Abstract: An electrical exciting circuit produces a plurality of oscillating electrical excitations, each at an independently controllable frequency. A set of drive electrodes are distributed in an array, and connected so that each receives a respective one of the excitations. A dual frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) material is arranged in the path of a coherent light beam and is disposed in proximity to the set of drive electrodes so as to receive electrical excitations. The DFLC has a dielectric coefficient which varies locally in relation to the frequency of the local electrical excitation received. The voltages and at least two frequencies of the excitations are controlled so as to produce a desired profile of the dielectric coefficient (for at least one polarization) and a corresponding optical phase delay profile for the coherent beam. Preferably, a novel reflective groundplane is included to improve optical reflective efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical display system and a method for increasing the resolution of an display device. The optical display system includes a display device which includes a pixel and a holographic optical element positioned in front of the pixel. The holographic optical element is configured to diffract a portion of the incident light from the pixel toward a user of the display system such that two or more pixels may be perceived by the user.

Abstract: The object of the prevent invention is to provide an optical system for producing variable refraction with minimized dispersion. A first material with a first apex angle in a first state and a second material with a second apex angle in a first state produce a first net refraction angle in at least two frequencies of electromagnetic radiation such that the beams that entered parallel exit parallel (to within a controllable tolerance). Said first material with said first apex angle in a second state and said second material with said second apex angle in a second state produce a second net refraction angle in at least two frequencies of electromagnetic radiation such that the beams that entered parallel exit parallel (to within a controllable tolerance).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating a pattern on a workpiece sensitive to radiation, such as a photomask, a display panel or a microoptical device. The apparatus comprises a radiation source, a spatial modulator (SLM) having a multitude of modulating elements (pixels), a projection system, an electronic data processing and delivery system controlling the modulator and a precision mechanical system for moving said workpiece. Specifically, the pixels could be set in a number of states larger than two, and the electronic processing system is adapted to create one type of pixel map inside pattern features, another type of pixel map outside features, and intermediate pixel maps at a boundary. The intermediate pixel map is generated in dependence on the placement of the boundary in a grid finer than that of the pixels of the SLM projected on the workpiece.

Abstract: An optical correlator includes a first reflective mode spatial light modulator for inputting an input image and a second reflective mode spatial light modulator for inputting a reference image for comparing with the input image. The optical correlator also includes an optics arrangement for (i) directing light into the first spatial light modulator, (ii) directing light along a first optical path from the first spatial light modulator into the second spatial light modulator, and (iii) directing light along a second optical path from the second spatial light modulator into an image plane. The optics arrangement includes a first lens having a focal length f1 and a second lens having a focal length f2. The first lens is positioned substantially adjacent the first spatial light modulator and the second lens is positioned substantially adjacent the second spatial light modulator.

Abstract: The present invention,is directed to an optical space switch accommodating a plurality of input light paths and output light paths. The optical space switch comprises a plurality of polarization control optical switches, each consisting essentially of: polarization control means having elements, one for each input light path, for rotating through 90° the polarizing direction of light information incident from each input light path or otherwise retaining the polarizing direction thereof for output; and a light path routing element for routing the light path for the light information output from the polarization control means in accordance with the polarizing direction of the light information. These polarization control optical switches are arranged in a matrix pattern or coupled in cascade to implement a polarization control optical space switch.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical bistable shutter display device is provided capable of being implemented for both small screen, high resolution devices and for large billboard-type displays. The micro-electromechanical shutter assembly has bi-stability characteristics which allow the use of only a holding voltage to maintain an image. The micro-electromechanical shutter assembly includes a shutter having petal-like shutter segments covering reflective or transmittive films. To expose the film in a particular shutter assembly, its shutter segments are moved from the horizontal to a vertical position using electrostatic attraction forces to “collapse” the torsionally-hinged shutter segments. The shutter assembly can have a number of segments, as long as the resulting shutter assembly shape can be stacked to form a dense 2D array.

Abstract: A light modulating device, such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal display (FLCD) comprises an addressable matrix and modulating elements or pixels and associated circuitry for selectively addressing each element in a series of addressing frames in order to vary the transmission level of each element relative to the transmissions levels of the other elements. Such addressing utilises a temporal dither addressing scheme for addressing at least part of each element within each frame with different combinations of temporal dither signals applied to separately addressable temporal bits within the frame to produce different transmission levels. In order to enable a large number of grey levels to be produced whilst limiting the perceived errors at transitions between different grey levels, the temporal bits are addressed in a first order in a first frame (or in a first spatial location) and in a second order, which is different to the first order, in a second frame (or in a second spatial location).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical space switch accommodating a plurality of input light paths and output light paths. The optical space switch comprises a plurality of polarization control optical switches, each consisting essentially of: polarization control means having elements, one for each input light path, for rotating through 90.degree. the polarizing direction of light information incident from each input light path or otherwise retaining the polarizing direction thereof for output; and a light path routing element for routing the light path for the light information output from the polarization control means in accordance with the polarizing direction of the light information. These polarization control optical switches are arranged in a matrix pattern or coupled in cascade to implement a polarization control optical space switch.

