Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for detecting a contaminant on a substrate are discussed herein. Variations of such systems, devices, and methods may include one or more illumination sources that emit illumination at one or more desired wavelength ranges to illuminate one or more areas on the substrate; where the desired wavelength range is one that is absorbed by the contaminant while causing the substrate to fluoresce. Such fluorescence may be detected with a visible-spectrum detector, which will also detect the contaminant as a darker contrast area against the fluorescence. In some variations, an illumination source includes a broad-spectrum light source and a waveband filtering device that filters all but the desired illumination waveband out of the broad-spectrum light generated by the broad-spectrum light source.

Abstract: Mechanisms for validating the authenticity of an item. A reader device records authentication data that is obscured in a label. The authentication data is provided to a remote authentication server via a network. The reader device receives, from the remote authentication server, an authentication response based on the authentication data. Based at least in part on the authentication response, the reader device displays an indication that identifies whether the item is authentic.

Abstract: A system for projecting to a viewing surface includes an illumination source to project a first image onto the viewing surface along a beam path, an LCD, with at least one pixel having a polarization rotation profile that approaches zero at an edge, for placement in the beam path of the illumination source to the viewing surface to transmit the first image in a first polarization state through the LCD to the viewing surface and to propagate a second image in a second polarization state from the LCD to the viewing surface, and a first polarization filter to provide the first image in the first polarization state prior to the first image being transmitted through the LCD. At least one of the first image in the first polarization state and the second image in the second polarization state is in a non-detectable polarization state when illuminated upon the viewing surface.

Abstract: Mechanisms for clipping, or diverting, a portion of a projected light stream and seamlessly recombining the diverted portion with the projected light stream on a display surface are disclosed. A reflective surface having a shape diverts a portion of a projected light stream from a first optical path between a projector and a display surface to an imaging system outside of the first optical path. The imaging system focuses the portion at a focal plane that is coplanar with the display surface to generate a focused portion based at least on a distance between the imaging system and the display surface. The focused portion is issued through an aperture having the shape to combine the focused portion with the projected light stream on the display surface.

Abstract: Mechanisms for adding content to a projected light stream are disclosed. A polarization rotation panel receives content and generates a polarization rotation pattern based on the content. The polarization rotation panel receives at least a first portion of a first projected light stream that has a first polarization orientation. The first polarization orientation of a sub-portion of the at least the first portion of the first projected light stream is rotated an offset amount to a first offset polarization orientation in accordance with the polarization rotation pattern, and the at least the first portion of the first projected light stream and the sub-portion are issued in a downstream direction.

Abstract: A system for projecting to a viewing surface including an illumination source to project a first image onto the viewing surface along a beam path, a focusing system to focus the first image, provided in a first polarization state and projected from the illumination source, at a first image plane along the beam path between the illumination source and the viewing surface, a transmissive LCD, through which the first image is transmitted, for placement in the beam path at the first image plane with the LCD further configured to propagate a second image, provided in a second polarization state, and a first polarized filter configured to provide the first image in the first polarization state before the first image is transmitted through the LCD. At least one of the first image and the second image is in a non-detectable polarization state when illuminated upon the viewing surface.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for detecting a contaminant on a substrate are discussed herein. Variations of such systems, devices, and methods may include one or more illumination sources that emit illumination at one or more desired wavelength ranges to illuminate one or more areas on the substrate; where the desired wavelength range is one that is absorbed by the contaminant while causing the substrate to fluoresce. Such fluorescence may be detected with a visible-spectrum detector, which will also detect the contaminant as a darker contrast area against the fluorescence. In some variations, an illumination source includes a broad-spectrum light source and a waveband filtering device that filters all but the desired illumination waveband out of the broad-spectrum light generated by the broad-spectrum light source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing high-energy, pico-second laser pulses are disclosed. Systems and methods include using a modelocked laser source to drive an OPO (optical parametric oscillator) and an OPA (optical parametric amplifier) such that the OPA and OPO self-synchronize without the use of separate synchronization components and produce high-energy output without requiring pulse stretchers or pulse compressors, making the laser system viable for portability and vehicle mounting from both cost and durability standpoints.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for detecting a contaminant on a substrate are discussed herein. Variations of such systems, devices, and methods may include one or snore illumination sources that emit illumination at one or more desired wavelength ranges to illuminate one or more areas on the substrate; where the desired wavelength range is one that is absorbed by the contaminant while causing the substrate to fluoresce. Such fluorescence may be detected with a visible-spectrum detector, which will also detect the contaminant as a darker contrast area against the fluorescence. In some variations, an illumination source includes a broad-spectrum light source and a waveband filtering device that filters all but the desired illumination waveband out of the broad-spectrum light generated by the broad-spectrum light source.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification for laser pulses are provided. Techniques and components include replacing pulse stretcher and/or pulse compressors with chirped volume Bragg gratings (CVBGs) to reduce size, weight, cost, and environmental sensitivity of the laser system.

