Abstract: Various embodiments described herein comprise mixers comprising a light pipe having input and output ends and a central region therebetween. An optical path extends in a longitudinal direction from the input end through the central region to the output end. The central region of the light pipe comprises one or more rippled reflective sidewalls having a plurality of elongate ridges and valleys and sloping surfaces therebetween. Light from the input end propagating along the optical path reflects from the sloping surfaces and is redirected at a different azimuthal direction toward the output end thereby mixing the light at the output end. Illuminance and/or color mixing can therefore be provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein comprise illuminators comprising a phosphor color wheel for producing colored light. Light of a first wavelength emitted by a light source is incident on a phosphor color wheel comprising a plurality of different regions, where at least one of these regions comprises a phosphor that fluoresces at a second wavelength when illuminated with light of the first wavelength. The light from the light source and the different regions of the phosphor color wheel are movable with respect to each other such that as the different regions are illuminated by the light, different colors are produced.

Abstract: Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.

Abstract: Luminaire with directional side-light extraction comprises a light pipe with a light-carrying core, and with a light-extraction structure along a first longitudinal side of the luminaire, confined to a radial swath of the luminaire, along the longitudinal axis of the luminaire, of substantially less than 180°. The second end of the light pipe has light-saving means for directing saved light from the second end towards the first end. The light-extraction means is adjustable to accommodate angular distributions of light from various light sources.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and imaging optics defining an optical path. The imaging optics comprises a lens group comprising a plurality of lenses in the optical path. The lens group has a first optical axis. Each of said plurality of lenses have optical axes collinear with the first optical axis. The imaging optics further comprises a single lens element in the optical path having a second optical axis that is different from the first optical axis. The single lens element has positive optical power and is the only lens element in the optical path between the lens group and the combiner that has an optical axis collinear with the second optical axis.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch particularly usable as a programmable N×M optical switch in a multi-wavelength communication system. The switch uses a grating that separates multi-channel optical signals into a plurality of optical channels, and combines a plurality of optical channels into multi-channel optical signals. Programmable mirrors switch each optical channel to any of a plurality of fibers coupled to the switch.

Abstract: Optical relays having three or more reflector portions to allow efficient grazing angle reflections with a relatively high acceptance of light are described. Light collected by the relay can be delivered to a selected location for various applications, including semiconductor lithography. In some embodiments, the grazing angles are selected to utilize the high reflectivity of extreme ultraviolet light at low grazing angles. The three or more reflectors can be arranged with respect to a light source to provide such grazing angle reflections and high acceptance. Some collectors can have more than one shell to increase the acceptance. In some embodiments, some of the reflectors can be configured to shape the delivered light.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and a pair of plastic lenses. One of the lenses is a rotationally symmetric optical element and one of the lens is a non-rotationally symmetric optical element. This non-rotationally symmetric optical element comprises first and second lens surfaces that are tilted and decentered with respect to each other. One of these first and second lens surfaces may also include diffractive feature to provide a diffractive or holographic optical element for color correction.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch particularly usable as a programmable N×M optical switch in a multi-wavelength communication system. The switch uses a grating that separates multi-channel optical signals into a plurality of optical channels, and combines a plurality of optical channels into multi-channel optical signals. Programmable mirrors switch each optical channel to any of a plurality of fibers coupled to the switch.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide projection optics comprise a plurality of mirrors that provide high demagnification of, for example, about one hundred times or more. The projection optics may be used for photolithography processes, such as extreme ultraviolet lithography processes, to pattern microstructures.

Abstract: A luminaire with improved lateral illuminance control comprising a light pipe with a longitudinal center is disclosed. A light-extraction means applied to a radial swath of the light pipe has a longitudinal portion having dimension along its length, centered about a slice on the light pipe longitudinally; said slice being orthogonal to the longitudinal center and located in a propagation plane through which light propagates to a virtual target area intersecting the propagation plane. The light pipe intervenes between the radial swath and the target area. A first average efficiency point of the light-extraction means corresponds to the minimum distance to the target area being at least approximately 20% less than a respective, second average efficiency point corresponding to a respective maximum distance to such area. The light-extraction means efficiency varies from the first average efficiency point to the second average efficiency point though more than one non-zero value.

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: Various embodiments involving structures and methods for illumination can be employed, for example, in projectors, head-mounted displays, helmet-mounted displays, back projection TVs, flat panel displays as well as other optical systems. Certain embodiments may include prism elements for illuminating, for example, a spatial light modulator. Light may be coupled to the prism in some cases using fiber optics or lightpipes. The optical system may also include a diffuser having scatter features arranged to scatter light appropriately to produce a desired luminance profile. Other embodiments are possible as well.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-fight emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern atone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch particularly usable as a programmable N×M optical switch in a multi-wavelength communication system. The switch uses a grating that separates multi-channel optical signals into a plurality of optical channels, and combines a plurality of optical channels into multi-channel optical signals. Programmable mirrors switch each optical channel to any of a plurality of fibers coupled to the switch.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described that provide a techniques to produce sharp, high contrast, edge enhanced images using edge-lit displays. The edge-lit displays may comprise extractor pattern painted, etched or molded on a light guide. The extractor pattern may be determined from an edge-enhanced input pattern and modified iteratively to produce an edge-enhanced output pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of defining an array of extractor elements configured to extract light from a light guide, and thereby produce a desired spatial light pattern ET quantifying optical output at a plurality of locations across the light guide is provided. The method comprises calculating a first spatial light pattern produced by a first array of extractor elements. The first spatial light pattern quantifies optical output at the plurality of locations across the light guide. The method further comprises determining a ratio R of the optical output of the desired spatial light pattern to an optical output of the first spatial light pattern. The method further comprises determining a modified ratio R?, wherein R?=R? and |?|<1. The method further comprises determining a characteristic of a second array of extractor elements by scaling a characteristic of the first array of extractor elements by the modified ratio R?.

Abstract: Certain embodiments include a head mounted display for displaying images that can be viewed by a wearer when the display is worn on the wearer's head. The display can include a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels selectively adjustable for producing spatial patterns. The array of pixels can define a substantially planar reflective surface on the spatial light modulator. The display can further include a light source. The display can also include illumination optics disposed to receive light from the light source and direct light onto the planar reflective surface of the spatial light modulator at an angle with respect to the surface normal of the planar reflective surface. The display can include imaging optics disposed with respect to the spatial light modulator to receive light from the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: Various embodiments involving structures and methods for illumination can be employed, for example, in projectors, head-mounted displays, helmet-mounted displays, heads-up displays, back projection TVs, flat panel displays as well as other optical systems. Certain embodiments may include prism elements for illuminating, for example, a spatial light modulator. Light may be coupled to the prism in some cases using fiber optics or lightpipes. The optical system may also include a diffuser having scatter features arranged to scatter light appropriately to produce a desired luminance profile. Ellipsoid- and parapoloid-shaped combiners may be employed in embodiments of displays such as for example head mounted displays, helmet mounted displays, and heads-up display. Other embodiments are possible as well.

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.