Abstract: A recycling system and method for increasing the brightness of light output using at least one recycling light pipe with at least one light source. The output end of the recycling light pipe reflects a first portion of the light back to the light source, a second portion the light to the input end of the recycling light pipe, and transmits the remaining portion of the light as output. The recycling system is incorporated into a projector to provide color projected image with increased brightness. The light source can be white LEDs, color LEDs, and dual paraboloid reflector (DPR) lamp.

Abstract: A method for creating or forming a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure, and a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure. In one embodiment, the functionally-graded three-dimensional ordered open-cellular microstructure includes a first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a first three-dimensional pattern; a second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a second three-dimensional pattern differing from the first three-dimensional pattern; and an interface connected with the first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides and the second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides. Here, the term “functionally graded” refers to a spatial variation in the physical microstructure—and thus the properties—through the thickness of the material.

Abstract: A light guide including: a body light guide portion including an incident end that light from a light source enters; and a branch light guide portion including a first light guide portion and a second light guide portion that each include an emission end that a light flux exits and are branched from the body light guide portion, the branch light guide portion being configured to cause, such that a first light flux emitted from the first light guide portion directly heads toward an irradiation object and a second light flux emitted from the second light guide portion heads toward the irradiation object via a reflection portion and joins the first light flux, the first light flux and the second light flux to be emitted from the emission ends.

Abstract: An optical waveguide with a tubular or hose-like housing is provided, which is used in a high-temperature environment, such as, for example, in a burner. The housing has an input opening, an output opening and a center line extending from the input opening to the output opening. In the interior of the housing, transparent spheres are lined up along with center line. The light is guided on account of the refraction of a light beam upon entering and exiting from the transparent spheres.

Abstract: A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A lightguide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. The lightguide also has features that exist on one or more lightguide surfaces in the shape of a triangular wedge that reduces the range of angles in the vertical direction within the lightguide. This arrangement enables improved angular performance from out-coupled light.

Abstract: A tapered waveguide optical mode transformer (20) includes a tapered core formed on a planar substrate structure (16). To vertically taper the core (21), steps (22) are etched into the top surface of the core. The steps have depths and lengths along the optical axis of tapered waveguide that are selected to transform the optical mode characteristics of a desired optical fiber to the optical mode characteristics of a desired planar waveguide. The core can also be tapered horizontally to form a 2-D tapered waveguide. The tapered waveguide can be integrally included in planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) to reduce light coupling losses between optical fibers and the PLC waveguides.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a bare optical fiber portion, to which elastic torsion is applied, and a coating layer, which coats the bare optical fiber portion, is formed of curable resin, and causes elastic repulsion against resilience occurring in the bare optical fiber portion so that the elastic torsion applied to the bare optical fiber portion is held.

Abstract: A light guide strip structure with neon effect, which is manufactured at lower cost and can be used with the bright-and-dark stripes or diffraction and interference between the light rays minimized. The light guide strip structure includes a transparent main body having a light-scattering surface and a color band disposed in the main body. The color band has a reflective index greater than that of the main body, whereby most of the light is reflected back to the main body and only a minor part of the light enters the color band to create neon effect. The light entering the main body substantially travels along an axis thereof. The light is refracted and reflected between the main body and the color band and scattered from the surface of the main body to enhance brightness and overcome the problem of vagueness.

Abstract: A film-shaped lightguide plate having high light entrance efficiency, and which is easy to make, has a lightguide plate body having an upper surface as a light-exiting surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a peripheral side surface extending between the respective peripheral edges of the upper and lower surfaces. A circumferential part of the peripheral side surface forms a light-entrance surface that faces a light source. The lightguide plate further has an additional lightguide portion formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the lightguide plate body at the light-entrance surface side. The additional lightguide portion has a light-entrance surface facing the light source, together with the light-entrance surface of the lightguide plate body. The additional lightguide portion receives light from the light source through its light-entrance surface and guides the light into the lightguide plate body.

Abstract: A brightness enhancement sheet including a light transmissive substrate, a plurality of strip prisms, and a plurality of protruding structures is provided. The light transmissive substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The strip prisms are disposed on the first surface. Each of the strip prisms has two prism surfaces, and a junction of the two prism surfaces forms a crest line, and a valley line is formed between each of the two adjacent strip prisms. Each of the protruding structures has two wing portions. The two wing portions are respectively disposed on two prism surfaces of the corresponding strip prism. A junction of the two wing portions forms a protruding end. The protruding end protrudes from the crest line of the corresponding strip prism. Each of the wing portions extends from the protruding end to the valley line.

