Abstract: An invisible scanning safety system for use with laser projection systems that includes sensors monitoring less than the entire laser accessible region such that the region monitored is reduced to almost the absolute minimum, to thereby prevent unwarranted stoppages or disturbances in projection. The system may also monitor a 360 degree region around the lens of the laser projector, a wedge-shaped region, a pyramid-shaped region or a chimney-shaped region.

Abstract: An optical actuator having an improved response time and an improved frequency operational range due to the reduced mass of a substrate coupled to an actuator and method of making the same. The optical actuator may be formed by adhering an uncoated substrate to the actuator using an epoxy. Once cured, any deformities and irregularities in a top surface of the substrate are removed. An optical coating is then applied to the top surface of the substrate. Once finished, the optical actuator may be used in a laser resonating cavity. Further, the optical actuator desirably may have a resonant frequency of about 150 kHz.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a high-resolution image using a scanned-column projector is disclosed. The method includes the operation of generating a time-varying line image. A further operation includes collimating the time-varying line image in at least one plane. An additional operation involves scanning the collimated time-varying line image using a scan mirror. A further operation includes projecting the scanned collimated time-varying line image onto a surface. The scanned collimated time-varying line image is projected with at least one imaging element.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing visibility of image artifacts caused by diffractive elements in a laser projector having a structured diffractive device. At least two diffracted orders of light can be selected from light emitted from the structured diffractive device using a spatial light filter. The polarization of at least one of the selected diffracted orders can be changed with respect to another selected diffracted order. The selected diffracted order can be recombined to form an image having reduced visible image artifacts.

Abstract: A wide angle display system includes a linear array projector, a curved display surface, and an n-sides scanning mirror. The projector is configured to project an image along an optical axis to the scanning mirror. The scanning mirror continuously rotates about a rotational axis at a speed 1/n the refresh rate, so as to reflect and scan the image onto the display surface.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for correlating imprecise source data in a local coordinate system to a precise global eyepoint position for a global coordinate system within which the local coordinate system is located. The method includes the step of identifying key correlation points for the local coordinate system which has modeling inaccuracies. Global coordinates are also identified for each of the key correlation points. Another step is computing delta values for each of the key correlation points that represent the difference between key correlation points' local system coordinates and the global coordinate system's coordinate values for the key correlation points. An additional step is modifying the global eyepoint position based on delta values for selected key correlation points as the global eyepoint position moves in relation to the local coordinate system within the global coordinate system.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for reducing laser speckle and interference patterns in a laser projector display when using a laser projector having a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a defined pixel rate. The method can include the operation of polarizing a laser output of a continuous wave laser such that the laser output is s-polarized with respect to a beam combiner. The s-polarized laser output can be divided into a first laser beam and a second laser beam. A phase of the second laser beam can be modulated with an amplitude sufficient to create a phase delay of approximately half a wavelength of the laser output and at a frequency at least twice that of the SLM's pixel rate.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for combining independent scene layers to form computer generated environments. The method includes the operation of constructing a terrain layer using stored terrain data. Another operation is generating a feature layer using feature layer data that is stored separately from the stored terrain data. The feature layer and the terrain layer can then be combined to form a composite scene.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for combining independent scene layers to form computer generated environments. The method includes the operation of constructing a terrain layer using stored terrain data. Another operation is generating a feature layer using feature layer data that is stored separately from the stored terrain data. The feature layer and the terrain layer can then be combined to form a composite scene.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A communications transmitter is disclosed that utilizes a grating light valve (GLV) to impose information on an optical signal. The communications transmitter further includes at least one laser light source, a frequency dispersing device, an electrostatic modulator that serves as a GLV, and at least one data input source. The laser light source is configured to produce a light beam having a specific optical bandwidth and the frequency dispersing device is optically coupled to the light source and configured to disperse the light beam to produce a frequency dispersed light. The electrostatic modulator includes an electrostatically responsive reflective ribbon oriented to receive a portion of the frequency dispersed light having a specified bandwidth.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for combining independent scene layers to form computer generated environments. The method includes the operation of constructing a terrain layer using stored terrain data. Another operation is generating a feature layer using feature layer data that is stored separately from the stored terrain data. The feature layer and the terrain layer can then be combined to form a composite scene.