Abstract: Apparatus for optical sensing includes an illumination assembly, which is configured to direct a first array of beams of optical radiation toward different, respective areas in a target scene while modulating the beams with respective carrier waves having a common carrier frequency and different respective phase angles, which vary across the first array in a predefined spatial pattern. A detection assembly includes a second array of sensing elements, which are configured to output respective signals in response to the optical radiation that is incident on the sensing elements during one or more detection intervals, which are synchronized with the carrier frequency, and objective optics, which are configured to form an image of the target scene on the second array. Processing circuitry processes the signals output by the sensing elements in order to generate a depth map of the target scene.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a substrate, a set of light emitters on the substrate and arranged in a plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups, a set of lenses including a different lens disposed over each axisymmetric light emitter group of the plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups, and a set of optical fibers. At least one optical fiber in the set of optical fibers has a proximal end, a distal end, and a bend between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end is positioned to receive light, through a respective lens in the set of lenses, from the light emitters of a respective axisymmetric light emitter group in the plurality of axisymmetric light emitter groups.

Abstract: A light pipe such as a fiber ribbon may be formed from fibers joined by binder such as extruded binder. The fiber ribbon or other light pipe may have bends. A light source may provide light to an input of a fiber ribbon that is guided by the fiber ribbon to a corresponding output. The output may be located in an interior portion of an electronic device or may be positioned so that light from the output exits the electronic device and illuminates external objects. The light source may have light-emitting devices on a substrate. The light-emitting devices may be vertical cavity surface-emitting laser diodes or other lasers and/or may be light-emitting diodes. Light-emitting devices may be arranged in discrete clusters corresponding to the locations of fiber cores in the fiber ribbon.

Abstract: Apparatus for optical sensing includes an illumination assembly, which is configured to direct a first array of beams of optical radiation toward different, respective areas in a target scene while modulating the beams with respective carrier waves having a common carrier frequency and different respective phase angles, which vary across the first array in a predefined spatial pattern. A detection assembly includes a second array of sensing elements, which are configured to output respective signals in response to the optical radiation that is incident on the sensing elements during one or more detection intervals, which are synchronized with the carrier frequency, and objective optics, which are configured to form an image of the target scene on the second array. Processing circuitry processes the signals output by the sensing elements in order to generate a depth map of the target scene.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a primary radiation source, which emits first optical radiation along a first optical axis. A DOE includes at least an entrance surface, upon which the first optical radiation from the primary radiation source is incident, and an exit surface, through which one or more primary diffraction orders of the first optical radiation are emitted from the DOE. At least one secondary radiation source is configured to direct second optical radiation to impinge on the DOE along a second optical axis, which is non-parallel to the first optical axis, causing at least a part of the second optical radiation to be diffracted by the DOE such that one or more secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation are emitted through the entrance face of the DOE. At least one detector is configured to sense at least one of the secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a diffractive optical element (DOE), having at least one optical surface, a side surface, which is not parallel to the at least one optical surface of the DOE, and a grating, which is formed on the at least one optical surface so as to receive and diffract first radiation from a primary radiation source that is incident on the grating. The apparatus further includes at least one secondary radiation source, which is configured to direct second radiation to impinge on the side surface, causing at least part of the second radiation to propagate within the DOE while diffracting internally from the grating and to exit through the side surface. The apparatus also includes at least one radiation detector, which is positioned so as to receive and sense an intensity of the second radiation that has exited through the side surface.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a diffractive optical element (DOE), having at least one optical surface, a side surface, which is not parallel to the at least one optical surface of the DOE, and a grating, which is formed on the at least one optical surface so as to receive and diffract first radiation from a primary radiation source that is incident on the grating. The apparatus further includes at least one secondary radiation source, which is configured to direct second radiation to impinge on the side surface, causing at least part of the second radiation to propagate within the DOE while diffracting internally from the grating and to exit through the side surface. The apparatus also includes at least one radiation detector, which is positioned so as to receive and sense an intensity of the second radiation that has exited through the side surface.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a primary radiation source, which emits first optical radiation along a first optical axis. A DOE includes at least an entrance surface, upon which the first optical radiation from the primary radiation source is incident, and an exit surface, through which one or more primary diffraction orders of the first optical radiation are emitted from the DOE. At least one secondary radiation source is configured to direct second optical radiation to impinge on the DOE along a second optical axis, which is non-parallel to the first optical axis, causing at least a part of the second optical radiation to be diffracted by the DOE such that one or more secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation are emitted through the entrance face of the DOE. At least one detector is configured to sense at least one of the secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a diffractive optical element (DOE), having at least one optical surface, a side surface, which is not parallel to the at least one optical surface of the DOE, and a grating, which is formed on the at least one optical surface so as to receive and diffract first radiation that is incident on the grating. The apparatus further includes at least one secondary radiation source, which is configured to direct second radiation to impinge on the side surface, causing at least part of the second radiation to propagate within the DOE while diffracting internally from the grating and to exit through the side surface. The apparatus also includes at least one radiation detector, which is positioned so as to receive and sense an intensity of the second radiation that has exited through the side surface.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a primary radiation source, which emits first optical radiation along a first optical axis. A DOE includes at least an entrance surface, upon which the first optical radiation from the primary radiation source is incident, and an exit surface, through which one or more primary diffraction orders of the first optical radiation are emitted from the DOE. At least one secondary radiation source is configured to direct second optical radiation to impinge on the DOE along a second optical axis, which is non-parallel to the first optical axis, causing at least a part of the second optical radiation to be diffracted by the DOE such that one or more secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation are emitted through the entrance face of the DOE. At least one detector is configured to sense at least one of the secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a diffractive optical element (DOE), having at least one optical surface, a side surface, which is not parallel to the at least one optical surface of the DOE, and a grating, which is formed on the at least one optical surface so as to receive and diffract first radiation that is incident on the grating. The apparatus further includes at least one secondary radiation source, which is configured to direct second radiation to impinge on the side surface, causing at least part of the second radiation to propagate within the DOE while diffracting internally from the grating and to exit through the side surface. The apparatus also includes at least one radiation detector, which is positioned so as to receive and sense an intensity of the second radiation that has exited through the side surface.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a primary radiation source, which emits first optical radiation along a first optical axis. A DOE includes at least an entrance surface, upon which the first optical radiation from the primary radiation source is incident, and an exit surface, through which one or more primary diffraction orders of the first optical radiation are emitted from the DOE. At least one secondary radiation source is configured to direct second optical radiation to impinge on the DOE along a second optical axis, which is non-parallel to the first optical axis, causing at least a part of the second optical radiation to be diffracted by the DOE such that one or more secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation are emitted through the entrance face of the DOE. At least one detector is configured to sense at least one of the secondary diffraction orders of the second optical radiation.