Abstract: A method for creating or forming a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure, and a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure. In one embodiment, the functionally-graded three-dimensional ordered open-cellular microstructure includes a first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a first three-dimensional pattern; a second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a second three-dimensional pattern differing from the first three-dimensional pattern; and an interface connected with the first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides and the second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides. Here, the term “functionally graded” refers to a spatial variation in the physical microstructure—and thus the properties—through the thickness of the material.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n1, and further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards the output aperture, where the intended light propagation direction is a z-axis direction of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a plurality of light injection elements disposed in the form of at least one linear strip in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein some of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on one lateral side of the strip and some other of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on an opposing lateral side of the strip, further wherein each light injection element is disposed outwardly at a rotation angle ?z about the y-axis.

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: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to fabrication of a laminated optical wedge. One embodiment provides a method comprising inserting a wedge blank into a vacuum molding tool, applying a vacuum to the vacuum molding tool, and removing a layer from a top surface of the wedge blank to expose a machined surface of the wedge blank. The method further comprises laminating a finish piece to the machined surface via an adhesive, wherein the finish piece comprises a smoother surface than the machined surface, and curing the adhesive to form a finished optical wedge. The method further comprises removing the finished optical wedge from the vacuum molding tool.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device which can make the surface brightness of an edge-light-type backlight uniform is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight which radiates light to the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight includes a light guide plate which is arranged on a back side of the liquid crystal display panel, a light source arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a first main surface of the light guide plate which faces the liquid crystal display panel in an opposed manner, and a reflection sheet which is arranged on a back side of the light guide plate as viewed from the liquid crystal display panel. The light guide plate is made of a transparent resin having a refractive index of 1.53 or less.

Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab (30) for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end (40); and a tapered output slab (10) arranged to receive rays from the said output end of the input slab, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The taper is calculated so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output face. The thickness of the input slab light guide (30) is greater in the transverse direction away from the centre line C, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide (10) bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.

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

Abstract: A position adjustment device for an integration rod includes a fixed plate, two resilient members, and two adjusting screws. The first resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a first direction, and the second resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a second direction different from the first direction. The first adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a first end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the first resilient member. The second adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a second end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the second resilient member. The first and the second end surface are arc surfaces.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a backlight module, a liquid crystal display device panel and a second frame is provided. The backlight module has a first frame. The first frame has a first body, first fasteners and baffles, wherein the first fasteners and the baffles are integrally formed on the first body, and the first fasteners have opening. The liquid crystal display device panel is arranged on the backlight module. The second frame is assembled with the first frame for fixing the liquid crystal display device panel. The second frame has a second body and second fasteners integrally formed on the second body, and the second fasteners lodge in the openings of the first fasteners to limit the relative displacement between the first and second body, and the baffles are adapted for limiting the relative displacement between the first body and second body.

Abstract: Optical devices for guiding illumination are provided each having a body of optical material with staircase or acutely angled ramp structures on its top surface for distributing light inputted from one end of the device from the front exit faces of such structures along certain angular orientations, while at least a substantial portion of the light is totally internally reflected within the body until distributed from such front exit faces. Optical devices are also provided each have a body of optical material having a bottom surface with acutely angled ramp structures and falling structures which alternate with each other, such that light is totally internally reflected within the device until reflected by such ramp structures along the bottom surface to exit the top surface of the device or transmitted through the ramp structures to an adjacent falling structure back into the device.

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

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for reducing visible artifacts such as Moiré, or interference, patterns, in displays. One embodiment includes a display device comprising a plurality of light modulators and a plurality of illumination elements configured to direct light to the light modulators. The directed light of the plurality of illumination elements collectively defines an nonuniformly varying pattern of light.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for forming devices based on electro-optic whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators by using spatially modulated electrodes and electro-optic whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators that effectuate coupling between light in an optical whispering gallery mode in the TE mode and light in another optical whispering gallery mode in the TM mode.

Abstract: An optical circuit comprises: a first waveguide; a second waveguide: and a third waveguide that converts mode field and direction of polarization of light of said first waveguide at the same time to perform wave guiding to said second waveguide: wherein large aspect ratio directions of corresponding ends of a core of said first waveguide and a core of said second waveguide differ from each other.

Abstract: A light-concentrating panel is disclosed. The light-concentrating panel comprises a planar light collecting element and a linear light collecting element. The planar light collecting element receives and collects the planar light, and then emits out as linear light. The linear light collecting element receives the linear light. The linear light from the planar collecting element enters the linear light collecting element by passing a planar-linear imaginary plane, which is located between the planar light collecting element and the linear light collecting element. The linear light from the planar collecting element are collected and turned into the spot light by the linear light collecting element.

