially block certain yellow wavelengths to enhance contrast between green versus red, and keep in accordance with the tristimulus values. Adding wavelength-selective organic dyes provides the entire functional attributes of the current invention or improves the contrast-enhancing attributes provided by a glass wafer having functional rare-earth oxides, either of which improve multi-band spectrum that is balanced in blocking UV light, and adding contrast between the primary colors to optimize color-enhancing functions. When using organic dyes for all functional attributes it is possible to integrate these dyes into plastic ophthalmic materials. Some lenses are polarized.

Abstract: A laser device includes a gain medium configured to receive an excitation light and emit a fluorescence signal based on an amount of stored excitation light accumulated in the gain medium. The laser device includes a pump source configured to pump the excitation light to the gain medium using a supply voltage. The laser device includes one or more photodetectors configured to detect the fluorescence signal. The laser device also includes a comparator configured to generate an alert signal indicating an intensity of the detected fluorescence signal is greater than a threshold. The alert signal can trigger certain actions to occur for disrupting a destructive lasing action including one or more of ceasing output of the supply voltage to the pump source, spoiling an optical cavity to obstruct lasing action through the gain medium, or inserting a seed light to extract gain from the gain medium in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: An optical logic gate includes: a DNA based nanostructure including DNA and metal nanoparticles coupled to the DNA, the DNA based nanostructure being configured to rotate a polarization plane of an incident light; a polarizer to which light passing through the DNA based nanostructure is incident, the polarizer being configured to extract a component in a direction of a predetermined reference axis from light whose polarization plane is rotated by the DNA based nanostructure; and a detection unit to which light passing through the polarizer is incident, the detection unit being configured to generate a logic signal based on a result obtained by comparing the intensity of the component in the reference axis direction extracted by the polarizer with a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: Provided are an optical switch and an optical logic device. The optical switch includes a plate having a nanometer-sized thickness, a first slit formed in the plate, through which a first light passes, a second slit formed in the plate, separately from the first slit, through which a second light selectively passes, a plurality of first grooves formed on a first side of the first slit, between the first slit and the second slit, and a plurality of second grooves formed on a second side of the first slit, opposite the first side. The first light and the second light may have a phase difference and a focusing of the first light is turned on/off by controlling the second light.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and techniques for frequency-dependent optical switching are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate, a first optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, a second optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, and a composite structure located between the first and second optical-field confining structures. The second optical-field confining structure may be spaced apart from the first optical-field confining structure. The composite structure may include an embedding structure with a surface to receive photons and multiple quantum structures located in the embedding structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments provided herein relate to filters for electromagnetic radiation. Some embodiments provided herein relate to phototunable compounds for which at least one optical characteristic can be changed. Some embodiments herein relate to methods of manipulating a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A projection system having a first tilting mirror matrix, a second tilting mirror matrix, and an imaging lens, which projects the first tilting mirror matrix onto the second tilting mirror matrix, wherein each tilting mirror matrix has multiple tilting mirrors, the tilting axes of which are positioned in a modulator surface plane. The imaging lens includes a first lens and an imaging mirror, and the imaging mirror forms an aperture stop of the imaging lens, wherein the aperture diaphragm includes an uneven angle of 90° together with the normal of the modulator surface of the first tilting mirror matrix without taking into account any optical path folds.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and techniques for frequency-dependent optical switching are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate, a first optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, a second optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, and a composite structure located between the first and second optical-field confining structures. The second optical-field confining structure may be spaced apart from the first optical-field confining structure. The composite structure may include an embedding structure with a surface to receive photons and multiple quantum structures located in the embedding structure.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and techniques for frequency-dependent optical switching are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate, a first optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, a second optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, and a composite structure located between the first and second optical-field confining structures. The second optical-field confining structure may be spaced apart from the first optical-field confining structure. The composite structure may include an embedding structure with a surface to receive photons and multiple quantum structures located in the embedding structure.

Abstract: A bi-stable display device including a first substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) array layer and a bi-stable display panel is provided. The TFT array layer is formed on the first substrate and the bi-stable display panel is disposed on the TFT array layer. The first substrate includes at least two patterns with two predetermined ranges for respectively limiting the shift along a first axis and a second axis, and the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and techniques for frequency-dependent optical switching are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate, a first optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, a second optical-field confining structure located on the substrate, and a composite structure located between the first and second optical-field confining structures. The second optical-field confining structure may be spaced apart from the first optical-field confining structure. The composite structure may include an embedding structure with a surface to receive photons and multiple quantum structures located in the embedding structure.

