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 eliminating the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems.

Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.

Abstract: A backlighting optical fiber consists essentially of an optical fiber with an axially recess disposed along the inner wall; a reflector set into said axially recess, said reflector includes a reflecting surface disposed on the inner side of said reflector, to reflect the incident light toward the opposite direction of said reflector and emitting outwardly. A backlight module formed therefrom comprises a plurality of said optical fibers parallel arranged on a plane surface of a substrate and a LCD display device includes said backlight module and a LCD display.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements can take the form of injection facets (air prisms), surface diffraction elements, volume diffraction elements, and gradient index profiles. A light collection and concentration system comprises a single light guide apparatus, a light-transmitting medium layer disposed immediately adjacent the single light guide apparatus, and a primary light concentrator component disposed adjacent the light-transmitting medium layer, including a plurality of primary concentrator elements each of which is in optical registration with a respective one of the light injection elements of the single light guide apparatus.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus and method for a display device designed such that light is incident on a hologram or hologram pattern at an angle for which diffraction efficiency is the highest. The illumination apparatus includes at least one point light source which emits light and a light guide plate (LGP) which has the at least one point light source disposed on a side thereof and a hologram pattern on a top surface which permits the light incident from the point light source to exit from the top surface. The side of the LGP facing the point light source is inclined such that the light is incident obliquely on the hologram pattern at an altitude angle which provides high diffraction efficiency.

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 laser beam multiplexer capable of easily multiplexing a plurality of laser beams is provided. A laser beam multiplexer includes a multiplexing element having a hollow portion with a sectional elliptical shape, in which the multiplexing element includes: a plurality of light-incident apertures guiding laser beams from outside toward one of two focal points of the hollow portion, a reflective layer arranged on a wall surface of the hollow portion, and multiplexing a plurality of incident laser beams while reflecting the plurality of laser beams, and a light-emitting aperture guiding laser beams multiplexed by the reflective layer toward outside.

Abstract: A thin-profile, optically efficient lighting device for use with, among other things, flat information displays, includes a combination of three optically coupled light propagating structures, fabricated of electromagnetic flux transmitting materials. The first structure may be a generally elongated optical pipe adapted to receive light from at least one light source such as a light emitting diode. Radiation from additional sources is coupled into the first structure by a second structure which injects the radiation thereinto. Light injected into the first structure is directed into the third structure where it is redirected so that it propagates out of the third structure uniformly and efficiently and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the third structure. A device can include multiple bodies of any or all three structures.

Abstract: This invention describes methods for fabricating polymer optical waveguides, and polymer optical waveguides themselves wherein at least one of the optical layers is deposited by a two-stage deposition process. In particular, the two-stage deposition process comprises spinning as the second step. Preferably, the polymer optical waveguide comprises a three layer structure comprising a lower cladding layer, a light guiding core layer and an upper cladding layer, supported on a substrate. The invention has particular application to the volume production of polymer optical waveguides on large area substrates.

Abstract: A backlight module comprises a light guide plate and at least two light sources. The light guide plate is divided into at least two regions made up of a substrate and a plurality of elongate light guide elements disposed on a surface of the substrate and located in the regions. The light sources respectively correspond to the regions of the light guide plate to provide the elongate light guide elements in the regions with light.

Abstract: A lens for reforming radiation from a light-emitting diode having a first convex surface for admitting radiation path from the light-emitting diode that is close to the axis of the diode and a cylindrical surface for admitting radiation that makes a wider angle with the axis of the diode, a conical surface disposed to receive and totally internally reflect radiation admitted by said convex surface and re-radiate it at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the diode and a curved surface for receiving and re-radiating at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the diode radiation admitted by the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: An optical sensor, sensing system and method of sensing employ a half-core hollow optical waveguide adjacent to a surface of an optical waveguide layer of a substrate. The half-core hollow optical waveguide and the adjacent optical waveguide layer cooperatively provide both an optical path that confines and guides an optical signal and an internal hollow channel. The optical path and channel extend longitudinally along a hollow core of the half-core hollow optical waveguide. The system further includes an optical source at an input of the optical path and an optical detector at an output of the optical path. A spectroscopic interaction between an analyte material that is introduced into the channel and an optical signal propagating along the optical path determines a characteristic of the analyte material.

Abstract: A rod-shaped light guide includes an end face to which light is incident, a bottom plane on which a scattering pattern to scatter light incident to the end face is formed, and a light emitting portion located to be opposite to the bottom plane and emitting light outside. The light emitting portion is formed as a first plane and a second plane connected to each other. The first plane is formed to be smaller than the second plane so that the cross section thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is asymmetrical.

