Abstract: Embodiments of a display device with a vision system are disclosed. In one example, a display device comprises a plurality of pixels for displaying light in a first polarization state, a plurality of photodetectors, where each photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors includes a polarization filter configured to transmit light in a second polarization state to the photodetector and reject light in other polarization states, a plurality of lenslets, where each lenslet in the plurality of lenslets focuses light in the second polarization state onto at least one photodetector in the plurality of photodetectors, a material surrounding the plurality of lenslets, where, for each lenslet in the plurality of lenslets, indices of refraction of the lenslet and the material are substantially equal for light in the first polarization state, and where indices of refraction of the lenslet and the material are different for light in the second polarization state.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to an adaptive keyboard cut from a single flexible substrate are provided. One disclosed embodiment of an adaptive input device comprises a flexible substrate, and a plurality of key screens defined in the flexible substrate via cuts in the flexible substrate. The key screens are cut such that each key screen remains electrically connected to the flexible substrate, and each key screen comprises an image producing element configured to display an image on the key screen. The adaptive input device further comprises a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys disposed over the flexible substrate, where each key screen is turned upwardly from the flexible substrate to cover a corresponding key on the keyboard.

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 guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end; and a tapered output slab 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 is greater in the transverse direction away from the centre line, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.

Abstract: Embodiments related to making an optic comprising a cladding are disclosed. One example embodiment comprises forming a wedge-shaped light guide having opposing first and second faces and comprising a material having a first refractive index. The embodiment further comprises applying a cladding layer to the first face, and, applying an interface layer to the cladding layer. In this embodiment, the cladding layer has a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and the interface layer has a third refractive index matched to the first refractive index.

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: Various embodiments related to determining a distance of an object from a surface of an interactive display device are disclosed herein. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising, directing infrared (IR) light to the object above the surface which is reflected by the object back to the interactive display device, and refracting IR light reflected from the object into two rays travelling in different directions based on a polarization state of the reflected IR light. The method further comprises switching a polarization state of an LCD device to allow one of the two refracted rays to pass through the LCD device, and receiving, at a detector, the one of the two refracted ray that passes through the LCD device. Further, the method comprises estimating a distance of the object from the surface based on triangulation.

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: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.

Abstract: A virtual-image projector comprises a laser configured to form a narrow beam, first and second dilation optics, first and second redirection optics each having a diffraction grating, and a controller. The first dilation optic is arranged to receive the narrow beam and to project a one-dimensionally dilated beam into the second dilation optic. The second dilation optic is arranged to receive the one-dimensionally dilated beam and project a two-dimensionally dilated beam. The first and second redirection optics are each operatively coupled to a transducer. The first redirection optic is arranged to direct the narrow beam into the first dilation optic at a first entry angle. The second redirection optic is configured to direct the one-dimensionally dilated beam into the second dilation optic at a second entry angle. The controller is configured to bias the transducers to vary the first and second entry angles.

Abstract: A method of enhancing input imaging resolution includes sequentially blocking light from different portions of an object with a series of resolution-enhancing patterns displayed between the object and an image detector. The method further includes detecting light filtered by the series of resolution-enhancing patterns and integrating light detected while different resolution-enhancing patterns of the series of resolution-enhancing patterns are displayed between the object and the detector.

Abstract: A light guide device can provide a backlight for an LCD or a projection display. The light guide device includes a light-input end and an opposing end, opposing left and right sides which join the light-input end and the opposing end, and opposing front and back surfaces which join the light-input end and the opposing end. A birefringent film is provided on the opposing left and right sides of the light guide which switches a polarization of incident light. Incident light is provided at the light-input end having a right-handed circular polarization, in addition to light having a left-handed circular polarization. Light emitted from the front surface passes through a linear polarizer which selectively passes light to allow privacy of viewing by a user. The incident light can be provided at the light-input end using one or more cuboid rods, slab light guides, or discrete light sources.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to private video presentation. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system including a display surface, a directional backlight system configured to emit a beam of light from the display surface and to vary a direction in which the beam of light is directed, and a spatial light modulator configured to form an image for display via the directional backlight system. The system further includes a controller configured to control the optical system and the light modulator to display a first video content item at a first viewing angle and a second video content item at a second viewing angle.

Abstract: A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

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 selectively light-reflecting sheet (30) includes a prismatic film (1) with parallel prisms (10) on its face, a low-index film (3) on the prisms and a layer (5) on the low-index film, this layer having a substantially flat surface. This results in a low effective index, which means that light incident at steeper angles on the prismatic film (1) will pass through it. This “leaky” effect can be used in conjunction with a reflector sheet (20) in a tapered-waveguide arrangement to construct a lightweight backlight.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to backlighting a display panel comprising color filters via an optical wedge. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels, and also comprising an optical wedge disposed optically upstream of the display panel such that light emerging from the light output interface backlights the display panel. The display system further comprises one or more light sources configured to introduce light into the optical wedge, and a diffraction grating disposed optically between the light sources and the display panel.

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 collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

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, an end reflector is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide, and includes a faceted lens structure to cause a majority of the viewing surface to be uniformly illuminated when uniform light is injected into the first end and also to cause a majority of the injected light to exit the viewing surface.