Abstract: A spatial light modulator having an active and a peripheral region, wherein coherent light impinges on both regions, but due to a higher spatial frequency of pixels within the peripheral region, and due to biasing the peripheral region pixels to maximize dispersion of reflected light therefrom, a majority of light reflected from the peripheral region is directed outside of a three-dimensional target window. A spatial frequency of the pixels in the active region is selected such that maximum dispersion of reflected light from the active region is incident within the three-dimensional target window. In this way, incident light that does not reflect from the active region need not be absorbed, or blocked, but instead can be reflected, but still fails to interfere with the target window.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for attenuating an incident polarized light beam using a plurality of Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings (“LCPGs”) and one or more switchable liquid crystal layers. When four LCPGs are used, a spacing between first and second LCPGs can be equal to a spacing between third and fourth LCPGs. Pi and FCL cells can also be used in place of more traditional LC switches. Switching of the LC switch can be imparted via an AC bias.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator having an active and a peripheral region, wherein coherent light impinges on both regions, but due to a higher spatial frequency of pixels within the peripheral region, and due to biasing the peripheral region pixels to maximize dispersion of reflected light therefrom, a majority of light reflected from the peripheral region is directed outside of a three-dimensional target window. A spatial frequency of the pixels in the active region is selected such that maximum dispersion of reflected light from the active region is incident within the three-dimensional target window. In this way, incident light that does not reflect from the active region need not be absorbed, or blocked, but instead can be reflected, but still fails to interfere with the target window.

Abstract: A beam steering apparatus includes a first beam steering stage and at least a second beam steering stage arranged in-line with the first beam steering stage. The first beam steering stage includes a first polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a first periodic director pattern, and the second beam steering stage includes a second polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a second periodic director pattern. In nonmechanical embodiments, a polarization selector may be arranged to provide a circularly polarized input beam incident on the first polarization grating. In mechanical embodiments, at least one of the first polarization grating and the second polarization grating may be operable to be independently rotated about an azimuth thereof. Related methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A beam steering apparatus includes a first beam steering stage and at least a second beam steering stage arranged in-line with the first beam steering stage. The first beam steering stage includes a first polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a first periodic director pattern, and the second beam steering stage includes a second polarization grating comprising a uniaxial birefringent material having a second periodic director pattern. In nonmechanical embodiments, a polarization selector may be arranged to provide a circularly polarized input beam incident on the first polarization grating. In mechanical embodiments, at least one of the first polarization grating and the second polarization grating may be operable to be independently rotated about an azimuth thereof. Related methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: A device is provided for selectively filtering an incident beam of light. A first interference-filter array is arranged to separate the incident beam into a plurality of spectrally complementary beams. An array of configurable optical shutters is disposed along paths of the separated beams to selectively block transmission of respective separated beams. A second interference-filter array is arranged to combine the separated beams whose transmission has not been blocked in accordance with states of the configurable optical shutters to produce a filtered output beam of light.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for steering an electromagnetic beam. The device includes a reflective element, a polarizer, a relay focusing element, and a modulation element. The polarizer is configured to transmit light of a specified polarization and to reflect light having other than the specified polarization. The relay focusing element is disposed to provide optical paths for the electromagnetic beam from a first spot position to a second spot position spatially displaced from the first spot position such that the optical paths encounter the reflective element and the polarizer. The modulation element is configured for selectively transforming a polarization of the electromagnetic beam to include a component of the specified polarization at a spatially localized position along the optical paths.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for steering an electromagnetic beam. The device includes a reflective element, a polarizer, a relay focusing element, and a modulation element. The polarizer is configured to transmit light of a specified polarization and to reflect light having other than the specified polarization. The relay focusing element is disposed to provide optical paths for the electromagnetic beam from a first spot position to a second spot position spatially displaced from the first spot position such that the optical paths encounter the reflective element and the polarizer. The modulation element is configured for selectively transforming a polarization of the electromagnetic beam to include a component of the specified polarization at a spatially localized position along the optical paths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizing interferometer multiplex spectrometer using a zero-order switch, a multi-order switch and an output polarizer to multiplex the recovery of an entire input spectrum. The zero-order switch and multi-order switch require input light of a fixed polarization; thus the present invention provides a preferred embodiment that uses a zero-order switch and a multi-order switch positioned between an input polarizer and an output polarizer. For a sequence of time delays incremented by the multi-order and zero-order switches, the total transmitted power at all wavelengths is measured. From these, the coefficients of a Fourier series representation of the input spectrum are obtained, and the entire spectrum is mathematically reconstructed. Although the structure is similar to a tunable interference filter, the PIMS does not function as a filter, and more particularly, does not scan the transmission wavelength and measure power as a function of wavelength.