Abstract: A backplane for use in an electro-optic display comprises a patterned metal foil having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, coated on at least side with an insulating polymeric material and having a plurality of thin film electronic devices provided on the insulating polymeric material.

Abstract: Embodiments of exemplary MEMS interferometric modulators are arranged at intersections of rows and columns of electrodes. In certain embodiments, the column electrode has a lower electrical resistance than the row electrode. A driving circuit applies a potential difference of a first polarity across electrodes during a first phase and then quickly transition to applying a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the first polarity during a second phase. In certain embodiments, an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the row electrode is less than an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the column electrode during the first and second phases.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical article including a substrate; and a colorant composition connected to at least a portion of the substrate. The colorant composition is a fixed-tint colorant; and a photochromic material. The article exhibits a passive state and an activated state, such that the article can switch from the passive state to the activated state in response to at least actinic radiation and to revert back to the passive state in response to thermal energy. The passive state is characterized by a transmittance ranging from greater than 30% to 70% across a wavelength range of from 460 nanometers to 500 nanometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical elements comprising a photochromic linear polarizing element and a birefringent layer that circularly or elliptically polarizes transmitted radiation. The photochromic linear polarizing element comprises a substrate and either: (1) a coating comprising an aligned, thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound having an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in an activated state, and being operable for switching from a first absorption state to a second absorption state in response to actinic radiation, to revert back to the first absorption state in response to thermal energy, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in at least one of the two states; or (2) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet connected to the substrate; and a thermally reversible photochromic-dichroic compound that is at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio greater than 2.3 in the activated state.

Abstract: A structure of an optical switch makes the optical switch capable of receiving broadband signals. And the manufacturing procedure is simplified.

Abstract: A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide one or more electrical paths for application of voltages to the one or more optical elements. In another embodiment a method of providing an electrical signal to a plurality of optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements.

Abstract: Observable changes in electrical and optical characteristics of individual molecules adsorbed on a conductor or semi-conductor caused by electrical and/or optical excitation or de-excitation of electrons within such molecules can be used as signals which in turn can be used to carry information and such observable information carrying changes or signals can be switched, amplified, and modulated by varying optical as well as electrical inputs to such molecules. Molecular structural design alters functional behavior of the molecular/quantum devices. In an example, monomeric metallated phthalocyanine behaves as a fast (<10?12 second), energy efficient (3OkT/bit of information), fully reversible quantum switch with multiple outputs. However, if monomeric phthalocyanines are organized in structural combinations such as one dimensional wire-like ring-stacked, or two dimensional sheet-like ring-fused phthalocyanines, their electro-optical properties are significantly altered.

Abstract: An element for steering electromagnetic beams. The element includes a phase change material in combination with dielectric and other layers in a multilayer optical stack. The phase change material that is reversibly transformable between two or more structural states, where different structural states differ with respect to refractive index and/or extinction coefficient. The structural state of the phase change material establishes a phase angle state for the element that dictates the direction of propagation of an output beam produced from an incident electromagnetic beam. Depending on the structural state, the element adopts one of two principal phase angle states and a binary beam steering capability is achieved in which an incident electromagnetic beam can be redirected in either of two directions. In a preferred embodiment, the output beam is a reflected beam and the element includes a phase change material sandwiched between two dielectric materials and supported by a metal layer.

Abstract: Observable changes in electrical and optical characteristics of individual molecules adsorbed on a conductor or semi-conductor caused by electrical and/or optical excitation or de-excitation of electrons within such molecules can be used as signals which in turn can be used to carry information and such observable information carrying changes or signals can be switched, amplified, and modulated by varying optical as well as electrical inputs to such molecules. Molecular structural design alters functional behavior of the molecular/quantum devices. In an example, monomeric metallated phthalocyanine behaves as a fast (<10?12 second), energy efficient (3OkT/bit of information), fully reversible quantum switch with multiple outputs. However, if monomeric phthalocyanines are organized in structural combinations such as one dimensional wire-like ring-stacked, or two dimensional sheet-like ring-fused phthalocyanines, their electro-optical properties are significantly altered.