Abstract: Sideways emission enhancements are described for light emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions having a wide variety of applications. While a typical LED lighting device has a substantial portion of its light emitted near a normal to the semiconductor photonic chip emitting the light, the present approach may suitable provide a compact, easily manufacturable device with good thermal design characteristics and a changed emission pattern without changing the horizontal mounting plane of the semiconductor photonic chip.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display with an improved viewing angle and brightness is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a light source unit and a polarized light guide plate having an incident surface onto which unpolarized light from the light source unit is incident. The polarized light guide plate polarizes, collimates, and out-couples the incident light. The liquid crystal display also includes a liquid crystal panel which modulates the light out-coupled and illuminated from the polarized light guide plate to form images, and a diffusion layer which diffuses the light modulated in the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: Image display optical systems are disclosed that extend the angle of view longitudinally and transversely while saving space. The image display optical system includes a prism-shaped substrate transparent to an image-carrying light flux to be projected to a viewing eye, an introduction unit that guides the image-carrying light flux to a propagation path through which the image-carrying light flux propagates in a direction in which the image-carrying light flux from the outside enables internal reflection at least at three surfaces including at least one side of the substrate, and an output unit that guides the image-carrying light flux propagating through the substrate from the substrate to the viewing eye. By internally reflecting the image-carrying light flux at all the sides, i.e.

Abstract: A light guide comprising a base body and a plurality of outcoupling elements that are disposed on an outcoupling side of the base body and are provided to couple radiation out of the base body, said outcoupling elements being applied on a film. A method of producing the light guide.

Abstract: A device for optical communication includes at least a conductor circuit and an insulating layer formed and laminated. An optical circuit and an optical path are transmitting an optical signal, and an optical element or a package substrate on which an optical element is mounted. An optical path converting member is disposed at the optical path for transmitting an optical signal so as to transmit the optical signal between the optical element and the optical circuit. The optical path converting member includes a lens and an optical path conversion mirror having an entrance surface, an exit surface and a reflection surface, and the lens is provided at least one position selected from the entrance surface, the exit surface, and inside of the optical path conversion mirror.

Abstract: The present invention reduces generation of unevenness on a surface by adjusting unevenness of a reflection pattern in a case where the reflection pattern is formed by an ultrasonic process.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical display device producing uniform light distribution and a method of fabricating such devices. The optical display device has waveguides arranged in vertical and horizontal directions. The waveguide has a conical shape whose cross-section decreases towards the light-projection side thereof. At least one of the size, height, spacing, and refraction index of the waveguide is designed to be different for each section, depending on an incident angle and/or intensity of light inputted from a light source. Therefore, the intensity of projected light can be made uniform over all sections of the optical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brightness enhancement film and a backlight module having the brightness enhancement film. The brightness enhancement film includes first micro-reflectors and second micro-reflectors. The cross-section of each of the first and second micro-reflectors is a triangle having two same or different base angles and a wavy crest line. The widths of the first and second micro-reflectors vary along with the valleys and peaks to broaden or to narrow with respect to two sides thereof such that the neighboring lines between the first and second micro-reflectors are wavy. The backlight module is coupled with the brightness enhancement film. This enhances brightness, illuminates evenly, and avoids a moire effect.

Abstract: A light-emitting strip structure with light guiding effect, which is a hollow light guide strip body made of transparent material. The light guide strip body is formed with at least one axial internal chamber. Recessed/raised sections are formed on a wall of the internal chamber for changing light path. When a light source projects light into the internal chamber, the recessed/raised sections will deflect or reflect the projected light, whereby the light guide strip body can emit light outward. A color bar or a light reflection strip is implanted in the internal chamber. In addition, a light absorption material is sprayed on the wall of the internal chamber or a photosensitive gas is filled in the internal chamber. Accordingly, the light guide strip body can emit colorful light in various patterns so as to provide enhanced decorative or warning effect. The light guide strip body is flexible and antishock.

Abstract: A backlight may include a light guide and a light input. The light guide may have a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input may include a diverging wedge having a narrow end and opposing side surfaces extending to the narrow end. A light source may be disposed adjacent to one of the opposing side surfaces and may emit light into the light input portion. A multilayer polymeric mirror film may be disposed adjacent to the opposing side surfaces but not in intimate contact therewith and may reflect more than 95% of visible light incident on the multilayer polymeric mirror film.

Abstract: A concavo-convex light emitting section provided on an under surface of a base material is formed of a synthetic resin with inorganic oxide dispersed therein. A larger amount of light is reflected by inorganic oxide having a large refractive index and dispersed inside the synthetic resin, to cause a plurality of light emitting sections to emit bright light with a small number of light emitting elements. A light guiding sheet capable of making bright and uniform illumination and a movable contact body using the same are realized with a simple configuration.

