Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system comprising: at least one source of illumination designed to produce an illuminating beam; and at least one imager able to produce an imaging beam when illuminated by the said illuminating beam; the said system being characterized in that it further comprises: collimating means for collimating the said illuminating beam; and at least one optical element comprising, on a first surface, means for redirecting part of the said illuminating beam towards the said imager, so as to illuminate the said imager and for adapting the shape of the said beam to suit the said imager.

Abstract: A collimator array using a molded element to hold the input fibers and to collimate the light. The input fibers are held within holes in one face of the element, and the collimation of the light emitted from the ends of the fibers is performed by an array of lenses appropriately located such that each lens collimates the light emitted from a fiber end. The lateral spacing between the holes is made to be equal to the lateral spacing between the lenses of the array. Since, in a molded element, this lateral spacing can be accurately provided, good alignment of the input fibers with the lenses can be achieved. The depths of the holes can be made such that when a fiber is inserted right to the bottom of a hole, the end of that fiber is accurately located such that the light emitted therefrom is collimated by the lens. This avoids the need for accurate manual alignment of the fibers of the array.

Abstract: Devices and methods for maintaining the brightness of laser emitter bar outputs having multiple emitters for coupling and other applications. In some embodiments, at least one brightness enhancement optic may be used in combination with a beam reformatting optic.

Abstract: An optical rotary joint comprises a first collimator arrangement for coupling-on first light-waveguides and a second collimator arrangement for coupling-on second light-waveguides, with the second collimator arrangement being supported to be rotatable relative to the first collimator arrangement about a rotation axis. A Dove prism is provided between the collimator arrangements as a derotating element. An intermediate layer is provided on at least one boundary face of an optical constituent part to a surrounding medium, which the intermediate layer comprises a nano-structure having a mean refractive index lying between a refractive index of a material of the optical constituent part and a refractive index of the medium of the surroundings.

Abstract: A collimate lens assembly is provided which includes the first collimate lens which has a total reflection surface and a plurality of refracting surfaces, and the second collimate lens which is connected to the hole, and the second collimate lens has a greater refraction ratio than the first collimate lens.

Abstract: An optical assembly uses a plastic prism with one flat surface and a collimating lens optic to provide the capability of imaging a color micro-display to the eye. The collimating optic and flat prism surface can allow for aberration-free diopter adjustment and an image with very low-magnitude, nearly-symmetric distortion. The collimating optic can also provide environmental protection of the prism involving an optical plastic device. The input illumination from the micro-display enters the prism, is reflected two times within the prism, exits the prism, and passes through the collimating optic before being viewed by the eye. Such an optical assembly can provide a field of view with eye-relief and exit pupil when viewing a full-color micro-display.

Abstract: A light control film including a polymer carrier film and a coating disposed on the carrier film and including dark colored or reflective particles dispersed within a cured resin matrix, the particles being aligned either perpendicular or parallel to a major surface of the carrier film, and method for making the same.

Abstract: A collimator (20) for use as part of a LED package (10) is provided, comprising a collimator body (28) adapted to collect and/or reflect and/or focus light, an upper plane (30) provided by the collimator body (28), wherein the upper plane (30) defines a mainly horizontal plane (32), at least one reflection surface (36) provided by the collimator body (28), wherein the reflection surface (36) is at least partially angled to the horizontal plane (32) by an angle ?, which is 70°???110°, particularly 75°???100°, preferably 78°???92°, most preferred 79°???85°, wherein the collimator body (28) comprises a recess (34) for receiving a lighting element (14) comprising a light emitting front face (22) illuminated by a LED (40), wherein the lighting element (24) is received such by the recess (34) that the reflection surface (36) extends at least partially below the level of the front face (22) in assembled state.

Abstract: A coupling device includes a fiber collimator, a wedge window pair and a plane window for coupling a light beam provided by a beam source to optical fiber. The fiber collimator is mounted to a base plate and includes a collimator lens, an end of the optical fiber being positioned at a focal point of the collimator lens. The wedge window pair is mounted to the base plate, and is configured to adjust the light beam to be parallel to an optical axis of the fiber collimator. The plane window is mounted to the base plate between the wedge window pair and the fiber collimator. The plane window is configured to align the parallel direction of the light beam with the optical axis of the fiber collimator.