Abstract: An optical path deflecting element, an optical path deflecting apparatus, an image displaying apparatus, an optical writing apparatus, an optical interconnection apparatus, an optical element, and a fabrication method thereof. The optical path deflecting element includes a pair of transparent substrates, transparent electrode films on the substrates to which a voltage having an inverse polarity is selectively applied, an alignment layer in the inner sides of the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer formed of a chiral smectic C phase between the substrates via the alignment layer and homogeneously aligned by the alignment layer. The optical deflecting element can realize the uniformly-aligned liquid crystal layer more easily than a case in which the liquid crystal is aligned to become in a bistable condition. For this reason, it is possible to improve yield in the fabrication.

Abstract: An element for reflecting, transmitting, focusing, defocusing or wavefront correction of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range. The elements include a grid of conductive strips including active regions comprising a chalcogenide phase change material. The chalcogenide material can be in an amorphous, crystalline or partially crystalline state. The dispersive characteristics of the grid (e.g. impedance, admittance, capacitance, inductance) influence one or more of the reflection, transmission, state of focusing or wavefront characteristics of incident electromagnetic radiation through the action of a stored phase taper formed by establishing a crystallinity gradient over a series of active chalcogenide regions or domains in one or more directions of the element.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical multi-beam scanning device and a image forming apparatus with reduced size.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes a substrate, an optical waveguide layer on the substrate and having well and barrier layers. The semiconductor optical device also includes an optical absorbing layer on the substrate and adjacent to the optical waveguide layer so that incident light having an incident wavelength &lgr;LD is guided into the optical absorbing layer. Each of the well layers has a wavelength &lgr;g corresponding to the band gap of the well layers and that is larger than the incident wavelength &lgr;LD. Also, the band gap energy between base levels of a conduction band and a valence band of the optical waveguide layer is larger than the energy of the incident light having the incident wavelength &lgr;LD.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical shutter comprising an photon-absorbing layer and a surface layer in a transparent state on at least one side of the photon-absorbing layer, wherein the optical shutter is characterized by the absorption of photons to change the photon-absorbing layer to an opaque state and to change the surface layer to a reflective state. The optical shutter is reversibly imageable between these transparent and reflective states. The optical shutter may comprise a metallized layer on at least one side of the photon-absorbing layer. Preferably, the optical shutter comprises an organic free radical compound, such as a salt of an aminium radical cation, in the photon-absorbing layer. Also provided are optical switch devices and optical buffers comprising such optical shutters and methods of switching an optical signal utilizing such optical shutters and switch devices.

Abstract: A display element is disclosed which comprises a pair of substrates, a display medium interposed between the substrates which medium may comprise electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium, and partition walls with which the display medium is divided in the direction perpendicular to the substrate faces. The partition walls are formed of a self-assembling material, and a fluid dispersion such as an electrophoretic fluid containing electrophoretic particles is provided in hollows defined by the partition walls and the substrates.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for fabricating an optical device comprising at least one optical component formed on a transparent substrate. The method comprises determining an area of the substrate that is to be light-absorbing; and fabricating a light-absorbing mask on the determined area prior to fabricating the at least one optical component. The invention also provides an optical device comprising a substrate; and first and second optical components formed on the substrate, wherein the first optical component has two modes, each mode producing a different optical response to light incident thereupon, and wherein the second optical component absorbs light and is formed on the substrate before the first optical component is formed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for fabricating an optical device comprising at least one optical component formed on a transparent substrate. The method comprises determining an area of the substrate that is to be light-absorbing; and fabricating a light-absorbing mask on the determined area prior to fabricating the at least one optical component. The invention also provides an optical device comprising a substrate; and first and second optical components formed on the substrate, wherein the first optical component has two modes, each mode producing a different optical response to light incident thereupon, and wherein the second optical component absorbs light and is formed on the substrate before the first optical component is formed.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for converting an RZ signal into a NRZ signal which contains an optical bistable device (5), where an output level of this device passing from a low level to a high level when an input power level crosses in an upward direction a first threshold, and returning to a low level when an input level crosses in a downward direction a second threshold below the first, the output (7) of the bistable (5) carrying the NRZ signal, and a device (2) for converting the RZ signal into a control signal of an output logic level of the optical bistable device (5) receiving the RZ signal, and delivering the control signal of the optical bistable device (5), this signal having a level above the first threshold when the RZ signal passes to 1 and which becomes lower at the second threshold only if the RZ signal passes to 0 and stays there for more than one bit time.

