Abstract: An illumination system for transforming at least one laser light beam having a non-uniform distribution in a first axis and a second axis to a beam having a substantially uniform distribution in the first axis while preserving the non-uniform distribution in the second axis. The transformed beam may be imaged as a line image onto a one-dimensional light modulation device. The illumination system may comprise a light tunnel having two sides that interact with the at least one laser light beam in the first axis and two sides that do not interact with the light in the second axis.

Abstract: An optical assembly for reducing the etendue of a diode laser light source having a plurality of laser light emitters. The optical assembly comprises a first optical device for collimating beams of light emitted from the emitters of the diode laser. A second optical device spatially shifts a portion of the collimated light beams emitted from the diode laser to thereby reduce gaps or dark space between the beams. A third optical device focuses all of the light beams onto a surface, such as a surface of a light modulation surface.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a high-resolution image using a scanned-column projector is disclosed. The method includes the operation of generating a time-varying line image. A further operation includes collimating the time-varying line image in at least one plane. An additional operation involves scanning the collimated time-varying line image using a scan mirror. A further operation includes projecting the scanned collimated time-varying line image onto a surface. The scanned collimated time-varying line image is projected with at least one imaging element.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a high-resolution image using a scanned-column projector is disclosed. The method includes the operation of generating a time-varying line image. A further operation includes collimating the time-varying line image in at least one plane. An additional operation involves scanning the collimated time-varying line image using a scan mirror. A further operation includes projecting the scanned collimated time-varying line image onto a surface. The scanned collimated time-varying line image is projected with at least one imaging element.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for reducing laser speckle and interference patterns in a laser projector display when using a laser projector having a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a defined pixel rate. The method can include the operation of polarizing a laser output of a continuous wave laser such that the laser output is s-polarized with respect to a beam combiner. The s-polarized laser output can be divided into a first laser beam and a second laser beam. A phase of the second laser beam can be modulated with an amplitude sufficient to create a phase delay of approximately half a wavelength of the laser output and at a frequency at least twice that of the SLM's pixel rate.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically distributing power of a light beam for use in administering light therapy. A laser light beam having a maximum peak power is selectively diffused to distribute the maximum peak power. In at least some implementations, the diffused laser light beam is attenuated across the diffused beam. Having undergone processes of diffusion and attenuation, the laser light beam is then safely used to administer light therapy on a patient. In further implementations, the diffusion includes a defocused diffusion and/or includes a distribution of power rather than an attenuation of power.

Abstract: A shuttering system for a scanning projector having a laser source, a grating light valve light modulator, and a light steering scanner includes a feedback system interconnecting the scanner with the light modulator. The feedback system is configured to deactivate the light modulator in case of scanner malfunction, so as to redirect laser light away from the scanner.

Abstract: A multimode optical coupler comprising a first optical fiber having a polished face on its side, and a second optical fiber having an end which is polished at an angle. The angled polished end of the second optical fiber is disposed in mating alignment with the polished face of the first optical fiber, and light energy propagating through the second fiber can pass into the first fiber. A series of such couplers may be interconnected in a network so as to combine the energy of many light sources for a desired power level in a single optical fiber.

Abstract: A vending machine/display unit (10) includes a plurality of articles (14) arranged on a plurality of dispensing paths (20 or 22). A counting mechanism is associated with each dispensing path, and includes an encoder bar (32) positioned adjacent the dispensing path, and encoder head (34) positioned to incrementally advance along the dispensing path. The encoder head (34) includes a plurality of contact members (42a-d) which interact with a plurality of active site contact members (40) disposed on the encoder bar (32) in a pattern which uniquely identifies each incremental position in the dispensing path. The inventory of articles (14) remaining in a dispensing path or the accounting of articles (14) dispensed from the dispensing path is determined from the relative position of the encoder head (34) to the encoder bar (32), and this position is detected from the active contact site points (40) on the electrical information lines (36) on the encoder bar (32).