Abstract: An exposure system (5) for fabricating optical film (40) such as for photoalignment, where the optical film (40) has a photosensitive layer (20) and a substrate (10). The exposure system (5) directs an exposure beam from a light source (1) through the optical film (40), then uses a reflective surface (58) to reflect the exposure energy back through the optical film (40) to enhance or otherwise further condition the photoreaction of the photosensitive layer (20).

Abstract: A monocentric autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) for viewing a virtual image, electronically generated and projected on a curved surface. For each left and right image component, a separate optical system comprises an image generation system (70l, 70r) and projection system (72), the projection system comprising a spherical diffusive surface (40) and a spherical gradient-index ball lens assembly (31) to provide wide field of view. A monocentric arrangement of optical components images the ball lens pupil (48) at the viewing pupil (14) and essentially provides a single center of curvature (C) for projection components. Use of such a monocentric arrangement, diffusive surface (40), and ball lens (30) provides an exceptionally wide field of view with large viewing pupil (14).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (50) for generating an image signal from incident light with higher spatial frequencies of the incident light limited to reduce undersampling artifacts. Apparatus (50) includes a detector plane (62) for generating the image signal from an array of photosites, (63) and an optical section having a relatively thin lithium niobate rhomboidal filter (51) interposed in the path of the incident light so as to produce a blurred image on the photosites. A filter configuration is disclosed which produces four spots (58) at the imaging sensors (62) positioned at the corners of a rhombus.

Abstract: A brightness enhancement film comprises an array of tapered structures, each said tapered structure having a light input aperture and a larger light output aperture. The inner side-wall of each said tapered structure is adapted to reflect off-axis light from the light guiding plate incident at said input aperture to said output aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of printing images (10) onto a photosensitive media (140) using multiple reflective spatial light modulators. In the apparatus and method, illumination optics (25) uniformize and image light from at least one light source through polarization beamsplitting elements (80). The polarization beamsplitting elements (80) divide the illumination light into two polarization states. One polarization state of the illumination light illuminates the reflective spatial light modulators in a telecentric manner. The reflective spatial light modulators are addressed with image data signals. The reflective spatial light modulators modulate the polarized illumination light on a site by site basis and reflect the modulated light back through the polarized beamsplitting elements (80). The modulated light beams are combined to form an image, which is directed through a print lens (110) to expose a photosensitive media (140).

Abstract: A system for processing a multilayer liquid crystal film display material, with multiple irradiation apparatus (60) for applying a zone of polarized UV irradiation onto a substrate fed from a web (16) with incident light at a desired angle. Each irradiation apparatus (60) includes a UV light source (64), and one or more optional filters (82). A polarizer (90) is provided, sized and arranged to polarize light over the web (16) as it moves. The irradiation apparatus (60) employs an array of louvers (81) and/or a prism array (72). One irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates a first LPP1 layer (22) at a 0-degree alignment, in the web movement direction, the other irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates an LPP2 layer (26) with an orthogonal 90-degree alignment.

Abstract: A projection display apparatus (10) uses a modulation optical system (200) that includes a liquid crystal device (210) in combination with a wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240), a wire grid polarization analyzer (270) and a projection lens (285) to form an image. In order to achieve high contrast and maintain high brightness levels, a compensator (260) is provided for minimizing leakage light for pixels in the black (OFF) state. A number of configurations are possible, such as with the compensator (260) disposed in the optical path between the liquid crystal device (210) and the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240) and with a secondary compensator (265) disposed between wire grid polarization analyzer (270) and the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240).

Abstract: A projection display apparatus (10) uses a modulation optical system (200) that includes a liquid crystal device (210) in combination with a wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240), a wire grid polarization analyzer (270) and a projection lens (285) to form an image. In order to achieve high contrast and maintain high brightness levels, a compensator (260) is provided for minimizing leakage light for pixels in the black (OFF) state. A number of configurations are possible, such as with the compensator (260) disposed in the optical path between the liquid crystal device (210) and the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240) and with a secondary compensator (265) disposed between wire grid polarization analyzer (270) and the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (240).