Abstract: A waveguide version of a Kohler integrator is disclosed, utilizing geodesic lenses with a surface that can be mapped to a gradient-index Luneburg lens or to a nonfull-aperture Luneburg lens in such a way that the light paths in the gradient index lenses map into the geodesics of the surface, with the outer region of the gradient index lenses mapped into a flat surface. Arrays of these can be applied to lines of LEDs, as in CHMSLs, to mix light in intensity and in illumination as well as to avoid the deleterious effects of binning and burnout, or in multicolor arrays, to ensure complete chromatic mixing.

Abstract: Provided is an all-in-one type light guide plate including a plurality of prism-shaped structures that are integrally formed on the all-in-one light guide plate and which totally internally reflect light incident from a light source and emit the totally internally reflected light.

Abstract: A device for optical communication including a multilayer print circuit board in which a conductor circuit, an insulating layer, an optical circuit and an optical path for transmitting an optical signal are formed, and a package substrate having an optical element or an insulating layer and mounted on the multilayer print circuit board. An optical path converting member is disposed at the optical path to transmit an optical signal between the optical element and the optical circuit. The optical path converting member includes a lens and an optical path conversion mirror having an entrance surface, an exit surface and a reflection surface. The lens is provided at the entrance surface, the exit surface, or inside of the optical path conversion mirror.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical display device producing uniform light distribution and a method of fabricating such devices. The optical display device has waveguides arranged in vertical and horizontal directions. The waveguide has a conical shape whose cross-section decreases towards the light-projection side thereof. At least one of the size, height, spacing, and refraction index of the waveguide is designed to be different for each section, depending on an incident angle and/or intensity of light inputted from a light source. Therefore, the intensity of projected light can be made uniform over all sections of the optical device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite structure (11) formed by a plurality of layers (13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23) including an optical fiber (25) for structural monitoring purposes which is at least partly embedded in said structure (11), incorporating a protective cover (27) in those areas of its embedded part susceptible to needing repair, and to a process for repairing said embedded optical fiber comprising the following steps: identifying the optical fiber area in need of repair, removing material until reaching the cover (27), extracting said area, removing the protective cover (27), repairing the optical fiber (25), relocating the repaired area in the structure and returning the removed material.

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: 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: A laser handpiece is disclosed, including a fiber optic end having a non-cylindrical shape and further including a reflector surrounding a portion of the fiber optic end. The reflector is shaped to direct laser energy emitted from the fiber optic end in a direction away from the laser handpiece and toward a treatment site.

Abstract: An optical sheet includes a substrate having rear and front surfaces, a micro-lens-array on the front surface of the substrate, the micro-lens-array including a plurality of micro-lenses, a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other on the rear surface of the substrate, and an intercepting reflector layer on the protrusions.

Abstract: A light guide plate, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. The light guide plate has a first surface at least having one first structure and one second structure formed thereon. The first structure and the second structure are adjacent arranged and are mirror reflection with each other. Each of the first structure and the second structure has a first protrusion having a cross section of eccentric triangle.

Abstract: A method of designing a backlight light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display includes specifying a backlight having a light guide thickness and extractor angle and a light transmission surface having a predetermined width value and a predetermined length value. Then, the method includes selecting a plurality of design parameter value pairs, where each parameter value pairs includes a light guide thickness value and a prism angle value, and each design parameter value pair is different from each other. Then the method includes executing an ray tracing optical model on the light guide for each parameter value pair to calculate output data for each parameter value pair, the output data including a single pass light extraction efficiency value, an average minimum light angle value emitted from the second surface, and a maximum flux/minimum flux value emitted from the second surface; and selecting a parameter value pair based on the output data to manufacture the light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.

Abstract: A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a reflective 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.

Abstract: A rectangular beam having the energy density distribution homogenized in its short-side direction is formed in a beam homogenizer wherein two light reflection surfaces are parallel-provided in a beam progression optical waveguide with a predetermined space so as to face each other at surfaces along the beam progression direction and a course change reflection surface for changing the beam progression direction is formed at a surface in the direction intersected with the light reflection surfaces. The beam enters a cylindrical lens array and a cylindrical lens sequentially to homogenize the energy density distribution in its long-side direction. Then, the irradiation laser from the cylindrical lens is projected onto a non-single crystalline semiconductor film to perform annealing.