Abstract: This document relates to a latent fingerprint imaging system. The system includes a light source that illuminates a sample surface having a raw latent fingerprint. The system further includes an optical detector arranged to capture fluorescence instantaneously from gap portions of the sample surface between ridges of the latent fingerprint and use the fluorescence from the gap portions to generate image data of the latent fingerprint on the sample surface. The light from the light source has a wavelength that is greater than a propagation threshold wavelength so the light can propagate from the light source to the sample surface and is less than an absorption threshold wavelength so the light is mostly absorbed by material of the latent fingerprint.

Abstract: A system including a light source and at least a first filter, having a front surface and a rear surface, positioned in a path of radiation from the light source, the at least first filter further comprising a reflective coating applied to a front surface of the at least first filter to reflect radiation off the front surface at a predefined wavelength. The front surface and the rear surface of the at least first filter are oriented in a non-parallel arrangement with respect to each other such that an angle is formed between the front surface and the rear surface. The non-parallel arrangement is configured to capture radiation unfiltered by the reflective coating and to re-direct the unfiltered radiation. Another system and a method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Mechanisms for validating the authenticity of an item. A reader device records authentication data that is obscured in a label. The authentication data is provided to a remote authentication server via a network. The reader device receives, from the remote authentication server, an authentication response based on the authentication data. Based at least in part on the authentication response, the reader device displays an indication that identifies whether the item is authentic.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification for laser pulses are provided. Techniques and components include replacing pulse stretcher and/or pulse compressors with chirped volume Bragg gratings (CVBGs) to reduce size, weight, cost, and environmental sensitivity of the laser system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing high-energy, pico-second laser pulses are disclosed. Systems and methods include using a modelocked laser source to drive an OPO (optical parametric oscillator) and an OPA (optical parametric amplifier) such that the OPA and OPO self-synchronize without the use of separate synchronization components and produce high-energy output without requiring pulse stretchers or pulse compressors, making the laser system viable for portability and vehicle mounting from both cost and durability standpoints.

Abstract: An integrated, low profile, high power laser light emission device is disclosed. The integrated laser light emission device provides uniform heat dissipation, as well as uniform pumping of the laser gain medium without the need for a pumping cavity. The laser system includes a pump diode array that can be mounted directly to a laser gain medium without intervening correcting optics hardware. Heat generated by the laser light emission device is cooled by a single cooling system. In the laser device, a pump diode array is preferably a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array. VCSEL arrays are mounted on the laser gain crystal by a metal cavity frame or metal stilts. The slightly elevated mounting of the VCSEL's enables increased cooling and maximizing the quantity of VCSEL's on the laser gain medium in order to achieve highly efficient and high power laser light output.

Abstract: Variations of composite volume Bragg grating devices and methods for creating same are disclosed. Also, variations of chirped pulse amplification laser systems, and system portions, that make use of a composite volume Bragg grating device for pulse stretching and/or compression are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining a plurality of laser beams to form a single output beam comprising employing a plurality of lasers and optically connecting an image rotator and recoupler to each of the plurality of lasers.

Abstract: Laser amplification methods and apparatuses. With the invention, one can increase laser intensity on a target by computing a distance to the target, based upon the distance determining an ultra short laser pulse that will in traveling through a medium compress to approximately a minimum width, and emitting the pulse at the target, whereby an intensity of the pulse is approximately maximized upon contact with the target. One can also amplify and detect a laser return signal by receiving the laser return signal, amplifying the received return signal by optical parametric amplification and detecting the amplified signal. One can further perform spectroscopy by determining an ultra short laser pulse such that the pulse compresses and then expands in traveling through a medium, emitting the pulse at a target, and performing spectroscopic analysis of the pulse after propagation.

Abstract: An optical coupler is provided which includes a transmitter optical cable which is machined along its length to have a substantially flat, smooth lower surface. The transmitter optical cable includes a curved upper surface on which a cladding layer is situated for containing an optical signal which is provided to an input end of the transmitter optical cable. A receiver optical cable is similarly machined to include a substantially flat, smooth upper surface and a curved lower surface on which a cladding layer is situated. The flat lower surface of the transmitter optical cable and the flat upper surface of the receiver optical cable are oriented in generally parallel, spaced apart relationship with an index matching member being situated therebetween. An incident optical signal enters the input end of the transmitter optical cable, exits the lower surface thereof, enters the index matching member and the upper surface of the receiver optical cable, and exits the output end thereof.