Abstract: A lidar system and method includes a photodiode array, a wafer, and a plurality of structures integrated on the wafer to form a metasurface lens. The metasurface lens is configured to focus the light pulses to the photodiode array and each of the plurality of structures includes at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the light pulses.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic region of interest in a lidar system can include scanning a light beam over a field of view to capture a first lidar image, identifying a first object within the captured first lidar image, selecting a first region of interest within the field of view that contains at least a portion of the identified first object, and capturing a second lidar image, where capturing the second lidar image includes scanning the light beam over the first region of interest at a first spatial sampling resolution, and scanning the light beam over the field of view outside of the first region of interest at a second spatial sampling resolution, wherein the second sampling resolution is different the first spatial sampling resolution.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a laser diode; a laser diode driver circuit configured generate a laser beam using the laser diode and to frequency chirp the generated laser beam according to a frequency chirp period; a laser splitter to split the generated laser beam into N transmit laser beams pointed at different angles, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and a frequency chirp period of each of the N transmit laser beams is the frequency chirp period of the generated laser beam; and multiple return beam paths to receive N return beams and determine time of flight values for the N return beams in parallel.

Abstract: A Liquid Crystal Waveguide (LCW) system can provide sub-aperture incoupling or outcoupling of light having an input wavelength and input beamsize defining an aperture characteristic of the system. A Liquid Crystal Waveguide (LCW) can include a generally planar LCW core to receive light via a light input zone for communication toward a light output zone. Sub-aperture interfacial light couplers can be planarly arranged in or parallel to the planar LCW core in the light input zone or the light output zone. Sub-aperture interfacial light couplers can include teeth, prisms, or facets, a photonic crystal metasurface, or a geometric-phased holograph (GPH)). Overall LCW thickness can be reduced, which can be helpful in space-limited applications or for reducing material costs.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a laser diode; a laser diode driver circuit configured generate a laser beam using the laser diode and to frequency chirp the generated laser beam according to a frequency chirp period; a laser splitter to split the generated laser beam into N transmit laser beams pointed at different angles, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and a frequency chirp period of each of the N transmit laser beams is the frequency chirp period of the generated laser beam; and multiple return beam paths to receive N return beams and determine time of flight values for the N return beams in parallel.

Abstract: A Liquid Crystal Waveguide (LCW) system can provide sub-aperture incoupling or outcoupling of light having an input wavelength and input beamsize defining an aperture characteristic of the system. A Liquid Crystal Waveguide (LCW) can include a generally planar LCW core to receive light via a light input zone for communication toward a light output zone. Sub-aperture interfacial light couplers can be planarly arranged in or parallel to the planar LCW core in the light input zone or the light output zone. Sub-aperture interfacial light couplers can include teeth, prisms, or facets, a photonic crystal metasurface, or a geometric-phased holograph (GPH)). Overall LCW thickness can be reduced, which can be helpful in space-limited applications or for reducing material costs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic region of interest in a lidar system can include scanning a light beam over a field of view to capture a first lidar image, identifying a first object within the captured first lidar image, selecting a first region of interest within the field of view that contains at least a portion of the identified first object, and capturing a second lidar image, where capturing the second lidar image includes scanning the light beam over the first region of interest at a first spatial sampling resolution, and scanning the light beam over the field of view outside of the first region of interest at a second spatial sampling resolution, wherein the second sampling resolution is different the first spatial sampling resolution.

Abstract: A detector for use in detecting reflected or scattered light pulses for a lidar system includes a primary lens, a secondary lens, and a photodiode array. The primary lens is configured to collect and focus the light pulses, the secondary lens is configured to receive and further focus the light pulses from the primary lens, and the photodiode array is configured to receive and sense the light pulses from the secondary lens.

Abstract: A lidar system and method includes a photodiode array, a wafer, and a plurality of structures integrated on the wafer to form a metasurface lens. The metasurface lens is configured to focus the light pulses to the photodiode array and each of the plurality of structures includes at least one dimension that is less than a wavelength of the light pulses.