Abstract: There is provided a method that includes projecting a collimated light beam from an optical system to a plane during a first mode of operation of the optical system, and projecting a convergent light beam from the optical system to the plane during a second mode of operation of the optical system. The method further includes, (a) during the first mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a first light bundle in a first light path in the optical system, to steer the collimated light beam through the plane at a designated incidence angle, and (b) during the second mode of operation, controlling a trajectory of a second light bundle in a second light path of the optical system, to steer the convergent light beam to a target position in the plane. There is also provided an apparatus and a system that employs the method.

Abstract: A collimating module is presented. The collimating module comprises a rounded light entry side and a rectangular light exit side. A collimating device is also presented, and a method for providing collimated light. The collimating device comprises a first collimator having a light entry side and a light exit side, a scattering component having a light entry surface arranged adjacent to said light exit side, and a light exit surface. The collimating device further comprises a collimating module having a light entry side arranged adjacent to said light exit surface.

Abstract: An optical module includes a first silicon substrate having a first groove at its surface, a second silicon substrate having a second groove at its surface, a Laser device formed on the first silicon substrate, an optical modulator formed on the second silicon substrate, a substrate on which the first and the second silicon substrates are mounted wherein an optical axis of the Laser device is matched up with an optical axis of the optical modulator, a first lens transforming an divergent light emitted from the first optical device into a parallel light, disposed in the first groove, and a second lens converging the parallel light to the second optical device, disposed in the first groove.

Abstract: In order to perform dispersion compensation for an optical signal of light introduced from an input light collimator, a variable dispersion compensator includes: a group delay characteristic control unit which controls group delay characteristics at a group delay characteristic assignment unit; a positioning unit which positions a relative positional relationship between an optical axis position and an output light collimator in the case where the light from the input light collimator is output to an output light collimator through reflection on each of incident side planes of a plurality of reflective etalons; and a positioning control unit which controls the positioning unit so that the relative positional relationship becomes a positional relationship set in association with the group delay characteristics controlled by the group delay characteristic control unit, and minimizes loss deterioration in the case of changing the amount of dispersion compensation.

Abstract: A method for optical interrogation of plasma during plasma processing in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The method includes providing an optical viewport. The method also includes providing a collimator arrangement. The collimator arrangement is configured with a plurality of collimators, wherein a first collimator of the plurality of collimators is separated by a connecting region from a second collimator in the plurality of collimators. The method further includes collecting optical signals, through the collimator arrangement, from the plasma within the plasma processing chamber while a substrate is being processed, resulting in highly collimated optical signals.

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: A method and system for establishing extended optical traps for commercial use. The method and system employs a diffractive optical element (DOE) to process a light beam wherein the DOE includes phase information and amplitude information to create the extended optical trap. Such extended traps can be line traps and can be further expanded to two and three dimensional configurations.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, an end reflector is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide, and includes a faceted lens structure to cause a majority of the viewing surface to be uniformly illuminated when uniform light is injected into the first end and also to cause a majority of the injected light to exit the viewing surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The dilemma encountered in most projection systems of having the etendue of the LED-based light source used often being much larger than the etendue of the imager used, causes such systems to have poor throughput efficiency. The etendue folding illumination systems of this invention being comprised of at least one folded collimator/concentrator having coupled into its input aperture an LED-based light source and having an output aperture characteristics that match the target etendue, overcome this dilemma by folding the light source etendue to match the target etendue of the projection system imager while efficiently conserving the flux generated by the light source.

Abstract: A light collimating and diffusing film and a method for making the film are provided. The film includes a plastic layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and at least a first peripheral edge. The first side has a first textured surface, wherein between 7 to 20 percent of slope angles on the first textured surface proximate a first axis has a value between zero and five degrees. The first axis is substantially parallel to the first peripheral edge. The plastic layer collimates light propagating therethrough.

Abstract: A multi-backlight collimated system at least comprises a plurality of light sources, a plurality of reflection elements, and at least a collimation element. The light sources are for providing light. Each reflection element has a reflective surface corresponding to one of the light sources and is disposed to reflect light from the corresponding light source. The reflective surface reflects light being emitted in a predetermined direction by the corresponding light source to form a projection area on a screen. The adjacent projection areas on the screen are joined at adjacent side edges. The collimation element is disposed on the screen for altering a path of light penetrating the screen and emitting light in a specific direction The multi-backlight collimated system is easily fabricated into large sizes and is beneficial for products having large display areas.