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: A spot size converter has a first core, a larger second core, and a clad disposed on a substrate. The first core has a rectilinear cross-sectional shape and is embedded in the clad, except at its ends. One of these ends has a sloping surface along which the thickness of the first core tapers gradually to zero. The second core, which has a refractive index intermediate between the refractive indexes of the first core and clad, sits on the clad and covers the sloping end surface of the first core. Light propagates through the first core, then through the second core into an external optical device, or propagates from an external optical device through the second core into the first core. This arrangement provides a spot size converter having an easily manufacturable structure and no polarization dependency.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel and an illumination device. The illumination device has a light guide plate and at least one spot light source on at least one side surface of the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a large number of upper-surface arcuate cross-sectional grooves in a direction orthogonal to the one side surface on a surface thereof which faces the liquid crystal panel, and a large number of light-incident-surface arcuate cross-sectional grooves are formed in a thickness direction of the light guide plate on at least a portion of the one side surface which faces a position at which the spot light source is arranged. A relationship is provided between a contact angle Oa of the upper-surface arcuate cross-sectional grooves and a contact angle Ea of the light-incident-surface arcuate cross-sectional grooves.

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: Waveguide(s) (130) including at least partially buried channels) (120) within substrate(s) (100) having at least one substantially planar surface (110) are disclosed. According to some embodiments at least part of the channel (120) is located beneath at least a portion of the substrate (100). According to some embodiments the waveguide channel (120) includes a substantially transparent core (140) and optional cladding (160) extending through the channel (120). Alternately, an inner surface of the channel (120) is highly reflective. Furthermore, structures for use as waveguides (130) and/or as microchannels for fluid flow are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are production methods for such waveguides and said structures (130) and said structures, and methods of using such waveguides (130).

Abstract: For manufacturing a light-guiding plate and a key module having the light-guiding plate, a mold is prepared first. Then, a material having high light transmittance is injected into the mold. After the plastic material is formed, the mold is released, so that the plastic material is formed into a sheet-like light-guiding plate, and one surface of the light-guiding plate is formed with a plurality of light-guiding portions thereon. The light-guiding plate is disposed in the key module of an electronic device. The light generated by light-emitting elements within the electronic device is introduced from the front end of a substrate of the light-guiding plate, and the light is refracted by the light-guiding portion to a corresponding key, thereby to display the numeral or pattern of the surface of a key cap of the key.

Abstract: Provided is a lighting apparatus capable of uniformly and efficiently lighting a spatial light modulator. The lighting apparatus includes: a light source for outputting laser light; a multimode optical fiber in which the laser light outputted from the light source propagates through an internal core whose lateral cross section is a substantially polygonal outer diameter shape; and spatial light modulator for producing an image with illumination light from the multimode optical fiber. In the lighting apparatus, the laser light is outputted from the light source and is propagated to the multimode optical fiber in which an outer diameter shape of the lateral cross section of the core is a substantially polygonal shape, whereby the spatial light modulator can be uniformly and efficiently lighted.

Abstract: A light guide includes a body having an elongate shape and a plurality of light-reflecting faces and light-emitting faces extending along the body. The light-reflecting faces extend in a stepped fashion along the body in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the light guide and are configured to reflect light rays by the principle of total internal reflection. Each light-emitting face is disposed along the body opposite a corresponding light-reflecting face. Each light-emitting face is configured to emit light reflected by the corresponding light-reflecting face. The light-emitting faces are also disposed on the body in a stepped fashion. Steps of the light-emitting faces correspond to steps of the light-reflecting faces. In another aspect, the light-reflecting faces are separated by stepped-down faces. The stepped-down faces are oriented at a stepped-down angle in the range of about 1 and 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light guide.

Abstract: There is provided a back light unit having a light guide buffer plate. The back light unit having a light guide buffer plate includes a light source for generating the light when a power source is applied; a light guide panel whose light-receiving vertical surface that the light emitted from the light source enters is provided with a first prism pattern and whose bottom surface is provided with a refraction pattern, thereby converting the incident light from the light-receiving vertical surface into a surface light source; a reflection unit disposed in a bottom surface of the light guide panel to reflect light toward the light guide panel; and a buffer disposed between the light source and the light guide panel and whose light-emitting vertical surface corresponding to the light-receiving vertical surface of the light guide panel is provided with a second prism pattern.

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 process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures.

Abstract: There is provided a very thin light guide plate for a surface light source device and a method of manufacturing it without the use of high-precision molding machine. A surface light source device using this light guide plate generates outgoing light having high uniformity. According to the manufacturing method, a light guide plate free from a weld line or warp can be manufactured with good transferring characteristics. The light guide plate is thick on an incident surface 1 side and thin on a lower surface 4 side. At the central portion of an incident surface 1 in a longitudinal direction, a projecting portion obtained by cutting an overhang portion 7 at a position a distance D apart from the incident surface 1 is formed. The cut surface of the projecting portion is not made specular and is kept rough. In molding of the light guide plate, a molten material is supplied from the position of a gate mark 9.