Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for fabricating optical devices. The apparatus includes a support table having process chambers and a laser used to direct a beam along a propagation path to each of the process chambers. A central mirror is centrally disposed among the process chambers and is rotatable to reflect the beam to each of the process chambers for processing. A beam splitter is disposed within each of process chambers, each beam splitter is used to receive beams from the central mirror and emits a first beam in a first direction and a second beam in a second direction. A first mirror directs the first beam to a device and a second mirror directs the second beam to the device. Each of the first and second mirror is rotatable in at least three axes.

Abstract: A solenoid valve having a solenoid body with a solenoid receiving cavity and a flow receiving passage. A solenoid assembly is provided in the solenoid receiving cavity. A valve is provided in the flow receiving passage. An armature extends from the solenoid to the valve. The solenoid valve also includes a control circuitry, a power connection and a bidirectional communications connection. At least one sensor is provided in the flow receiving passage. The at least one sensor is in communication with the control circuitry. When in operation, power is continuously supplied through the power connection and the actuation of the solenoid valve is initiated by the bidirectional communications connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for fabricating optical devices. The apparatus includes a support table having process chambers and a laser used to direct a beam along a propagation path to each of the process chambers. A central mirror is centrally disposed among the process chambers and is rotatable to reflect the beam to each of the process chambers for processing. A beam splitter is disposed within each of process chambers, each beam splitter is used to receive beams from the central mirror and emits a first beam in a first direction and a second beam in a second direction. A first mirror directs the first beam to a device and a second mirror directs the second beam to the device. Each of the first and second mirror is rotatable in at least three axes.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for manufacturing wire grid polarizers (WGP) using Markle-Dyson exposure systems and dual tone development (DTD) frequency doubling. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing a photoresist layer over an aluminum-coated display substrate, patterning the photoresist layer by dual tone development using a Markle-Dyson system to form a photoresist pattern, and transferring the photoresist pattern into the aluminum-coated display substrate to manufacture a WGP having finer pitch, for example less than or equal to about 100 nm, and increased frequency.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a projection system, and a software application and a method related thereto. A system includes a pixelated light source and an optical relay. The pixelated light source includes an array of spatial light modulator pixels. Each spatial light modulator pixel being individually controllable to selectively project a beam of light. The optical relay includes an optically reflective surface and an actuator coupled to the optically reflective surface. The actuator is configured to move the optically reflective surface. The pixelated light source and the optical relay are configured such that one or more beams projected from the pixelated light source are reflected off of the optically reflective surface and form an image of the optical relay in a focal plane. Movement of the optically reflective surface causes the respective beams to be at varying locations in the focal plane.

Abstract: A lithography system for generating grating structures is provided having a multiple column imaging system located on a bridge capable of moving in a cross-scan direction, a mask having a grating pattern with a fixed spatial frequency located in an object plane of the imaging system, a multiple line alignment mark aligned to the grating pattern and having a fixed spatial frequency, a platen configured to hold and scan a substrate, a scanning system configured to move the platen over a distance greater than a desired length of the grating pattern on the substrate, a longitudinal encoder scale attached to the platen and oriented in a scan direction and at least two encoder scales attached to the platen and arrayed in the cross-scan direction wherein the scales contain periodically spaced alignment marks having a fixed spatial frequency.