Abstract: A light pipe is configured to provide a wide effective angle of illumination while simultaneously providing a substantially uniform distribution of light along a length of the light pipe. One or more reflective surfaces not aligned with an inner surface are disposed such that when at least one reflective surface is illuminated, light is emitted from the light pipe at one or more specified angles of light emission. A plurality of reflection points are formed on the inner surface to cause the specified angles when at least one of the reflective surfaces is illuminated. A light pipe is also provided having one or more exterior protrusions configured to function as a secondary light source. A second portion of an outer surface of the light pipe has a radius of curvature which differs from the radius of curvature of the first portion of the outer surface.

Abstract: A projection apparatus including an image display element for modulating illumination light, an illumination optical system for irradiating the illumination light onto the image display element, a projection optical system for projecting the modulated light by the image display element onto a projection surface, and an optical system changing section for changing the illumination optical system, wherein the illumination optical system includes a light source, a condensing optical system, a rod integrator and an illumination relay optical system wherein the projection optical system includes a projection variable-aperture diaphragm whose aperture diameter can be adjusted, and wherein the optical system changing section changes, when the aperture diameter of the projection variable-aperture diaphragm is made smaller, the illumination optical system such that an amount of light passing through the projection variable-aperture diaphragm with that aperture diameter increases.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a waveguide structure (i.e., preferably an optical waveguide structure) uses a two mask process step sequence for forming a waveguide layer over a substrate. A first mask within the two mask step process sequence is used to etch the substrate to provide a pillar within the substrate. A second mask within the two mask process step sequence is self aligned to, and covers a top and at least a portion of the sidewalls of, the pillar. The second mask is used as a thermal oxidation mask that provides an optical waveguide layer from a top portion of the pillar that is separated from a thinned substrate derived from the substrate by a waveguide isolation layer formed from thermal oxidation of at least a bottom portion of the pillar.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core (1a) having an oblong rectangular or square cross section and made of quartz, and a cladding (2) surrounding the core (1a), having a circular outer cross-sectional shape, and made of resin.

Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a double sided prism film disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight. The backlight includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources is arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side. A plurality of second light sources is arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. The second surface includes a regular array of linear prism or lenticular features.

Abstract: A combined structure of optical waveguides with high accuracy can be easily materialized by arranging cutout sections 11a and 12a for half-lap joint in a light-emitting sided-optical waveguide and a light-receiving sided-waveguide to combine both of the cutout sections by a half-lap joint 13. This enables to significantly reduce time for minor adjustments after assembling.

Abstract: A light guide sheet has a light-transmissive film-shaped base material, and a convex first light emitting section formed on the base material. In the first light emitting section, a fluorescent pigment and a dyeing pigment are dispersed. The light guide sheet of the present invention emits light of a pure and vivid color by using the fluorescent pigment and the dyeing pigment.

Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources disposed on a carrier, wherein the light from the light sources is coupled into assigned lightguides at a set angle to the surface normals of the carrier and the lightguides are provided with reflecting and light exit faces such that the envelope of the light outcoupling faces forms a curved surface segment.

Abstract: There is provided a high luminous light conductive plate where concave dots formed on the surface of a resin sheet deflect light introduced from a light source to the interior of the light conductive plate so as to diffuse light into an extensive range with a roughened wall surface of the concave dots. An annular projection that flanges the peripheral end portion of each concave dot substantially increases the depth of the concave dots expanding an area contributing to the deflection of the concave dot. The concave dot formed on the surface of the resin sheet is formed by pressing a plurality of concave projections of a press die on the surface of the resin sheet through a cold process.

Abstract: The present invention is that of a solar energy system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting by a solar energy collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-conductor structure (13) for an automobile lighting device (11), with a coupling section (17) to couple light into the light-conductor structure, a curved reflecting surface (25) to reflect light beams (59) of the light coupled into the light-conductor structure via the coupling section, and at least one decoupling section (30, 45, 51) to decouple the light from the light-conductor structure (13). In order to achieve a light-conductor structure (13) in which fewer limitations to the determination of its geometric shape exist, or whose appearance may be more freely configured, it is proposed that the reflecting surface (25) of the light-conductor structure (13) is curved such that light reflected from the reflecting surface (25) strikes directly with no additional reflection either again onto the reflecting surface (25) or passes into the minimum of one decoupling section (30, 45, 51).