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 collimated periscope that is switchable between a normal optical view of the outside, a display view, and an overlay view in which the outside view and display view are combined. The switching element is an electronically switchable mirror with primarily reflective, primarily transparent, and intermediate states, depending on the application of electrical potentials.

Abstract: A light-collimating film includes a transparent substrate, multiple reflective elements, and multiple micro structures. The transparent substrate has a light incident surface and a light-emitting surface opposite the light incident surface. The reflective elements are formed on the light incident surface, wherein each two adjacent reflective elements define a longitudinal aperture. The micro structures are arranged on the light-emitting surface in a direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the longitudinal apertures and overlap the longitudinal apertures to form multiple rows of micro structures.

Abstract: A laser diode illuminator device and a method for optically conditioning the output beam radiated from such a device, so that highly-demanding illumination application requirements that call for high output powers within a specified field of illumination can be addressed. At the heart of the device is a two-dimensional stack of laser diode bars wherein the linear array of beamlets radiated by each laser diode bar is optically conditioned through its passage in a refractive-type micro-optics device followed by a cylindrical microlens. The micro-optics device performs collimation of the linear array of beamlets along the fast axis of the bars, and it also acts as a beam symmetrization device by interchanging the divergences of the laser beamlets along the fast and slow axes. The cylindrical microlens is for collimation of the beamlets along the slow axis.

Abstract: A lens may operate in the mid-IR spectral region and couple highly divergent beams into highly collimated beams. In combination with a light source having a characteristic output beam, the lens may provide highly stable, miniaturized mid-IR sources that deliver optical beams. An advanced mounting system may provide long term sturdy mechanical coupling and alignment to reduce operator maintenance. In addition, devices may also support electrical and thermal subsystems that are delivered via these mounting systems. A mid-IR singlet lens having a numerical aperture greater than about 0.7 and a focal length less than 10 mm may be combined with a quantum well stack semiconductor based light source such that the emission facet of the semiconductor lies in the focus of the lens less than 2 mm away from the lens surface. Together, these systems may provide a package that is highly portable and robust, and easily integrated with external optical systems.

Abstract: A line beam illustration optical system is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the line beam illustration optical system can include a first lens, emitting a beam of light incident from a light source in a first direction; a second lens, converging the beam of light, emitted in the first direction, in a second direction that is vertical to the first direction; and a third lens, forming a line beam in parallel with respect to the first direction by collimating the beam of light converged in the second direction, in the first direction. With the present invention, the line beam illustration optical system can reduce the overall length of the illustration optical system.

Abstract: A device (100) for imaging an object (101), wherein the device (100) comprises an objective lens (102) adapted to manipulate a beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) transmitted through the object (101), a collimator lens (104) adapted to manipulate the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) transmitted through the objective lens (102), and an actuator (105) adapted for displacing the objective lens (102) in a direction essentially parallel and in a direction essentially perpendicular to a propagation direction of the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) between the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104), wherein the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104) are arranged so that the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) between the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104) is essentially parallel.

Abstract: A line generator according to the present invention includes a light source, a first lens group, and a second lens group. An optical axis is set to a position of a light beam which travels orthogonal to incidence surfaces of both the first and second lens groups and the first lens group is configured such that light beams from the light source are not collimated in a first direction in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and are collimated or focused only in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis and the second lens group is configured such that the light beams which have passed through the first group form a line.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing substantially uniform illumination with multiple, discrete sources of light include arrays of abutting light spreading elements, such as reflective light pipes or collimation lenses, for substantially eliminating visible boundaries between the sources of light. Methods for generating a substantially uniform field of emission include introducing light into such a spreader array. Light therapy devices including arrays of light spreading elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an optical film for backlight units or illuminators. The optical film comprises a light-incident portion and a light exit portion. Here, the optical film is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of protrusions formed on at least one of the light-incident portion and the light exit portion, wherein a plurality of the protrusions satisfies the requirements of the following Equation: 80×H1/3 ?P?200×H1/3 and 0.I×D?H?D, provided that a mean diameter of protrusions is represented by ‘D’, a mean height of protrusions is represented by 1H’, and a mean distance between adjacent protrusions is represented by ‘P’. Therefore, the optical film may be useful to suppress blocking between films and the formation of surface defects, which are caused by the Moire, Newton ring and wet-out phenomena, without degrading the brightness.