Abstract: The optical head has a light source, a collimating lens, an aperture-limiting element and an objective lens in the mentioned order in the direction of progress of light emitted from the light source, and a photo-detecting system for detecting return light having been transmitted through the objective lens and reflected by an optical disk. The aperture-limiting element includes a plurality of stripe transparent electrodes spaced apart at a predetermined interval on an electro-optical crystal substrate, and a substantially circular non-electrode area lacking the stripe transparent electrodes at a center portion of the substrate. The aperture-limiting element can be constructed with a reduced number of components as compared with the prior art construction.

Abstract: A system and method generate volumetric, three-dimensional displays, including displays of images or data. An apparent position of a volumetric image is translated by employing an image translation chamber with various combinations of concave and convex reflectors, mirrors, lenses, and/or holographic optical elements. A high-speed opto-mechanical shutter may also be used, as well as acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) for very high-speed intensity modulation of a coherent light beam to generate a periodic pattern of light packets or pulses. Active and passive multi-planar optical elements (MOEs) are also used in either a reflective or a transmissive mode and optionally having interposed layers of switchable liquid crystal material. A multi-planar optical sensor with interposed layers of light-sensitive material may be employed, as well as a gas imaging chamber for displaying the three-dimensional images. The system and method also allow interaction with the volumetric display of an image.

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: A projection display apparatus includes a light source, a spatial light modulation device, a condenser lens, an aperture stop, and a projecting lens. When the spatial period of complex amplitude modulation in the spatial light modulation device is represented by p, the center wavelength of the incident light is represented by .lambda., and a half angle subtended by an area around an opening edge of the aperture stop at the condenser lens along the first direction is represented by .theta.asx, parameters of the light source, the spatial light modulation device, the condenser lens, the screen, the aperture stop and the projecting lens and a relative positional relationship therebetween are defined such that the following condition is satisfied:0.35<.theta.asx/arcsin(.lambda./p)<0.6.

Abstract: An optical beam steering device for steering a beam of light includes a first window having a common electrode, a second window having a plurality of control electrodes, and a layer of electro-optical material intermediate the first and second windows. The common electrode, the control electrodes, and the electro-optical material form an array of phase shifters within the optical array. Each phase shifter has a width substantially greater than a wavelength of the beam of light. Also included is a means for establishing an effective position of the phase shifters so that a single beam of light of peak intensity exits the optical array where the single beam of light is steerable through a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A combination of an optically transmissive dielectric fluid having a first refractive index and an optically anisotropic particle rotatably disposed in the fluid is provided. The particle has at least one optically transmissive region having a second refractive index. The particle provides a first optical modulation characteristic when disposed in the fluid in a first orientation with respect to a flux of optical energy, and further provides a second optical modulation characteristic when disposed in the fluid in a second orientation with respect to a flux of optical energy. The particle has an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the particle electrically responsive such that when the particle is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the particle is provided, the particle tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: An ladder-structured variable delay device for providing variable true time delay to multiple optical beams simultaneously. The device comprises multiple basic units stacked on top of each other resembling a ladder. Each basic unit comprises a polarization sensitive corner reflector formed by two polarization beamsplitters and a polarization rotator array placed parallel to the hypotenuse of the corner reflector. Controlling an array element of the polarization rotator array causes an optical beam passing through the array element to either go up to a basic unit above it or reflect back towards output. The beams going higher on the "ladder" experience longer optical path delay. Finally, the ladder-structured variable device can be cascaded with another multi-channel delay device to form a new device which combines the advantages of the two individual devices. This programmable optic device has the properties of high packing density, low loss, easy fabrication, and virtually infinite bandwidth.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuatable array of light shutters is disclosed wherein each pixel aperture in the array is selectively opened and closed by way of an opaque piezoelectric shutter. Upon application of a voltage, each piezoelectric shutter extends laterally so as to close the corresponding pixel aperture and prevent light from passing therethrough. The pizeoelectric shutters contract, opening the corresponding pixel aperture, upon removal of the above-threshold voltage.

Abstract: An inventive array of thin film actuated mirrors is provided with an active matrix having an array of switching devices, an array of actuating structures and an array of mirrors, wherein each of the actuating structures is cantilevered on the active matrix, and each of the switching devices is positioned on the active matrix beside the position at which each of the actuating structures is cantilevered. In the array, during the operation of the array, since each of the mirrors is connected to the actuating structure through a recessed portion thereof, the mirror stays planar, allowing more accurate and effective reflection of the light beams, which will, in turn, enhance the overall optical efficiency of the array.

