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: A solar reflective coating includes a reflective layer and a black layer overlying the reflective layer, where the black layer includes active particles dispersed throughout a matrix. Example active particles include phosphor microcrystals adapted to reflect incident non-visible radiation and convert incident visible radiation to non-visible radiation.

Abstract: The disclosure includes near-eye optical elements configured to suppress stray infrared light. Infrared light sources illuminate an eyebox area. A combiner layer may receive reflected infrared light and direct the reflected infrared light to a camera.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive layer has a first curvature when zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a second curvature when a non-zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode.

Abstract: A method includes applying a stress to a polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a first in-plane direction, and subsequently applying a stress to the polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a second in-plane direction orthogonal to the first in-plane direction to form an ultra-high modulus polymer thin film. Calendaring or hot pressing of the ultra-high modulus polymer thin film may improve its optical and/or thermal properties.

Abstract: A liquid lens includes a substrate, a transparent elastic membrane forming a cavity with the substrate, and a transparent fluid filling the cavity between the substrate and the membrane. The membrane has a pre-distorted, rotationally asymmetric shape in absence of the fluid in the cavity. When the cavity is filled with the fluid and the substrate is disposed vertically w.r.t. gravity at a pre-defined clocking angle, the membrane adopts a substantially rotationally symmetric shape due to elasticity of the membrane counteracting gravity exerting a downward force on the fluid in the cavity, reducing the effect of the gravity sag on optical performance of the liquid lens.

Abstract: A high voltage-driven system includes a high voltage optical transformer and a high voltage driven device, where the high voltage optical transformer is located in close proximity to the high voltage driven device. A high voltage connection between the high voltage optical transformer and the high voltage driven device may be shorter than a low voltage connection between the high voltage optical transformer and a low voltage power source used to control the transformer.

Abstract: According to examples, an energy harvesting component for an optical device having an illumination source emitting unused light is described. The apparatus may include a light source to generate and transmit display light comprising at least one beam of light and an illumination source component to receive the at least one beam of light and to diffract the at least one beam of light in a first direction and an opposing direction. The apparatus may further include and an energy harvesting component to receive and absorb the at least one beam of light diffracted in an opposing direction and to convert the at least one beam of light diffracted in an opposing direction into electrical energy.

Abstract: A liquid lens includes a substrate, a transparent elastic membrane forming a cavity with the substrate, and a transparent fluid filling the cavity between the substrate and the membrane. The membrane has a pre-distorted, rotationally asymmetric shape in absence of the fluid in the cavity. When the cavity is filled with the fluid and the substrate is disposed vertically w.r.t. gravity at a pre-defined clocking angle, the membrane adopts a substantially rotationally symmetric shape due to elasticity of the membrane counteracting gravity exerting a downward force on the fluid in the cavity, reducing the effect of the gravity sag on optical performance of the liquid lens.

Abstract: A light source structure includes a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device having a top surface and at least one side surface substantially perpendicular to and adjoining the top surface. The VCSEL device is configurable to output directed emission of light through the top surface. The light source structure also includes a light barrier surrounding at least a top portion of the VCSEL device and separated from the at least one side surface. The light barrier is configured to receive spontaneous emission out of the VCSEL device through the at least one side surface.

Abstract: An optically clear, high strength, high modulus, and high thermal conductivity polyethylene thin film may be formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the crystallizable polymer to facilitate crystallite alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polyethylene thin film. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers may include high molecular weight polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Example additives may include low molecular weight polyethylene and polyethylene oligomers. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a Young's modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film is formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film and its method of manufacture may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example polymers may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. Example additives may occupy up to approximately 60 wt. % of the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least approximately 5 pC/N or an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.1.

Abstract: A lighting assembly may include a light source and a reflective polarizer overlapping the light source. A portion of light that is incident on the reflective polarizer may not pass through the reflective polarizer and may be reflected back to the light source. The light source may include at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), a micro-LED, an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a micro-OLED, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), or an fLCoS light source. The reflective polarizer may include a polymer birefringent multilayer structure of alternating first layers and second layers. The first layers may each include an isotropic polymer thin film the second layers each include an anisotropic polymer thin film. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-voltage optical transformer may include (1) an array of light-emitting devices that are connected in parallel with one another and are electrically coupled to an electrical input, (2) a transfer medium, and (3) an array of photovoltaic cells that (A) are optically coupled to the array of light-emitting devices via the transfer medium, (B) are connected in series with one another, and (C) produce an electrical output whose voltage is higher than the electrical input. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid lens with flexible transparent active layers on both sides of a fluid is transformed along two distinct deformation axes. The flexible transparent active layers include piezoelectric materials that actuate the lens in response to applied voltage(s). The piezoelectric properties and actuation mechanism of the transparent layers are arranged to deform the lens cylindrically along different axes resulting in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with substantially less distortion than spherically deforming layers. The piezoelectric active layers may be polymer or ceramic with isotropic or anisotropic mechanical stiffness. Alternatively, a pair of transparent, internal layers are positioned between the front and rear surfaces. The active layers, front and/or rear, are dual layers affixed together with an adhesive or single layers.

Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer article is formed from a crystallizable fluoropolymer and a nucleating agent. The polymer article may be a thin film or a fiber, for example. A crystalline phase may constitute at least approximately 50% of the polymer article. In certain examples, a fluoropolymer may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. The polymer article may include up to approximately 10 wt. % of the nucleating agent. Such a polymer article is optically transparent, has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 3 GPa, and an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.15.

Abstract: A multilayer polymer thin film includes an anti-reflective coating directly overlying a reflective polarizer stack. The reflective polarizer stack includes alternating first and second polymer layers, where the first layers include an isotropic polymer thin film and the second layers include an anisotropic polymer thin film. The anti-reflective coating (ARC) includes alternating third and fourth layers, where the third layers include an isotropic polymer thin film or an anisotropic polymer thin film and the fourth layers include an isotropic polymer thin film. The multilayer polymer thin film may be formed by co-extrusion where the reflective polarizer stack and the anti-reflective coating are formed simultaneously.

Abstract: An actuator may be integrated into an optical element such as a liquid lens and configured to create spherical curvature as well as a variable cylinder radius and axis in a surface of the optical element. An example actuator may include a stack of electromechanical layers, and electrodes configured to apply an electric field independently across each of the electromechanical layers. Within the stack, an orientation of neighboring electromechanical layers may differ, e.g., stepwise, by at least approximately 10°.

Abstract: A liquid lens includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer polyurethane-based membrane overlying the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer polyurethane-based membrane. The multilayer polyurethane-based membrane, which may include thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer layers, may be formed by slot die coating or gravure coating one or more constituent layers and may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 5% while limiting the transpiration of fluid therethrough to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.

Abstract: A liquid lens architecture includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based membrane overlying at least a portion of the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane-based membrane. The TPU-based membrane may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 2% and is configured to limit the transpiration of fluid to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.