Abstract: An optical coupler can be provided for coupling a light beam into a waveguide. The optical coupler can include a stepped structure, such as to reduce difficulties during manufacture, reduce expenses associated with manufacture, and additionally, to provide an increased acceptance angle of the optical coupler. The waveguide can include a guiding region where a cladding thickness can be increased relative to a coupling region, such as to reduce losses due to evanescent outcoupling in the guiding region.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for supporting a bezel region of a display device. A display device can include a first substrate and a second substrate coupled by an edge seal. An array of shutter-based display elements can be positioned within an image forming region between the first and second substrates. A plurality of mechanical supports can be positioned within a bezel region outside of the image-rendering region and within the edge seal. Along a side of the bezel region that extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction of shutter motion, adjacent mechanical supports can be separated from one another by a gap that is longer than each of the mechanical supports in the direction perpendicular to the direction of shutter motion.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for optically obstructing inoperable display elements in a display apparatus. In one aspect, a display apparatus can include a plurality of display elements each having a shutter suspended over a substrate. The shutters can be capable of moving into and out of an optical path aligned with at least one aperture formed in a substrate. When a display element is inoperable, the shutter associated with the display element may be unable to block light passing through the aperture. To improve the quality of images formed on the display apparatus, the aperture associated with the inoperable display element can be optically obstructed, so that light directed toward the aperture is blocked even if the shutter is stuck in the open position. In some implementations, the aperture may be optically obstructed by a light-blocking pigment deposited over the aperture.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing actuation voltage and switch time for an electrostatic actuator capable of actuating a light modulator. In one aspect, a light modulator can be formed on a substrate. The light modulator can include an electrostatic actuator. The electrostatic actuator can include a load beam electrode coupled to a shutter of the light modulator, and a drive beam electrode. The drive beam electrode can have a front end and a rear end. An anchor can be coupled to the drive beam and positioned away from the front end and the rear end.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a shutter-based light modulator. The shutter includes at least three depressions extending outward from the surface of the shutter. Any two adjacent depressions of the at least three depressions define a gap therebetween to reduce damping forces caused by fluids in which the shutter is immersed. In some implementations, the at least three depressions can be aligned into more than one row, each row including more than two of the at least three depressions, along the surface of the shutter. In some implementations, to improve structural stability of the shutter, depressions in one row are staggered with respect to depressions in another row.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including microelectromechanical system microphones. In one aspect, the systems include a substrate made of a low dielectric material, such as glass. A layer of semiconductor material extends, substantially continuously over a surface of the substrate and includes an array of display elements that modulate light to form an image and a movable diaphragm that detects acoustic signals. The diaphragm is held away from the substrate by springs that include beams having an aspect ratio of about four to one.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for displaying images on a display. An image-forming region is formed by a plurality of display elements each having a movable shutter component. Images are generated by controlling the shutter component of each of the plurality of display elements to move into open or closed positions depending on a desired light output intensity. Optically inactive display elements are positioned outside of the image-forming region. The position of the movable shutter component of each optically inactive display element is selected based on the next state of the movable component of at least one display element. The optically inactive display elements can increase the speed of the shutter components of display elements by displacing a fluid that surrounds the display elements and the optically inactive display elements.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus utilizing flexures in a display. In some implementations, an electromechanical systems (EMS) device can include flexures that have low stiffness along the axis of motion of a light modulator, and high stiffness in other directions. The flexures may include one or more beams mechanically coupling a MEMS structure to an anchor. The beams may be coupled to a hinge portion, the hinge portion being configured to suppress out of plane motion by the MEMS structure and the flexures. The flexures also may suppress out-of-plane motion using a stiffened portion. The stiffened portion can be mechanically coupled to the hinge portion or at least one beam of the flexure. By varying the cross-section geometry of the stiffened portion, the stiffness of the stiffened portion may be controlled to increase the force required to move the flexure in an out-of-plane direction.