Abstract: A variable focal position optical system which includes a variable focal length lens subsystem whose focal length is variable and a fixed focal length lens subsystem whose focal length is fixed. The variable focal length lens subsystem and the fixed focal length lens subsystem are arranged such that a distance between a principal point of the variable focal length lens subsystem and a principal point of the fixed focal length lens subsystem at a variable focal length lens subsystem side is substantially equal to the focal length of the fixed focal length lens subsystem. As a result, it is possible to change only a focal position with substantially no change to a beam diameter at the focal position.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for and method of simulating an image in real time under turbulent atmospheric conditions. The present invention is realized by expanding a first laser beam using a microscope-objective and a first lens. The expanded light is then projected onto a first LCLV. Light reflecting from the first LCLV is filtered, focused onto a diaphram, polarized, and directed along a path that is around two meters in length. The light is then split into a first beam and a second beam. The first beam is focused onto an optical fiber bundle which is connected to the first LCLV. One end of the optical fiber bundle is rotated with respect to the other end. The second beam is projected upon a second LCLV. A second laser beam is expanded and projected onto a LCTV. The image is provided to the LCTV. The LCTV image is projected onto, and modulated by the second LCLV.

Abstract: A three dimensional imaging apparatus may be used as a microscope or camera. The apparatus includes an array of lenses, each of which is aligned with a respective photodetector element. A liquid crystal spatial light modulator has several pixels between each photodetector element and lens. A control circuit controls the modulator so that the pixels in front of each photodetector element act as a moving shutter. The outputs of the photodetector elements are processed and stored to form a three dimensional image.

Abstract: A phase shift illuminator (700) is comprised of a light source (704) and a phase modulator (716), typically a flexure beam micromirror array, which transversely modulates the incident light beam. When a flexure beam micromirror array is used as the phase modulator (716) a polarizing beam splitter (712) and a quarter-wave plate (714) are used to separate the incident and reflected light beams. The phase modulated light beam (720) from the optical illuminator may be used in optical lithography by passing the light beam through a lithography mask (724), typically after the light beam is phase modulated, and focusing the light beam onto a target wafer (726).

Abstract: The frequency components of an input pulse are dispersed into divergent respective rays that are applied to an acousto-optic modulator after being collimated. The amplitude of each frequency component emerging from the modulator is determined by the amplitude and phase of a grating formed therein by modulated radio frequency wave applied to it. The parallel rays emerging from the modulator are focussed onto a device for forming an output pulse.

Abstract: A colored microlens array which functions as both a color filter array of different color filter layers and transparent microlenses. The colored microlens array has a transparent basic layer and a plurality of colored microlenses of different colors formed on the transparent basic layer in two dimensional arrangement in accordance with at least one basic color arrangement pattern. The colored microlenses are manufactured by forming semispherical lens forming layer portions on the respective color filter layers of the color filter array and by etching the color filter layers with the formed semispherical lens forming layer portions as a mask, to change in shape the respective color filter layers into the semispherical lenses, respectively. The colored microlenses are applied to solid-state image sensing devices, color liquid crystal display units, etc.

Abstract: Total internal light spatial light modulation apparatus includes a light source for projecting infrared light; a prism for reflecting the projected light from an internal surface therein; and an array of pixel posts made of electrostrictive material and positioned proximate a back face of the internal surface for selectively eliminating pixel areas of reflection of the projected light to form an image thereby. A multiplexer is provided to select a set of pixel posts to be electrically charged which corresponds with the image, and electrical contacts are formed on each pixel post no permit electrical charging of each selected pixel post.

Abstract: An interferometric optical switching device for switching substantially coherent light beams includes a plurality of interferometric switching cells arranged in matrix form. Each interferometric switching cell is independently controllable to selectively direct received light beams along at least a selected one of two axes. The device can be three-dimensionally expanded to increase the number of ports to which the light beams can be selectively switched, in which case the matrices can share integrally constructed interferometric switching cells. The device is further capable of providing bidirectional communication between predetermined ones of the ports thereof.

Abstract: A plurality of fiber optic laser members are supported in an apertured plate so as to form an array supplied by an optical pump. Individual members may have the light passing there through modulated by respective modulators. Light from the fiber optic laser array illuminates an optical storage medium which stores information. The resulting output undergoes Fourier transformation and optical filtering. Filtered light then undergoes inverse Fourier transformation and detection.

Abstract: An optical switching device for switching linearly polarized optical signal beams includes a plurality of switching cells arranged in matrix form. Each switching cell has spatial light modulators and a polarizing beamsplitter which cooperate to propagate the optical beams received by the device to selected output ports. The device can be three-dimensionally expanded to increase the number of output ports to which the optical beams can be selectively switched, in which case the matrices can share integrally constructed polarizing beamsplitters and SLMs.

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: A practical means for electrically addressing the extremely large number and high density of phase shifters needed for operation of an optical phased array beam steerer. The array of phase shifters is subdivided into identical subarrays which completely fill an optical aperture. All subarrays are connected electrically in parallel by electrically interconnecting corresponding electrodes of each subarray. Methods are disclosed herein for providing an enhanced number of beam steering positions for the subaperture-addressed beam steerer.