Abstract: A lithography system for generating grating structures is provided having a multiple column imaging system located on a bridge capable of moving in a cross-scan direction, a mask having a grating pattern with a fixed spatial frequency located in an object plane of the imaging system, a multiple line alignment mark aligned to the grating pattern and having a fixed spatial frequency, a platen configured to hold and scan a substrate, a scanning system configured to move the platen over a distance greater than a desired length of the grating pattern on the substrate, a longitudinal encoder scale attached to the platen and oriented in a scan direction and at least two encoder scales attached to the platen and arrayed in the cross-scan direction wherein the scales contain periodically spaced alignment marks having a fixed spatial frequency.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for manufacturing wire grid polarizers for LCDs using interference lithography, which are also useful for generating large-area grating patterns. In one embodiment, a method includes depositing a bottom anti-reflective coating layer over an aluminum coated flat panel display substrate, depositing a photoresist layer over the bottom anti-reflective coating layer, and exposing the photoresist layer with an image from a phase grating mask. The exposure with the phase grating mask is done by imaging the ±1 diffraction orders from the phase grating mask onto the substrate using a half Dyson optical system. A plurality of half Dyson systems are generally used in parallel to pattern fine geometry lines and spaces of a wire grid polarizer for a large area substrate. Each half Dyson system includes a primary mirror, a positive lens and a reticle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for producing images on substrates. The method includes providing a p-polarization beam to a first mirror cube having a first digital micromirror device (DMD), providing an s-polarization beam to a second mirror cube having a second DMD, and reflecting the p-polarization beam off the first DMD and reflecting the s-polarization beam off the second DMD such that the p-polarization beam and the s-polarization beam are reflected towards a light altering device configured to produce a plurality of superimposed images on the substrate.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a 3-D, super-resolution model of an object in an image space is provided as well as novel and nonobvious components thereof. The system includes a light source that constrains uninhibited activation light to a thin slice through the object, the object having a volume that is perpendicular to an axis of a 2-D super-resolution microscope, a means for providing relative incremental movement between the object and the thin slice of constrained uninhibited activation light, and a means for taking a super resolution picture of each incremental slice resulting from the relative incremental movement between the object and the thin slice, thereby creating a set of voxels from which an accurate 3-D super-resolution model of any fluorescent object contained within the image space can be constructed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for producing images on substrates. The method includes providing a p-polarization beam to a first mirror cube having a first digital micromirror device (DMD), providing an s-polarization beam to a second mirror cube having a second DMD, and reflecting the p-polarization beam off the first DMD and reflecting the s-polarization beam off the second DMD such that the p-polarization beam and the s-polarization beam are reflected towards a light altering device configured to produce a plurality of superimposed images on the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatuses and systems for performing photolithography processes. More particularly, compact apparatuses for projecting an image onto a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, an image projection apparatus includes a light pipe coupled to a first mounting plate, and a frustrated prism assembly, one or more digital micro-mirror devices, one or more beamsplitters, and one or more projection optics, which are coupled to a second mounting plate. The first and second mounting plates are coplanar, such that the image projection apparatus is compact and may be aligned in a system having a plurality of image projection apparatuses, each of which is easily removable and replaceable.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for manufacturing wire grid polarizers for LCDs using interference lithography, which are also useful for generating large-area grating patterns. In one embodiment, a method includes depositing a bottom anti-reflective coating layer over an aluminum coated flat panel display substrate, depositing a photoresist layer over the bottom anti-reflective coating layer, and exposing the photoresist layer with an image from a phase grating mask. The exposure with the phase grating mask is done by imaging the ±1 diffraction orders from the phase grating mask onto the substrate using a half Dyson optical system. A plurality of half Dyson systems are generally used in parallel to pattern fine geometry lines and spaces of a wire grid polarizer for a large area substrate. Each half Dyson system includes a primary mirror, a positive lens and a reticle.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to a light pipe, or kaleido, for homogenizing light such that the light is uniform once the light exits the light pipe. By reflecting the light inside the light pipe, light uniformity is increased. In one implementation, a light pipe for an image projection apparatus is provided. The light pipe comprises an elongated rectangular body having a refractive index that provides total internal reflection within the elongated rectangular body. The elongated rectangular body has an input face for accepting light into the elongated rectangular body. The input face disposed substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated rectangular body. The elongated rectangular body has an output face for releasing light from the elongated rectangular body. The output face is disposed substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The elongated rectangular body has a twist along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for manufacturing wire grid polarizers (WGP) using Markle-Dyson exposure systems and dual tone development (DTD) frequency doubling. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing a photoresist layer over an aluminum-coated display substrate, patterning the photoresist layer by dual tone development using a Markle-Dyson system to form a photoresist pattern, and transferring the photoresist pattern into the aluminum-coated display substrate to manufacture a WGP having finer pitch, for example less than or equal to about 100 nm, and increased frequency.

Abstract: An illumination system and methods for controlling the illumination system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of illumination sources, monitoring optical output power of the plurality of illumination sources over a period of time, and controlling the plurality of illumination sources to maintain a predetermined level of optical output power. The method further includes compensating for degradations of one or more of the plurality of illumination sources to maintain the predetermined level of optical output power, predicting a lifetime of the illumination system based on the parameters of the plurality of illumination sources, and performing periodic maintenance of the plurality of illumination sources according to a quality control schedule.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to a light pipe, or kaleido, for homogenizing light such that the light is uniform once the light exits the light pipe. By reflecting the light inside the light pipe, light uniformity is increased. In one implementation, a light pipe for an image projection apparatus is provided. The light pipe comprises an elongated rectangular body having a refractive index that provides total internal reflection within the elongated rectangular body. The elongated rectangular body has an input face for accepting light into the elongated rectangular body. The input face disposed substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated rectangular body. The elongated rectangular body has an output face for releasing light from the elongated rectangular body. The output face is disposed substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The elongated rectangular body has a twist along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to frustrated cube assemblies having a first prism having a first surface, a second surface, and a first hypotenuse, and a second prism having a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second hypotenuse. The first and second hypotenuses face one another and are separated by an air gap. The frustrated cube assembly may include a tilted mirror adjacent the second surface. The second surface may be a reflective diffraction grating. Light is reflected to a digital micromirror device (DMD) adjacent to the frustrated cube assembly at a normal incidence angle and through an image projection system along a single optical axis. The direction of light incident on the DMD is such that light reflected from an “on” mirror is directed along the normal to the DMD surface and at 45 degrees to the hypotenuses. The input and output light beams are parallel.

Abstract: An herbal grinder and reservoir having a conical shape wherein said herbal grinder comprises a top grinding cap and a grinding section comprising a plurality of grinding knives; and wherein said grinding section comprises a plate having a drop through pattern for allowing ground material to exit the grinding section and fall into the reservoir.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator imaging system is disclosed. The system comprises an illumination module configured to provide illumination light representing data patterns to be imaged by the spatial light modulator imaging system, a projection module configured to project the illumination light to a substrate, and an illumination-projection beam separator coupled between the illumination module and the projection module, where the illumination-projection beam separator is configured to receive the illumination light along an illumination optical axis and transmit the illumination light received to the projection module along a projection optical axis, and where the illumination optical axis and the projection optical axis are substantially parallel to each other.