Abstract: There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a light-guide, compact collimating optical device, including a light-guide having a light-waves entrance surface, a light-waves exit surface and a plurality of external surfaces, a light-waves reflecting surface carried by the light-guide at one of the external surfaces, two retardation plates carried by light-guides on a portion of the external surfaces, a light-waves polarizing beamsplitter disposed at an angle to one of the light-waves entrance or exit surfaces, and a light-waves collimating component covering a portion of one of the retardation plates. A system including the optical device and a substrate, is also provided.

Abstract: An in-line laser beam waist analyzer system includes an optical prism that picks off a portion of a second surface reflection from either a laser processing focus lens or a protective debris shield for the processing lens and directs that focused light to a pixelated detector. This provides real time monitoring of the focused laser beam while it is processing material by welding, cutting, drilling, scribing or marking, without disrupting the process.

Abstract: A touch display apparatus including a light guide plate, a light emitting module, a display panel, a plurality of prism structures, an image transmission unit, and an image detector is provided. The light guide plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a light incident surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The light emitting module includes at least one visible light source and at least one invisible light source. The prism structures are disposed between the first surface and the display panel. The image transmission unit includes a wedge portion and a light guide portion. The wedge portion is disposed between the prism structures and the display panel. The image detector is disposed beside the light guide portion for receiving the invisible light beam from the light guide portion. A backlight module is also provided.

Abstract: A display unit for binocular representation of a multicolor image including a control unit triggering an imaging element such that the imaging element generates in a temporal successive manner the image to be displayed for a first beam path and a second beam path as a first image and second image, respectively. The images are generated in a pre-distorted manner, opposite of the chromatic aberration of the respective beam path, such that the chromatic aberration generated in the respective beam path is compensated when the first and second image is displayed. The display unit includes a switching module which operates in temporal synchrony with the first and second image being generated, such that a user can see the first image only via the first beam path and the second image only via the second beam path.

Abstract: An illuminating unit and a display apparatus including the illuminating unit are provided. The illuminating unit generates and emits light to a display element of the display apparatus, and includes a light source; a uniformizing unit which uniformizes light from the light source and includes a plurality of uniformizing lenses arranged on an optical path; a condensing unit which condenses light from the uniformizing unit to emit the light to the display element and includes a plurality of condensing lenses sequentially arranged on the optical path, and the uniformizing unit and the condensing unit are arranged based on a width of one of a plurality of cell lenses forming the uniformizing lens and a width of an image displayed in the display element.

Abstract: One embodiment provides for a gradient lens having a first substantially hemispherical member comprising a first convex surface and a base and a second substantially hemispherical member projecting away from the base of the first hemispherical member and comprising a second convex surface. The gradient lens also includes a plurality of gradient layers disposed within the first hemispherical member, each gradient layer concentrically aligned to the first hemispherical member and comprising an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers.

Abstract: An ion accelerator includes a plasma ion source and a micro-collimator. The micro-collimator has a plurality of channels. The length-to-width ratio of each channel is greater than five, and the channel width is less than one micron. The ion source is coupled to the micro-collimator such that ions from the ion source pass into the channels, and then through the plurality of channels. In one specific example, the ion source produces cold ions that have only a small amount of lateral momentum. Each channel is an individually gated acceleration channel that is formed into a solid dielectric material. Ions are accelerated down the acceleration channel. The ion accelerator forms a part of an ionjet head of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.

Abstract: In a wavelength selective switch, a holding member is used to rotate one end of optical fibers and a collimator array around a rotation axis to thereby change an incident angle of collimated light with respect to incident surfaces of a beam expander optical system. When the incident angle of the collimated light on the beam expander optical system is changed, an amount of variation in an emission angle of light from the beam expander optical system is not proportional (inversely proportional) to the magnification of the beam expander optical system. Thus, this wavelength selective switch can easily fine-tune the incident position (beam position) of light with respect to each reflecting surface of a MEMS mirror by rotating the holding member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical path coupling device. The device includes a light beam collimating element and a light beam concentrating element. The light beam collimating element includes a first focus, a first optical axis and a light concentrating surface; the light concentrating surface receives incident light emitted from a position of a first focus and collimates the incident light into collimated light beams which are transmitted along the first optical axis. The light beam concentrating element includes a second focus, a second optical axis and a reflective concave surface; the second optical axis is disposed in parallel with and at a preset distance away from the first optical axis; the reflective concave surface is disposed obliquely relative to the first optical axis, and the reflective concave surface receives the collimated light beams and reflects and concentrates the collimated light beams to a position of the second focus.

