Abstract: Light emitting systems and optical systems including a light emitting system and a lens system are described. The light emitting system includes a pixelated light source having a plurality of discrete spaced apart pixels, and includes a plurality of light redirecting elements, each light redirecting element corresponding to a different pixel in the plurality of pixels. The light redirecting elements may be adapted to alter one or both of a central ray direction and a divergence angle of light received from the corresponding pixel. A lens system disposed to receive light from the light emitting system may include a reflective polarizer and a partial reflector.

Abstract: A lens is formed from at least two sections or bodies that are shaped to mate with each other, and a multilayer optical film is sandwiched between these two sections. Smooth surfaces of each section combine to provide a first optical surface of the lens, e.g., a concave, convex, or flat optical surface. The multilayer optical film includes a stack of polymer layers configured to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, at least some of the polymer layers being birefringent. The multilayer optical film may thus be or comprise e.g. a reflective polarizer and/or a narrow band or otherwise notched reflector. The multilayer optical film has an extended terminus that separates the smooth surfaces of the two sections. Any edge defects such as cracks or delaminations that may exist along the extended terminus are characterized by an average defect distance of no more than 100 or 50 microns.

Abstract: In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in a mold defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form a machined optical component including a machined optical surface. In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in an axially symmetric mold cavity defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form an optical component that does not possess axial symmetry. Optical component formed by these methods and molds for utilizing in these methods also are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an optical element useful in an optical device for illuminating the pupil of an eye, particularly for use with a head mountable display that can include eye-tracking. The optical device includes a light source and an optical element that transmits light, where light emitted from the light source is directed by the optical element toward the pupil of the eye, and attributes of the eye can then be detected by an optical sensor such as a camera. The light source can emit infrared light that is not visible to the human eye, so that world view images and/or combined digital images of the head-mountable display are not compromised.

Abstract: Electrical conductors are disclosed. More particularly, undulating electrical conductors are disclosed. Certain disclosed electrical conductors may be suitable to be disposed on flexible or stretchable substrates.

Abstract: Near-eye combiner displays are disclosed that utilize dichroic reflectors and/or reflective polarizers disposed as a pellicle positioned within a field of view of the eye. A secondary image can be reflected off of the reflective polarizer and/or dichroic layer towards the eye, and can be superimposed over a primary world-view image being viewed by the eye. The position and orientation of the pellicle can be independently adjusted as desired.

Abstract: An optical system including at least a first lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer is described. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system is rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

Abstract: A viewing device is disclosed. The device includes a projector that projects a first imaged light, and a polarizing beam splitter plate that receives the projected first imaged light from the projector and reflects the received first imaged light for viewing by a viewer. The polarizing beam splitter plate also receives a second image and transmits the second image for viewing by the viewer. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a substrate and a multilayer optical film reflective polarizer that is adhered to the substrate. The reflective polarizer substantially reflects polarized light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits polarized light having a second polarization state perpendicular to the first polarization state. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first outermost major surface and an opposing second outermost major surface that makes an angle of less than about 20 degrees with the first outermost major surface.

Abstract: Polarizing beam splitter plates and systems incorporating such beam splitter plates are described. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first substrate and a multilayer optical film reflective polarizer that is disposed on the first substrate. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first outermost major surface and an opposing second outermost major surface that makes an angle of less than about 20 degrees with the first outermost major surface. The polarizing beam splitter plate is adapted to reflect an imaged light received from an imager towards a viewer or screen with the reflected imaged light having an effective pixel resolution of less than 12 microns.

Abstract: An optical system for displaying an object to a viewer is described. The optical system includes an integral first optical assembly, an integral second optical assembly, and an integral third optical assembly disposed between the integral first and second optical assemblies. The integral first optical assembly has a first focal length and includes one or more first optical lenses, and a reflective polarizer. The integral second optical assembly has a second focal length and includes one or more second optical lenses, and a partial reflector having an average optical reflectance of at least 30% for a desired plurality of wavelengths. The integral third optical assembly has a third focal length and includes a curved first phase retarder. The third focal length is greater than a smaller of the first and second focal lengths.