Abstract: A device to emit light includes a light emitting diode (LED) die and a light guide coupled to the LED die. The light guide includes a first material having a first index of refraction with a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid. A second material having a second index of refraction that is larger than the first index of refraction fills the plurality of apertures. Each aperture extends from a first end adjacent the LED die to a larger second end. The first end may be a circle of approximately 1 to 2 ?m in diameter. The distance between the first and second ends may be from approximately 10 to 20 ?m. Each aperture may be in the form of a frustrated cone having an included angle between the sides from approximately 3 to 7 degrees. The light guide may be formed on a transparent substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an instrument panel that includes a display opening, where the instrument panel is located in a first plane; a circuit board located inside the electronic device, where the circuit board includes a display device that includes a display area, and where the display area is located in a second plane that is different from the first plane; and a waveguide that couples the display area to the display opening and guides light, and/or an image displayed in the display area, from the display area to the display opening.

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: A light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and each light emitting element is disposed in such a manner that a direction of an optical axis of the light emitting element having a highest luminance is disposed at a predetermined inclination angle relative to a plane of the liquid crystal display. The optical guide member has an optical guide portion of a wedge shape having a first flat plane generally perpendicular to the optical axis of each light emitting element for receiving light from each light emitting element and a second flat plane having a predetermined angle relative to the optical axis and intersecting the first flat plane at an acute angle for reflecting light. A plurality of optical guide portions are disposed in a plane and formed integrally along a predetermined direction corresponding to the inclination direction of the light emitting elements.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an illuminating apparatus, configured to uniformly illuminate a surface of an object, and includes a light-guiding member configured to guide light emitted from a source to a surface to be illuminated, and a reflecting member disposed between the light-guiding member and the surface to be illuminated. The reflecting member includes a pair of reflection surfaces disposed so as to face each other in a long side direction of the surface to be illuminated, and reflects light emitted from the light-guiding member in directions having directional components parallel to a short side direction of the surface to be illuminated toward the surface to be illuminated.

Abstract: A light guiding member having a light direction changing face which extends in a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member and a light emitting face which faces the light guiding member, wherein the light direction changing face includes two faces arranged so that vertical faces which extend in the longitudinal direction and are respectively vertical to the two faces, intersect with each other. Also, a bifurcated linear light source apparatus comprises a LED, a light guiding member which is made up of a transparent rod shape member, and which emits light generated by the LED, in two directions, from a longitudinal direction side face of the transparent rod shape member, and a reflection mirror which reflects the light emitted in one of the two directions, to the other direction of the two directions.

Abstract: A rod- or plate-shaped light guide includes a first end that receives illuminating light incident thereon, a bottom surface having a reflecting portion thereon for reflecting the light, an emitting face which emits the reflected light, and a protruding portion protruding longitudinally and continuously from the light guide at a second end thereof. The protruding portion has a reduced peripheral dimension compared to a peripheral dimension of an adjacent portion of the light guide, and a reflective body is provided on the protruding portion and covers a longitudinal end face of the protruding portion extending perpendicular to the emitting face. When viewed along an axial direction of the light guide, the reflective body does not jut out from an end face of the light guide even when the body wraps on to a side surface of the protruding portion or expansion occurs.

Abstract: A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.

Abstract: A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a redirecting component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light onto a receiver. Other systems replace the receiver by a light source so system optics can provide illumination.

Abstract: Multi-cladding optical fibers to be used in the context of fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers are described herein. Embodiments of optical fibers include a rare-earth doped core into which the signal field is to be amplified. The doped core is surrounded by multiple claddings that guide the pump field to be absorbed by the reactive core material. The first cladding has a depressed refractive index to improve high-order mode bending losses without incurring significant fundamental mode bending losses.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a silicon wafer having two opposed sides. A first notch is defined in each of the two opposed sides such that the silicon wafer includes a head portion and a first stem portion.

Abstract: A display device comprises a light source to provide an input light beam, a substrate having an input surface to form an in-coupled light beam by receiving light of the input light beam, wherein the in-coupled light beam is confined to the substrate by total internal reflections, the substrate further comprising a plurality of out-coupling features to form an illuminating light beam by diffracting light of the in-coupled light beam out of the substrate, a display element having a plurality of reflective polarization-rotating pixels arranged to form reflected light beams by reflecting light of the illuminating light beam, and imaging optics to form an image by focusing or collimating light of the reflected light beams transmitted through the out-coupling features.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for mode-profile distortions caused by bending optical fibers having large mode areas. In various embodiments, the invention micro-structures the index of refraction in the core and surrounding areas of the inner cladding from the inner bend radius to the outer bend radius in a manner that compensates for the index changes that are otherwise induced in the index profile by the geometry and/or stresses to the fiber caused by the bending. Some embodiments of an apparatus and method include a fiber having a plurality of substantially parallel cores, the fiber including a straight section and a curved section; guiding signal light primarily in a second core in the straight section; guiding the signal light from the second core into a first core between the straight section and the curved section; and guiding the signal light primarily in the first core in the curved section.