Abstract: An improved method for two point calibration of a tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer by the steps of (a) directing a first portion of the light from the TDL through a known gas to a first light detector as the current fed to the TDL is varied so that current values are determined for at least two known absorption peaks of the known gas; (b) while concurrently directing a second portion of the light from the TDL through a gas to be analyzed to a second light detector. In addition, an improved laser module for use in a TDL analyzer, the module defining a cavity therein across which cavity a portion of the light from a TDL is directed to collimation optics for collimating the light from the module wherein the improvement is a gas reference cell positioned at least partially in the cavity so that a portion of the light from the TDL that is not directed to the collimation optics is shown through a gas in the gas reference cell to a light detector.

Abstract: Large area, low f-number optical systems, and microfluidic systems incorporating such optical systems, are disclosed. Large area, low f-number optical systems may be used to collect light from plurality of micro channels associated with a plurality of flow cytometers. The optical systems may be configured to collect light from a source area having an object lateral length or width within a range of 25 mm and 75 mm, configured to have an f-number within a range of 0.9 to 1.2, and configured to have a working distance within a range of 10 mm to 30 mm.

Abstract: An optical receiver lens has a three-dimensional lens surface, for receiving the laser radiation of a laser distance measuring device, said laser radiation being reflected at an object, wherein the receiver lens can be described in a three-dimensional coordinate system having three axes x, y, z arranged at right angles with respect to one another and wherein the z-axis coincides with the optical axis of the receiver lens. At least one non-spherical area section of the lens surface can be described by addition of a first area, the flexure of which along the z-axis is a first function (f1) of x and y, in particular of (I) and a second area, the flexure of which along the z-axis is a second function (f2) of x and not of y. A distance measuring device is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a collimator comprising a first collimator face, a second collimator face, and a stack region. The stack region comprises a first layer having a first prismatically shaped top face with a plurality of 1D arranged first prisms having first prism axes, and a second layer having a second prismatically shaped top face with a plurality of 1D arranged second prisms having second prism axes. The first and second prism axes are in a crossed configuration. In a direction from the first collimator face to the second collimator face, the index of refraction of material upstream of the first prismatically shaped top face is larger than that of material downstream of the first prismatically shaped top face, and the index of refraction of material upstream of the second prismatically shaped top face is larger than that of material downstream of the second prismatically shaped top face.

Abstract: An apparatus emits a laser light beam with a first aspect ratio of etendue R1, wherein the optical invariant with respect to a first direction is less than half the optical invariant with respect to a second orthogonal direction. A first cylindrical lens collimates the beam in the first direction. A second cylindrical lens collimates the light beam in the second direction. A bisecting reflective surface has an edge that splits the collimated beam into undeviated and first deviated beam paths. A folding reflective surface redirects the first deviated beam path back toward the bisecting reflective surface, optically parallel with and displaced from the undeviated beam path with respect to the first direction. At least a portion of the redirected first deviated beam path passes the edge and combines with the undeviated path to form an output beam having a second aspect ratio of etendue R2 not equal to R1.

Abstract: A collimator lens is configured with a double convex single lens formed with a resinous material, for collimating a light flux emitted from a light source. At least one of surfaces of the collimator lens is formed as an aspherical surface. The collimator lens satisfies following conditions: 2<|R1/R2|<10; NA>0.6, where R1 is a curvature radius of a first surface, which is a lens surface on a side of the light source of the collimator lens, R2 is a curvature radius of a second surface, which is a lens surface on a side opposite to the first surface of the collimator lens, and NA is a numerical aperture on the side of the light source of the collimator lens.

