Abstract: A device includes a display and an optical configuration configured to receive display light from the display and direct the display light to a remote viewing location, where the optical configuration includes a lens, the lens includes an optically anisotropic organic solid, and the organic solid includes aligned organic molecular crystals.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least approximately 500,000 g/mol, where the thin film is characterized by transparency within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 80%, bulk haze of less than approximately 5%, and an in-plane elastic modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa. The polymer thin film may be thermally conductive and may be incorporated into an optical element and configured to dissipate heat, such as from a light-emitting device.

Abstract: A composite material includes a polymer matrix and particles of an organic solid crystal material dispersed throughout the polymer matrix, where the particles constitute 10 to 90 percent by weight of the composite material, and the composite material has a refractive index of 1.7 to 2.7 along at least one dimension.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer (e.g., via ?-? interactions) to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 50% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers include polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, as well as derivatives thereof. Example additives, which may occupy up to approximately 10 wt. % of the polymer thin film, include aromatic ester oligomers, aromatic amide oligomers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, for example. The optically anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by a refractive index greater than approximately 1.

Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least approximately 500,000 g/mol, where the thin film is characterized by transparency within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 80%, bulk haze of less than approximately 5%, and an in-plane elastic modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa. The polymer thin film may be thermally conductive and may be incorporated into an optical element and configured to dissipate heat, such as from a light-emitting device.

Abstract: An optical element (e.g., a lens) may include an optically uniaxial or optically biaxial organic solid, for example, an organic molecular solid. The direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid may be aligned substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens. In some examples, a device may include a display and an optical configuration configured to receive light from the display and direct the light to a remote view location. In some examples, the optical configuration may comprise a lens and at least one surface of the lens may include a plurality of facets, for example, to form a Fresnel lens.

Abstract: Mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer fibers may be formed by spinning a polymer solution or gel that includes a high molecular weight crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the spun fibers. The polymer solution may also include a low molecular weight additive. The high and low molecular weight polymers may each be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive is less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. The polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The spun fibers may be oriented, annealed, poled, and woven or laminated to form a polymer thin film having a high elastic modulus and a high electromechanical coupling factor.

Abstract: A display includes a waveguide having a surface, a primary electrode overlying the surface of the waveguide, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a light input coupling element disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, wherein the light input coupling element comprises an organic solid crystal metasurface.

Abstract: A method includes feeding a polymer sheet along a first machine direction through a first roller assembly, where an orientation of first rollers within the first roller assembly is angled with respect to the first machine direction and feeding the polymer sheet along a second machine direction through a second roller assembly, where an orientation of second rollers within the second roller assembly is angled with respect to the second machine direction.

Abstract: A method includes forming a polymer solution having a crystallizable PVDF-family polymer and a liquid solvent, forming a gel from the polymer solution, forming a polymer thin film from the gel by calendering or solid state extrusion, stretching the polymer thin film, and applying an electric field to the polymer thin film to form a poled polymer thin film, where an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of the poled polymer thin film is at least approximately 0.1. The polymer thin film may include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive is less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an organic solid crystal (OSC) material layer, the OSC material layer having a substrate portion and a raised optical element integral with and extending from the substrate portion. The raised optical element may include a passive or active component of the photonic integrated circuit.

Abstract: A multilayer organic thin film includes a plurality of biaxially-oriented layers, where each layer is characterized by mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3. In example structures, the corresponding in-plane refractive indices of adjacent layers may be rotated with respect to each other by a predetermined angle. Such a multilayer may be incorporated into a circular reflective polarizer, for example, which may be used in display systems to provide high broadband efficiency and high off-axis contrast. In an example process, individual organic thin films may be molded, and then oriented and stacked to form a multilayer.

Abstract: A deformable substrate includes first and second sets of layers. The first and second sets of layers encapsulate a channel. Spacers within the channel contact the first and second sets of layers. The channel is bounded by an interior layer of each of the first and second sets of layers that includes a wicking composition, an interior face, and an exterior face. An intermediate layer overlays the exterior face of each of the first and second sets of layers. An exterior layer overlays the intermediate layer of the first set of layers, and an exterior layer overlays the intermediate layer of the second set of layers. The exterior layer of each of the first and second sets of layers includes a first polymeric composition, and the intermediate layer of each of the first and second sets of layers includes a second polymeric composition.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate and a metasurface located over a surface of the substrate. The metasurface may include an organic solid crystal material. A related display includes a waveguide, and a light input coupling element disposed on a surface of the waveguide, where the light input coupling element includes an organic solid crystal metasurface.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic solid crystal material and has mutually orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, nz, each having a value at 589 nm of between 1.5 and 2.6, with ?nxy<?nxz<?nyz, where the organic solid crystal material includes an organic molecule selected from 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2-diphenylethyne, phenazine, terphenyl, 1,2-bis(4-(methylthio)phenyl)ethyne, and anthracene. The organic thin film may be birefringent and may be configured as a single layer thin film, or plural organic thin films may be stacked to form a multilayer that may be incorporated into an optical element, such as a reflective polarizer.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed by gel casting a solution that includes a crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the cast thin film. The thin film may also include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1.

Abstract: A compound article includes an organic solid crystal, a solid workpiece, and a functional adhesive layer located between the organic solid crystal and the solid workpiece, where the functional adhesive layer adheres the organic solid crystal to the solid workpiece.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic solid crystal material and has mutually orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, and nz each having a value at 589 nm of between approximately 1.5 and approximately 2.6, where nx?ny?nz. The organic thin film may be birefringent, and may be configured as a single layer thin film, or plural organic thin films may be stacked to form a multilayer that may be incorporated into an optical element, such as a reflective polarizer.

Abstract: An optical film includes a block copolymer film defining a plurality of helically shaped cavities and a plurality of helically shaped organic solid crystals positioned within the plurality of helically shaped cavities. A method of making the optical film includes obtaining a film of a block copolymer solution including a chiral block copolymer and a non-chiral block copolymer on a substrate. The method includes annealing the film, thereby forming a plurality of helical structures from the chiral block copolymer defined within the non-chiral block copolymer and removing the plurality of helical structures, thereby creating a plurality of helically shaped cavities. The method further includes forming organic solid crystals inside the plurality of helically shaped cavities, thereby forming the optical film.

Abstract: An optical element includes a display device and an angular occlusion filter disposed over at least one surface of the display device. The angular occlusion filter may be configured to modulate one or more of transmission, reflection, and polarization of image or ambient light incident upon the display device.