Abstract: An optical assembly including first (340) and second (312) polarizers and a liquid crystal module (314) disposed therebetween, with the first and second polarizers making an oblique angle of at least 5 degrees therebetween is disclosed. Optical devices like head mounted displays (300) including the optical assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitting system is described. The polarizing beam splitting system may include first and second prisms where the volume of the first prism is no greater than half the volume of the second prism. The first prism includes first and second surfaces and a light source may be disposed adjacent the first surface and an image forming device may be disposed adjacent the second surface. The first prism has a first hypotenuse and the second prism has a second hypotenuse. A reflective polarizer is disposed between the first and second hypotenuses.

Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, hybrid polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate polymeric reflective polarizers aligned with MacNeille or wire grid reflective polarizers are described.

Abstract: A lens is formed from at least two sections or bodies that are shaped to mate with each other, and a multilayer optical film is sandwiched between these two sections. Smooth surfaces of each section combine to provide a first optical surface of the lens, e.g., a concave, convex, or flat optical surface. The multilayer optical film includes a stack of polymer layers configured to selectively reflect light by constructive or destructive interference, at least some of the polymer layers being birefringent. The multilayer optical film may thus be or comprise e.g. a reflective polarizer and/or a narrow band or otherwise notched reflector. The multilayer optical film has an extended terminus that separates the smooth surfaces of the two sections. Any edge defects such as cracks or delaminations that may exist along the extended terminus are characterized by an average defect distance of no more than 100 or 50 microns.

Abstract: In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in a mold defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form a machined optical component including a machined optical surface. In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in an axially symmetric mold cavity defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form an optical component that does not possess axial symmetry. Optical component formed by these methods and molds for utilizing in these methods also are described.

Abstract: An optical system including at least a first lens, a partial reflector and a reflective polarizer is described. The optical system has an optical axis such that a light ray propagating along the optical axis passes through the first lens the partial reflector and the reflective polarizer without being substantially refracted. At least one major surface of the optical system is rotationally asymmetric about the optical axis. A major surface of the optical system may have a first portion defined by a first equation and a second portion adjacent the first portion defined by a different equation. The first lens may have a contoured edge adapted to be placed adjacent an eye of a viewer and substantially conform to the viewer's face.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an optical element useful in an optical device for illuminating the pupil of an eye, particularly for use with a head mountable display that can include eye-tracking. The optical device includes a light source and an optical element that transmits light, where light emitted from the light source is directed by the optical element toward the pupil of the eye, and attributes of the eye can then be detected by an optical sensor such as a camera. The light source can emit infrared light that is not visible to the human eye, so that world view images and/or combined digital images of the head-mountable display are not compromised.

Abstract: A viewing device is disclosed. The device includes a projector that projects a first imaged light, and a polarizing beam splitter plate that receives the projected first imaged light from the projector and reflects the received first imaged light for viewing by a viewer. The polarizing beam splitter plate also receives a second image and transmits the second image for viewing by the viewer. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a substrate and a multilayer optical film reflective polarizer that is adhered to the substrate. The reflective polarizer substantially reflects polarized light having a first polarization state and substantially transmits polarized light having a second polarization state perpendicular to the first polarization state. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first outermost major surface and an opposing second outermost major surface that makes an angle of less than about 20 degrees with the first outermost major surface.

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitting system is described. The polarizing beam splitting system may include first and second prisms where the volume of the first prism is no greater than half the volume of the second prism. The first prism includes first and second surfaces and a light source may be disposed adjacent the first surface and an image forming device may be disposed adjacent the second surface. The first prism has a first hypotenuse and the second prism has a second hypotenuse. A reflective polarizer is disposed between the first and second hypotenuses.

Abstract: Polarizing beam splitter plates and systems incorporating such beam splitter plates are described. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first substrate and a multilayer optical film reflective polarizer that is disposed on the first substrate. The polarizing beam splitter plate includes a first outermost major surface and an opposing second outermost major surface that makes an angle of less than about 20 degrees with the first outermost major surface. The polarizing beam splitter plate is adapted to reflect an imaged light received from an imager towards a viewer or screen with the reflected imaged light having an effective pixel resolution of less than 12 microns.