Abstract: A refractive index distributed optical element having a refractive index varying within a plane, including a positive refractive index distributed portion having a positive refractive index varying within the plane and a negative refractive index distributed portion having a negative refractive index varying within the plane. The absolute values of the refractive indexes of the positive refractive index distributed portion and the negative refractive index distributed portion decrease toward a region between the positive refractive index distributed portion and the negative refractive index distributed portion.

Abstract: An optical film applied in a backlight module is provided. The optical film includes a basic layer, a plurality of periodically arranged reflective convex-parts and a plurality of periodically arranged collimating parts. The reflective convex-parts are disposed on the first surface of the basic layer. The reflective convex-part includes at least one reflective side surface and an incident bottom surface contacting a light guide plate. The collimating parts are disposed on the second surface of the basic layer. The reflective convex-parts are respectively corresponded to the collimating parts. In each corresponding pair of the reflective convex-part and the collimating part, a central axis of the reflective convex-part is substantially coincided with a central axis of the collimating part. In addition, a backlight module using the optical film is also provided.

Abstract: A micro-optical element for use with an edge-emitting laser diode bar stack, the element comprising a plurality of spaced apart fast-axis collimators formed as a monolithic array, wherein the spacing between the collimators in the fast-axis varies across the micro-optic element. A method of manufacturing a micro-optical element for use with a laser diode bar stack, using a wavelength stabilized CO2 laser is also described.

Abstract: A collimator lens unit includes at least two lenses and substantially collimates a beam of light emitted from a solid-state light source unit of a Lambert emission type, wherein at least two faces of incidence faces and emission faces of the lenses constituting the two lenses are aspheric faces, one front aspheric face located close to the solid-state light source unit has a function of changing a luminous flux density distribution of the beam of light emitted from the solid-state light source unit to a predetermined luminous flux density distribution in which the luminous flux density in the vicinity of an optical axis of the collimator lens unit is higher than the luminous flux density in a peripheral portion separated from the optical, the rear aspheric face farthest from the solid-state light source unit has a function of substantially collimating the beam of light.

Abstract: The invention provides a collimator comprising a prismatic layer stack. The prismatic layer stack comprises a first prismatic layer comprising ID arranged first prisms, with first prism tops having first prism top angels, and first grooves, having first groove angles; and a second prismatic layer comprising ID arranged second prisms, with second prism tops having second prism top angels, and second grooves, having second groove angles. The first prismatic layer and the second prismatic layer are in a crossed configuration. Further, the first and second prism tops of the first and the second prismatic layers point in the same direction. The first and second prism top angels and the first and second groove angles are selected from the range of 120-160°.

Abstract: In order to achieve a high brightness optical source with both spatial size and numeric aperture ideal for fiber coupling, an assembly of multiple individually collimated laser diode chips on submount (COS) are mounted onto a common flat surface and redirected through a series of optical components. This is done in such a manner which allows for active reduction of both overall spot size and numeric aperture. This optical stacking technique achieves a high brightness source which is also suitable for directly coupling into an optical fiber, or can achieve enhanced brightness through the use of existing polarization or wavelength combining schemes prior to fiber optic coupling.

Abstract: An optics system is provided that is made up of a single diffractive optical element that performs beam collimating, beam splitting, and light blocking functions. The diffractive optical element is made up of a substrate having a first surface comprising an entrance facet and a second surface comprising an exit facet. The first surface comprising the entrance facet performs at least the functions of collimating the beam of light produced by the light source and of tilting the collimated beam in a particular direction. The second surface comprising the exit facet performs at least the functions of splitting the tilted collimated beam into at least two collimated light beams and of blocking unintended light (i.e., one or more mode order groups that are not intended to be used for imaging purposes). By performing all of these functions on different surfaces of a single substrate, an extremely compact optics system having very high optical efficiency and a very high signal-to-noise ratio is realized.

Abstract: An optical system (31) with an input optical source (33) for projecting an input beam along an optical axis and an optical element (37, 43) which creates a cone refracted beam (41) from the input beam (35) then reconstructs the input beam (49). The optical element may comprise a first cone refractive element (37) which creates a cone refracted beam and reconstructs the beam using a reconstructing optical element (43) to apply a phase shift to the cone refracted beam. The optical system may be used to form a laser or a gain medium for a laser.