Abstract: A system for processing a multilayer liquid crystal film display material, with multiple irradiation apparatus (60) for applying a zone of polarized UV irradiation onto a substrate fed from a web (16) with incident light at a desired angle. Each irradiation apparatus (60) includes a UV light source (64), and one or more optional filters (82). A polarizer (90) is provided, sized and arranged to polarize light over the web (16) as it moves. The irradiation apparatus (60) employs an array of louvers (81) and/or a prism array (72). One irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates a first LPP1 layer (22) at a 0-degree alignment, in the web movement direction, the other irradiation apparatus (60) irradiates an LPP2 layer (26) with an orthogonal 90-degree alignment.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprises a left image to be viewed by an observer (12) at a left viewing pupil (14l) and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil (14r). The apparatus comprises a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image. A right pupil imaging system forms the right image.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a curved diffusive surface (32) comprises an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light along an axis, a relay lens (54) for directing the image-bearing light toward the curved diffusive surface (32), and, a field lens (120) for redirecting off-axis image-bearing light toward the center of curvature of the curved diffusive surface (32).

Abstract: An autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) for viewing a stereoscopic virtual image comprises a left image to be viewed by an observer (12) at a left viewing pupil (14l) and a right image to be viewed by the observer at a right viewing pupil (14r). The apparatus comprises a left pupil imaging system for forming the left image. A right pupil imaging system forms the right image.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a curved diffusive surface (32) comprises an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light along an axis, a relay lens (54) for directing the image-bearing light toward the curved diffusive surface (32), and, a field lens (120) for redirecting off-axis image-bearing light toward the center of curvature of the curved diffusive surface (32).

Abstract: A brightness enhancement article for conditioning luminance from a light source (18) in a viewing direction is provided. A prism surface side (44) collects light from the light providing surface (14), where, in one embodiment, the prism surface side (44) has a series of substantially parallel grooves (30) forming a series of longitudinal trapezoidal prism elements (38). Each trapezoidal prism element (38) has a face plane (46) disposed toward the light source (18) and first and second legs (34,36) extending back from said face plane (46), respectively, forming first and second base angles ? with the face plane (46), where both first and second base angles ? satisfy: 90 degrees<base angle ?<120 degrees.

Abstract: A display apparatus for providing an image on a curved display surface includes a line image generation apparatus for generating a modulated line image, where the line image generation apparatus includes a laser light source for providing an illumination beam, a linear spatial light modulator for modulating the illumination beam to provide a modulated line image as at least one diffracted order of the illumination beam, a projection lens for directing the modulated line image toward a line image scanner for scanning the modulated light beam to form a two-dimensional image on the curved display surface, wherein the line image scanner is optically disposed near the center of curvature of the curved display surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a curved diffusive surface (32) comprises an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light along an axis, a relay lens (54) for directing the image-bearing light toward the curved diffusive surface (32), and, a field lens (120) for redirecting off-axis image-bearing light toward the center of curvature of the curved diffusive surface (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a curved diffusive surface (32) comprises an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light along an axis, a relay lens (54) for directing the image-bearing light toward the curved diffusive surface (32), and, a field lens (120) for redirecting off-axis image-bearing light toward the center of curvature of the curved diffusive surface (32).

Abstract: An autostereoscopic optical apparatus (10) provides a stereoscopic virtual image to be viewed by an observer at a left viewing pupil (14l) and a right viewing pupil (14r). Apparatus (10) has left and right image generation systems (100l) for forming left and right curved images, each image generation system having a curved mirror (92), a beamsplitter (102) disposed between the vertex of the curved mirror (92) and the mirror's center of curvature, and an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light to the curved mirror (92). The curved mirror (92) cooperates with the beamsplitter to form an intermediate image of the image source (94). A field lens (112) is disposed near the intermediate image for imaging the mirror center of curvature toward the image center of curvature. A ball lens segment (130) is centered at the image center of curvature for forming the curved image from the intermediate image.

Abstract: An optical converter and method for making same is provided. In accordance with the method, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and methods for fabrication of an optical converter. In one aspect of the invention a method for forming an optical converter is provided. In accordance with this method at least two light guide ribbon structures are provided, with each light guide ribbon structure formed by the steps of roll molding a substrate having a pattern of channels with each channel extending from an input edge to an output edge of said substrate and forming light guides extending along each of the channels from the input edge to the output edge. The at least two light guide ribbon structures are assembled in a stacked arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a curved diffusive surface (32) comprises an image source (94) for providing image-bearing light along an axis, a relay lens (54) for directing the image-bearing light toward the curved diffusive surface (32), and, a field lens (120) for redirecting off-axis image-bearings light toward the center of curvature of the curved diffusive surface (32).