Abstract: Describes novel polyfunctional thiiranes. Also described are polymerizable compositions comprising such novel polyfunctional thiiranes, and polymerizates, e.g., optical lenses, prepared therefrom. The described polymerizates may have a refractive index of at least 1.6, and an Abbe number of at least 27.

Abstract: A bistable optical device such as a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) emits an output beam at either a high level or a low level, depending on which of the two stable states the device occupies. The device is switched between the two stable states without a need for a change in the input holding power by changing the hysteresis of the device. The hysteresis is changed by the application of set and reset optical pulses which change the gain and therefore the refractive index of the device. The device has applications to optical communication and computing systems such as optical memory, wavelength conversion and pulse length conversion.

Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for processing signals by optically manipulating polaritons. In one embodiment, the signal processing method includes: converting a plurality of spatially separated input signals into polaritons that propagate in a signal processing material; optically manipulating the polaritons at a plurality of spatially separated locations in the signal processing material; and converting the manipulated polaritons into at least one output signal. In another embodiment, the signal processing method includes: converting an input signals into a polariton that propagates in a non-conductive signal processing material; optically manipulating the polariton as it propagates in the signal processing material; and converting the manipulated polaritons into an electrical output signal at an interface between the signal processing material and a conductive path in another material.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator for use in a optical printer where the spatial light modulator includes a plurality of cells, having a shape that is defined to decrease artifacts in an image produced on a recording medium by the optical printer. The shape of the plurality of cells merges a portion of the optical radiation passing through an individual cell of the spatial light modulator with optical radiation from that of adjacent cell to form a pixel on the recording medium. In one implementation each of the cells of the spatial light modulator independently modulate the optical radiation so as to print horizontally-displaced pixels. When LEDs are used as the colored light source, the light is either first diffused to minimize shadows from electrical contacts on the LEDs, thus removing linear artifacts in the image.

Abstract: An optical modulator according to the present invention comprises an optical guide region including a quantum well layer, a waveguide structure defining an optical path of the guide region, a gate situated below the guide region for changing the carrier density in the quantum well layer, an electrical contact for said gate and at least one other electrical contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical transistor which uses photo-excited carriers to modulate the interaction between the plasma oscillation of free carriers and input electromagnetic radiation to change reflectivity by a large margin, thereby realizing high-speed light modulation, light switching and light detection. The device functions like a transistor, but uses a light beam instead of an electric current. The invention also provides implementation schemes for different devices using optical transistors such as a light power modulator, a combined detector, a reflective or transmissive light switch and a spectral scanner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bistable optical device in which the active medium is a polymer material of thermo-optical effect inserted into a cavity resonator, preferably a FABRY-PEROT resonance cavity, in said cavity the polymer material transmitting and reflecting an incident light wave with bistable values and values variable according to its thermal state. This latter is varied by the absorption of a fraction of the incident light wave, which transfers heat to the polymer material to generate therein an increase in the transmission of the incident light and a variable refractive index in response to the increase in its temperature, to thus provide a positive response effect which enables the device of the present invention to vary between two bistable states.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wavelength shifting an intensity-modulated optical signal are provided. The present invention utilizes an intensity-modulated first optical signal at a first wavelength, a second optical signal at a second wavelength and an optical amplifier with a gain which varies with the intensity modulation of the first optical signal. The optical amplifier receives and amplifies the first and second signals such that variations in the intensity modulation of the first optical signal alter the optical amplifier gain, producing an amplified second optical signal with corresponding intensity variations. In accordance with the invention the power level of the second optical signal is adjusted to reduce the amplifier gain recovery time and thereby reduce the rise time of the intensity variations of the amplified second optical signal. Optical wavelength shifting by amplifier gain compression is thereby made possible at bit rates of 10 Gbits/sec or higher.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the modulation and amplification of light beams having at least one input light beam (8) supplied to at least one Fabry-Perot resonator having at least one resonance mode, and defined by two mirrors (M1,M2) and produced by stacking layers on a substrate (4). At least one of the layers form an active medium (6) able to amplify the input light beam by stimulated emission, the wavelength thereof being around the resonance of the resonator and the density of free charge carriers in the active medium being varied in such a way as to make the latter sometimes absorbent and sometimes an amplifying with respect to the input beam and thus obtain at least one output light beam (10) whose intensity is modulated and amplified relative to the input beam. Application to optical telecommunications and to optical interconnections.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an all-optical regenerator which is controlled by an external input optical signal for the generation of an output optical signal satisfying certain preset parameters defining the shape and the amplitude of the output optical signal. The optical device comprises a rectangular phase modulator optically coupled between two resonators so that the inlet mirrors of the resonators and the phase modulator form a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer. The phase modulator serves to generate an output signal of a predetermined or desired pulse width and amplitude. The present optical device also includes a multielectrode injection laser which is optically coupled to the phase modulator. The multielectrode injection laser selects the clock frequency and locks output pulses in conformity with the period of the clock frequency.