Abstract: The invention relates to a LED collimator element for a vehicle headlight with a low-beam function, which emits at least visible light of one color from at least one region of a light source.

Abstract: Laser optical system for shaping at least one laser beam bundle made up of a plurality of laser beams generated respectively by an emitter, the emitters being offset relative to one another in a slow axis of the laser beams and at a distance from one another, with at least one plate fan located in the beam path of the laser beam bundle, which (plate fan) consists of several plates made of a light transmitting material, which (plates) are arranged offset in the direction perpendicular to their surface sides and are arranged with their surface sides in planes which enclose the beam direction and the fast axis of the laser beams, the plates forming respectively one first preferably flat plate narrow side for one beam entry and opposite this side one second preferably flat plate narrow side for the beam exit.

Abstract: In a collimator lens, in a case where divergent light emitted from a position P1 at a distance S1 from a second face enters the second face and imaging is performed at a position P2 at a distance S2 from a first face, in a temperature range of 0° C. to 60° C. and in a range of the emission wavelength of the light source which changes within the temperature range, and when a minimum value of a wavefront aberration of an image, which is generated at the position P2 by the divergent light emitted from the position P1 in a range of 0<S1/S2?50, is WF1, and when a minimum value of a wavefront aberration of an image, which is generated at the position P2 when parallel light satisfying S1=? enters the second face, is WF2, a relationship of WF1<WF2 is satisfied.

Abstract: Designs of optical devices providing multiplexing or demultiplexing functions are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical device or an assembly employs an array of micro lenses, an array of filters and a glass block all bonded onto a substrate to provide multiplexing or demultiplexing functions. To compensate for possible errors caused by some or all of these components, one or more compensatory optical plates are provided to respectively correct these errors. Depending on implementation, the compensatory optical plates may be designed differently to correct various errors.

Abstract: An optical collector is disclosed which includes an imaging, aplanatic optical element having a front surface with a one-way light admitting portion, a back surface with a reflective portion, and an interior region of refractive material disposed between the front and backs surfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides an illumination device (1) comprising a lighting unit (2). The lighting unit (2) comprises a light source (100) and a substantially flat collimator (200), arranged to collimate light source light (111). The collimator (200) has an entrance window (210), an edge window (220), a top collimator surface (201), a bottom collimator surface (202), a first collimating side edge (230) and a second collimating side edge (240). The lighting unit has an optical axis (O). One or more of the top collimator surface (201), the bottom collimator surface (202), the first collimating side edge (230) and the second collimating side edge (240) comprise n*½ grooves (300), wherein n is a positive integer number, and wherein the grooves (300) independently have a longitudinal axis (301) having a groove direction angle (?) with the optical axis (O) ?0° and & and <90°.

Abstract: A system and method for collimation in imaging systems are provided. One system includes a collimator a collimator body and at least one set of pinholes within the collimator body defining a cluster of pinholes, wherein bores defining the pinholes within the cluster are aligned to a point in substantially the same direction. Additionally, a spacing between bores is less than four times a diameter of a largest bore.

Abstract: An EM energy projector incorporates a final stage radiator including a shaped reflecting spike having a forward radiant axis. The shaped spike defines a set of equivalent, discrete input locations, there being a plurality of such locations. The emitters are arranged in a closed line array, and disposed with all of the emitters oriented inwardly toward the forward radiant axis.

Abstract: A collapsible snoot assembly for motion picture lighting fixture having a cylindrical body of a fabric material configured to expand and collapse along a longitudinal axis between expanded and collapsed positions having a biasing means for biasing the cylindrical body into an expanded position and a lighting fixture attachment means for securing the cylindrical body to a lighting fixture such that light projected from the lighting fixture is directed through the collapsible snoot assembly.