Abstract: Optical disks are formed using mother stampers having a spiral groove and/or a spiral pattern of pits corresponding to the pattern from an original laser cut. The mother stamper is the mirror image of the corresponding father stamper. Injection molding of polycarbonate material or other suitable material using the mother stamper forms an optical disk having lands and bumps corresponding to the original laser cut. A phase-change material having constructive change in phase and thickness is deposited over the polycarbonate material to create the disk. Data is written to and read from the lands, and tracking is performed on the wobbled lands.

Abstract: A phase-difference sensor measures the spatially resolved difference in phase between orthogonally polarized reference and test wavefronts. The sensor is constructed as a linear-carrier phase-mask aligned to and imaged on a linear-carrier detector array. Each adjacent element of the phase-mask measures a predetermined relative phase shift between the orthogonally polarized reference and test beams. Thus, multiple phase-shifted interferograms can be synthesized at the same time by combining pixels with identical phase-shifts. The multiple phase-shifted interferograms can be combined to calculate standard parameters such as modulation index or average phase step. Any configuration of interferometer that produces orthogonally polarized reference and object beams may be combined with the phase-difference sensor of the invention to provide single-shot, simultaneous phase-shifting measurements.

Abstract: An optical storage disc has portions for storing pre-recorded or mastered information and portions for storing user writable information, where the mastered portion and the writable portions have different storage capacities or areal data densities. During manufacture, a substrate is formed with a sequence of bumps to represent the mastered information and a series of grooves and lands, where information can later be written on the lands. A phase-change material is deposited over the substrate, the phase-change material changing both physical structure and optical constants when written to, e.g., by a laser.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical data storage medium with enhanced contrast. The optical data storage medium includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces. A first metal/alloy layer is formed overlaying the first surface of the substrate. The first metal/alloy layer is formed from tin, antimony and element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc. After the first metal/alloy layer is formed, a first dielectric layer is formed overlaying the first metal/alloy layer. This dielectric layer is formed from silicon oxynitride. The first metal/alloy layer is positioned between the substrate and the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A first surface optical disk is disclosed that has machine readable code information, such as bar code information, disposed thereon to permit a disk drive or other device to obtain certain basic information regarding the disk in an efficient and reliable manner. The machine readable code may include error detection and error correction code to correct errors, such as those caused by surface dust, that may arise during reading the machine readable code. The machine readable code may be disposed within a portion of a ring on the optical disk. Human readable alphanumeric characters, including graphics, identifying the side of the optical disk and other basic information may also be disposed within the ring.

Abstract: A digital optical information disk contains content and/or non-content information on both sides of a single substrate produced by a process that embosses the surfaces of both sides substantially simultaneously. Simultaneous molding substantially eliminates the need for lamination when two or more data layers are to be provided. Preferably, the disk is relatively small, such as less than 50 mm in diameter and can replicate marks or features with a z-dimension magnitude of about 80 mm or more. The disk remains within a specified opto-mechanical range of an optical transducer and has little, if any, non-planarity (warp) or other distortion. The disk can be used for reading pre-written or mastered content, e.g., in a user's device, and/or can include information or features that permits or supports utility functions, allowing the user to record data thereon such as tracking, sector, location, timing, synchronization features or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An optical disk has a multi-layer tuned optical coating overlying both small bumps to store pre-recorded information and lands onto which information is written to and read. The optical coating includes a phase-change metal/alloy layer formed over the disk substrate and a dielectric layer formed over the phase-change layer. An optical disk according to the invention has specific topological features and sizes.

Abstract: An optical data storage/recording medium is provided with a thin film adjacent a data surface. Potential undesired effects of the presence or thickness of the thin film are adjusted for or compensated for to reduce or eliminate the undesired effects. In one aspect, the (uncoated) physical size of data layer features are adjusted so as to produce desired as-detected sizes, shapes or spacings, after a coating or thin film is present. In one aspect, length and/or width of raised features have an uncoated physical size less than the desired as-detected size. In one aspect, depressed features have uncoated physical dimensions greater than desired as-detected dimensions.