Abstract: An optical logic operation apparatus includes an optical induction refractive index crystal having first and second planes parallel to each other and a device for inputting a coherent probe light from the first plane of the crystal. At least one of the first light output from the first plane of the crystal and the second light output from the second plane of the crystal is taken out so that one of the first and second lights is amplified by the two-wave coupling of the probe light reflected by the second plane and the probe light inputted from the first plane and the other light is attenuated likewise by the two-wave coupling. The inputted image is projected onto the crystal by use of light incoherent to the probe light. With the incidence of the incoherent light, a gain distribution corresponding to the inputted image is generated in the crystal so as to modulate the first and second lights spatially.

Abstract: An optically bistable semiconductor device which has a doped or undoped gallium arsenide substrate and a series of alternating n-type and p-type Dirac-delta doped monoatomic layers formed on the substrate. Each Dirac-delta doped monoatomic layer is separated from the next adjacent Dirac-delta doped monoatomic layer by a layer of pure, undoped intrinsic semiconductor material such as gallium arsenide.

Abstract: An optical switching device employs a rare earth bis-phthalocyanine having good third-order nonlinear susceptibilities. In a preferred optical switch, the rare earth bis-phthalocyanine is employed as a nonlinear optical material body that fills the space between two partially reflecting mirrors. When light incident on the switch is below a given intensity level, light passes through the switch and the switch is in an open state. When light is above a given intensity level, light is trapped in the nonlinear optical material and the switch is in a closed state.

Abstract: A multi-channel/multi-layer optical gate contained within a fiber-optic housing having any number of optical cells disposed within the housing. The optical cells are made up of non-linear organic polymers surrounded by a piezoelectric crystal, which is in turn connected to a photovoltaic device. When the photovoltaic device is activated, the piezoelectric crystals cause the non-linear organic polymers to change their refractive index, causing an interruption of a reference laser beam. An output detector is disposed within the fiber-optic housing for detecting the reference laser beam.

Abstract: An optically activated avalanche GaAs switch having two opposing optical windows for receiving optical energy from an illumination source which may be, for example, a laser diode operating at a 1.06 micron wavelength. The switch is a semiconductor PIN structure including a substrate of intrinsic GaAs material within which is formed opposing highly doped deep recessed p+ and n+GaAs layers underlying a pair of ohmic contacts including outer annular layers of metallization which surround respective centrally located optical windows formed of AlGaAs. By illuminating the switch from opposite sides through the optical windows, electron-hole pairs are generated and a condition for an avalanche mode of operation is created in the center region of the device rendering it conductive.

Abstract: Optical elements comprising noncentrosymmetric crystalline organic compounds are provided, that are capable of second harmonic generation. The invention further provides for nonlinear optical devices and modulators incorporating the optical elements.

Abstract: An optically bistable device is disclosed. The device includes a uniformly thick layer of amorphous silicon to constitute a Fabry-Perot chamber positioned to provide a target area for a probe beam. The probe beam has a maximum energy less than the energy band gap of the amorphous semiconductor. In a preferred embodiment, a multilayer dielectric mirror is positioned on the Fabry-Perot chamber to increase the finesse of switching of the device. The index of refraction of the amorphous material is thermally altered to alter the transmission of the probe beam.

Abstract: A block of composite material includes a dielectric material with a dielectric constant of .epsilon..sub.d =4.66 and which is at least 4 .mu.m thick and has electrically conductive microparticles randomly distributed throughout. The composite material exhibits an optical bistability without cavity feedback. The microparticles must be nearly uniform in size and of spherical diameter much smaller than the wavelength of light in the particle. The composite, when illuminated by laser light in the range of 500 nm and of varying intensity, becomes opaque at a critical input intensity and stays opaque until the input intensity reaches a certain level both below and above the intensity at which it initially became opaque. Thus the material behaves as an optical switch and a limiter.