Abstract: Optical films are described comprising a color shifting film comprising a matte surface layer; and light control microstructured layer disposed proximate the color shifting film The optical film may comprise a matte layer disposed on a major surface of the color shifting film and the light control micro structured layer disposed on the color shifting film at an interface that is free of adhesive. Alternatively, the optical film may comprise a film stack comprising a light control film having a light control microstructured layer, a color shifting film, and an adhesive layer between the light control film and color shifting film In some embodiments, the matte layer comprises matte particles. In other embodiments, the matte layer comprises a plurality of microstructures and no greater than 50% of the microstructures comprise embedded matte particles. In some embodiments, the microstructures are substantially free of embedded matte particles.

Abstract: At least one embodiment in the disclosure describes a high efficiency directional light engine. The light engine comprises a light emitter emitting light and a collimation lens. The collimation lens has a cone-shaped sidewall, a base surface and a curved top surface. The height of the cone-shaped sidewall is at least three times more than the diameter of the base surface. The light emitter is optically coupled to and disposed in close proximity to the base surface. One or more first reflection images of the light emitter result from first reflection of the light off a surface of the cone-shaped sidewall. The diameter of the light emitter is substantially close to the diameter of the base surface so that the light emitter and the first reflection images form a virtual point light source with minimal gap(s) or without any gap between the light emitter and the first reflection images.

Abstract: Light from an optical fiber is incident on a frequency dispersion element. The frequency dispersion element disperses the incident light into light beams in different directions according to their frequencies and directs the dispersed light beams to a lens. The lens develops the incident light beams over an xy plane according to their frequencies in a strip-like form. A frequency selective element has pixels arranged in a frequency dispersion direction and brings pixels located at positions corresponding to the frequency to be selected into a reflective state. A light beam selected by the frequency selective element is emitted from an optical fiber through the same path. By changing reflection characteristics of the frequency selective element according to each pixel, optical filter characteristics can be desirably changed so as to achieve change of passband width and frequency shift.

Abstract: A device for beam forming includes at least two laser light sources capable of emitting laser radiation and an optical device capable of influencing the laser radiation such that the laser radiation has an intensity distribution in a working plane that at least partially corresponds to a top-hat distribution at least with regard to one direction. The laser beam may be at least partially overlapped by the optical device. The laser beam is a single-mode laser beam at least with regard to a direction perpendicular to the distribution direction.

Abstract: An optical probe and an optical system therefor are provided. The optical probe is includes a housing configured to house the optical system and the housing has a transparent window therein. the optical system includes a light emitting unit, a collimation lens, and a focusing lens. A numerical aperture of the optical system is adjustable by adjusting a pupil diameter of the collimation lens and a focal length of the focusing lens. The pupil diameter of the collimation lens is adjustable based on a variable focal lens or by adjusting a distance between the collimation lens and the light emitting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for homogenizing light, including a lens array (5, 7, 8) with a plurality of lenses (6, 9, 10) through which the light to be homogenized can pass. The apparatus has at least two different center-to-center distances of the lenses (6, 9, 10) of the lens array (5, 7, 8), wherein the center-to-center distances of the lenses (6, 9, 10) decrease or increase from the inside to the outside.

Abstract: An optical arrangement has a laser configured to emit a laser beam, an amplitude mask and a focusing element. The amplitude mask is disposed between the laser and the focusing element in a path of the laser beam such that the laser beam hits the amplitude mask before being modified by the focusing element so as to direct the laser beam to a focal point within a photosensitive material.

Abstract: A fiber array for receiving a plurality of light-guiding fibers has a substrate with V grooves for guiding light-guiding fibers. These are fixed inside the V grooves by covers. In order to achieve a better utilization of space, the light-guiding fibers are disposed in two planes. To this end, first fibers in V grooves are fixed on the surface of the substrate in one plane. Second fibers are fixed by V grooves in recesses between the first fibers in a second parallel plane. Here a processing of the substrate may be done without changing clamping or re-clamping of the substrate. Particularly small production tolerances can be achieved by this means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser light source and others for decreasing wavelength-by-wavelength differences of focal positions of focused components in collimating and then focusing polychromatic light with a wide spectrum width. The laser light source includes a collimator device, in which relative positions of emergence of a laser beam emitted from a polychromatic light source and a collimating lens composed of an achromatic lens can be adjusted at a 10 ?m level or less.