Abstract: An imaging system. An array of light sources and an array of lenses corresponding to the light sources and having optical axes substantially parallel to one another are provided. The lenses produce collimated output beams. An afocal optical relay having an optical axis substantially parallel to the optical axes of the lenses is also included, the array of lenses being positioned relative to the afocal optical relay so as to form an optical system that produces an image of each collimated output beam on an image plane, each image having a prescribed depth of focus and spot size. The light sources preferably are lasers producing an array of respective laser beams having high intensity and a long waist. A system for writing information on a light-sensitive label includes the imaging system. Methods of imaging and of writing information on a light-sensitive label are also provided.

Abstract: A beam forming device produces a linear intensity distribution on a work plane. The device contains a laser light source that can emit laser radiation, an optical device that can transfer the laser radiation in a linear intensity distribution on the work plane, and lens that are used to influence the linear intensity distribution on the work plane and that can be displaced in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation. The intensity profile can be modified perpendicular to the extension of the linear intensity distribution by modifying the position of the lens in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation.

Abstract: A collimator and related methods are shown and described. The collimator can be a multi-divergent-beam collimator having a plurality of inverted, ordered sections of a cone-beam collimator reassembled in a substantially reversed order relative to the ordering of the cone-beam collimator.

Abstract: In a diode laser having a beam-forming device, a plurality of functions are combined in a collimating and focusing lens. In particular, the functions of an SAC lens and a focusing lens are combined in the collimating and focusing lens.

Abstract: A parabolic lenticular collimating film system includes at least one film which is at least partially transmissive and one or more parabolic structures on a surface of the film.

Abstract: Techniques for designing compact free-space optical device with all input/output ports on one side are disclosed. Instead of folding a fiber, a beam folding means is provided to turn a light beam to significantly reduce the size of the device. In one embodiment, there are a first collimator, a second collimator, and a beam folding means to turn a light beam from the first collimator back to the second collimator by two turns so that a first light path from the first collimator to the beam folding means and a second light path from the second collimator to the beam folding means are parallel. A substrate is provided to which the first and second collimators and filters are boned thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light collimating structure (102) comprising a first collimator (131) collimating light of a first property and at least one second collimator (141) collimating light of a second property, where the receiving areas (132, 142) of the collimators at least partly overlap and where the output areas (133, 143) of the collimators partly overlap. The at least two collimators act essentially independently from each other. Hence, the collimators can be positioned independently from each other, in order to provide good collimation for each of the light sources of the lighting unit. Further, the collimators may be designed independently from each other such that a good light mixing is obtained.

Abstract: A lens has a main body for use with at least one light source. The main body has a light-emitting face, a light-collecting face disposed opposite the light-emitting face, and a plurality of focal points, the latter of which form a focal ring. A central axis extends through the light-collecting face and the light-emitting face. The main body is substantially radially symmetrical about the central axis and the focal ring extends around the central axis of the main body of the lens.

Abstract: Plural collimator lenses are arranged corresponding to plural laser light sources to collimate light beams emitted from the laser light sources into substantially parallel light beams, respectively. A condenser lens focuses the substantially parallel light beams. A coupling optical element, on which light beams focused by the condenser lens are incident, couples the light beams into a single light beam. The laser light sources are arranged such that a longitudinal direction of an emitting region of each of the laser light sources is coincident with a radial direction of the condenser lens.

Abstract: Methods and devices for coupling the output of multiple emitters of a laser diode bar using a beam transform system with high brightness and coupling efficiency. Some embodiments may include wavelength locking with devices such as VBGs and other suitable devices and methods.