Abstract: An optical collector is disclosed which includes an imaging, aplanatic optical element having a front surface with a one-way light admitting portion, a back surface with a reflective portion, and an interior region of refractive material disposed between the front and backs surfaces.

Abstract: A directional light distributing optical element includes a light incident surface and a light emission curved surface. The light incident surface receives a light emitted by a light source. The light emission curved surface and a first plane are intersected to form a first curve. The first curve has a plurality of first curve segments, and each first curve segment includes at least three first tangent points. After passing each first tangent point along a connecting line of the light source and each first tangent point, the light exits along a first axis, and an included angle formed between the first axis and an optic axis is greater than ?15° and smaller than 15°. Thus, the light after passing the directional light distributing optical element forms a one-dimensional directional light.

Abstract: A gradient lens capable of focusing electromagnetic rays received at a first lens surface onto a second lens surface. The first lens surface and second lens surface can include convex surfaces protruding in opposite directions from a substantially planar surface. The lens can include a gradient index between the first surface and the planar surface and a gradient index between the two convex surfaces. The lens can include two or more gradient layers, each gradient layer having an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers. The gradient layers can focus parallel electromagnetic rays incident on the first surface onto a focal point at the second surface of the lens. As the parallel electromagnetic rays pass from one gradient layer to the next, the rays are redirected toward the focal point.

Abstract: The invention describes a collimator (4, 5, 6) comprising a base (40, 50, 60) and a plurality of side walls (41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 61, 62) arranged to enclose a light source (2), characterized in that at least one side wall (41, 51, 61) of the collimator (4, 5, 6) is joined to the base by an integral hinge (7) and is realized to be tillable within a range of motion (M4, M5, M6), and wherein the base (40, 50, 60) and the side walls (41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 61, 62) of the collimator (4, 5, 6) are realized so that light (L) emitted by the light source (2) enters the collimator (4, 5, 6) through a light entry opening (30) and exits essentially only through a light exit opening (31) for any position of the hinged side wall (41, 51, 61) over its range of motion (M4, M5, M6). The invention further describes a method of manufacturing such a collimator (4, 5, 6).

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical device assembly is provided. The optical device includes a housing with a moisture-resistant sealed cylindrical cavity in which first and second optical surfaces are optically coupled, the first optical surface being disposed on a first optical element that is within a first end of the cylindrical cavity and the second optical surface being disposed on a second optical element that is within a second end of the cylindrical cavity that is opposite the first end.

Abstract: An apparatus for collimating radiation can include an aperture of subwavelength dimensions and a neighboring set of grooves defined on a metal film integrated with an active or passive device that emits radiation. Integration of the beam collimator onto the facet of a laser or other radiation-emitting device provides for beam collimation and polarization selection. Beam divergence can be reduced by more than one order of magnitude compared with the output of a conventional laser. An active beam collimator with an aperture-groove structure can be integrated with a wide range of optical devices, such as semiconductor lasers (e.g., quantum cascade lasers), light emitting diodes, optical fibers, and fiber lasers.

Abstract: A light funnel collimator has a central lens surface and a back reflecting surface, shaped to provide a wider back-ground beam and a narrower hotspot beam within but off-center of the wider beam. One of the beams is on-axis of the collimator, and the other beam is off-axis. The reflector is at least partly asymmetrical relative to the axis, and provides or contributes to the off-axis beam.

Abstract: An arrangement for collimating and turning an optical beam utilizing a pair of two-dimensional lenses to separate the collimation into separate one-dimensional operations, while using one of the two-dimensional lenses to also perform the turning operation. A first two-dimensional lensing surface is disposed at the endface of a launching waveguide. This first two-dimensional lensing surface provides collimation along one axis of the system (for example, the X axis). A second two-dimensional lensing surface is provided by introducing a defined curvature to a turning mirror in the system. The curvature of the turning mirror is designed to create collimation (or focusing, if desired) in the orthogonal beamfront (in this case, the Y axis beamfront), while also re-directing the propagating signal into the desired orientation.