Abstract: A beam alignment chamber comprising: a base, first and second side walls connected to the base, and a front wall located at the front edge of the base having an output opening. The beam alignment chamber further including a plurality of light sources disposed to direct light beams through the first or second side walls, a plurality of reflectors mounted on the base, each having independent yaw and pitch adjustments, each being disposed to direct the light beams from a corresponding light sources along the length of the beam alignment chamber through the output opening forming an aligned array of parallel light beams, and one or more optical elements positioned in the optical path of the aligned array of light beams disposed to correct the beam divergence with respect to at least one axis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray photon (including gamma ray photon) and particle radiation for radiographic imaging (including conventional CT and radiation therapy portal and CT), nuclear medicine, material composition analysis, container inspection, mine detection, remediation, high energy physics, and astronomy. This invention provides novel face-on, edge-on, edge-on sub-aperture resolution (SAR), and face-on SAR scintillator detectors, designs and systems for enhanced slit and slot scan radiographic imaging suitable for medical, industrial, Homeland Security, and scientific applications. Some of these detector designs are readily extended for use as area detectors, including cross-coupled arrays, gas detectors, and Compton gamma cameras. Energy integration, photon counting, and limited energy resolution readout capabilities are described.

Abstract: A scanning technique for imaging sites in an array includes illuminating or irradiating sites in lines of the array, and collecting returned radiation from the sites for imaging. The sites are sequentially scanned by means of confocally directed radiation lines from source optics. The orientation of the radiation lines with respect to the lines of sites in the array is such that the distance between nearest edges of sites in adjacent lines is greater than lines through those edges in a direction parallel to the radiation lines used for scanning. The resulting system experiences less crosstalk and a greater ability to distinguish between neighboring sites in resulting images.

Abstract: A laser beam emission is collimated by optics. The collimated beam is shaped into an expanding planar laser beam by line generator optics. The expanding planar laser beam is collimated by other optics such that a beam having a generally rectangular cross-section is derived. The resulting beam can be used in ink drop detection and/or other applications.

Abstract: A display device comprises a display panel, an optical film and a convex lens. The display panel comprises a central axis, a display area, and a non-display area, wherein the non-display area is outside the region of the display area. The optical film is disposed near one side of the display panel and the convex lens is disposed near the other side of the display panel. The optical film comprises a microstructure configured to diverge incident light entered into the display panel and to redirect a portion of incident light near the border between the display area and non-display area to the non-display area. The convex lens is configured to converge the output light from the display panel and redirect the output light approximately parallel to the central axis.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems, backlights, films, apparatuses and methods of generating back lighting. Some embodiments provide backlights that include a cavity with at least one interior light source and diffusely reflecting wall of high reflectivity, a top surface with multiple intermittently spaced holes allowing exit of light generated by the light sources, and external collimators extending from each of the holes such that the external collimators spatially expand and angularly narrow the light exiting the holes.

Abstract: A lens system with a lens formed of a material having a negative index of refraction in an operational frequency range, a first surface of the material having a convex hyperbolic curvature, and a second surface of the material having a concave circular curvature. A lens system can include two of these lenses, arranged with the concave circular surfaces facing each other. Far field radiation arriving at the hyperbolic surface of the the first lens is refracted by the lens material toward the circular surface, out of the first lens in a direction parallel to the original radiation direction, and into the circular surface of the second lens, where it is refracted toward the hyperbolic surface of the second lens, and exits the second lens in a direction parallel to the original direction. The lens material can have a tunable or fixed negative refractive index and/or resonant frequency.

Abstract: This invention relates to optical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a collimated optical light source assembly that produces a uniform white light. Specifically, light from a multi-cavity RGB LED array is dispersed in a reflecting cavity having a Lambertian texture on the interior surface. The light is then emitted though a lenslet array and a cone lens which together further disperses the light emitted by the individual LEDs. The dispersed light is then collimated by a reflector.

Abstract: A lens may operate in the mid-IR spectral region and couple highly divergent beams into highly collimated beams. In combination with a light source having a characteristic output beam, the lens may provide highly stable, miniaturized mid-IR sources that deliver optical beams. An advanced mounting system may provide long term sturdy mechanical coupling and alignment to reduce operator maintenance. In addition, devices may also support electrical and thermal subsystems that are delivered via these mounting systems. A mid-IR singlet lens having a numerical aperture greater than about 0.7 and a focal length less than 10 mm may be combined with a quantum well stack semiconductor based light source such that the emission facet of the semiconductor lies in the focus of the lens less than 2 mm away from the lens surface. Together, these systems may provide a package that is highly portable and robust, and easily integrated with external optical systems.