Abstract: The present disclosure provides a displacement amplification structure and a method for controlling displacement. In one aspect, the displacement amplification structure of the present disclosure includes a first beam and a second beam substantially parallel to the first beam, an end of the first beam coupled to a fixture site, and an end of the second beam coupled to a motion actuator; and a motion shutter coupled to an opposing end of the first and second beams. In response to a displacement of the motion actuator along an axis direction of the second beam, the motion shutter displaces a distance along a transversal direction substantially perpendicular to the axis direction.

Abstract: A device disclosed herein includes an optical detector that detects a specular reflection from a test article having a coating thereon. The device also includes a processor operatively coupled to the optical detector and configured to determine whether a contaminant is present at the coating based on the specular reflection and based on a calibration measurement determined from a test article having a known contaminant-free sample of the coating thereon. Another device disclosed herein includes an optical detector that detects a specular reflection from the test article having a coating thereon, with the specular reflection at an angle of less than 20° with respect to an axis normal to the test article. The device can further include a processor configured to determine whether contamination is present at the coating. Embodiments enable rapid, sensitive testing of epoxy and paint surfaces by minimally trained personnel.

Abstract: Provided are a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes: a substrate having a major surface; and a capacitor disposed over the substrate. The capacitor includes a first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the first electrode. The second electrode includes a first region, a second region and an opening when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the major surface. The first region has a first thickness, and a second region has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate including at least one TFT, the at least one TFT including a semiconductor layer including a source region and a drain region having a first doping concentration on a substrate, a channel region between the source and drain regions and having a second doping concentration, the second doping concentration being lower than the first doping concentration, and a non-doping region extending from the source and drain regions; a gate insulating layer on the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer and at least partially overlapping the channel region; and a source electrode and a drain electrode insulated from the gate electrode and electrically connected to the source region and the drain region, respectively.

Abstract: A system having a MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that has an improved optical shutter for regulating the optical power of an optical signal by partially intercepting incident light beams and a negative temperature coefficient component that is electrical connected in series with a voltage source that drives the MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes: a substrate having a major surface; and a capacitor disposed over the substrate. The capacitor includes a first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the first electrode. The second electrode includes a first region, a second region and an opening when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the major surface. The first region has a first thickness, and a second region has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: A micromechanical device including an improved sensing element and improved bending elements is described. Sensing elements include multi-layered structures which are thinner, lighter, and flatter than structures presently known within the related arts. Bending elements include structures which separately respond to illumination by an infrared source so as to twist a sensing element. Micromechanical pixels may be arranged to form two-dimensional arrays of infrared sensitive pixels. Arrays of micromechanical pixels are applicable to imaging devices for use within the fields of security and surveillance, firefighting, automotive safety, and industrial monitoring.

Abstract: A mechanical-optical transducer comprises a readout illumination source providing light having different wavelengths or different polarization states; an image sensor array for sensing the light from the readout illumination source; and a mechanical-optical device including sensing pixels whose optical property change in response to incident thermal infrared radiation, the mechanical-optical device having a reflective surface disposed to selectively reflect light from the readout illumination source to the image sensor array.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and methods for operating on a polarization state of a light beam using a compound tri-state non-reciprocal rotator having two Faraday rotators. A first Faraday rotator rotates the polarization state into one of two partially rotated states at angles +?, ??, where ?=22.5°, and the second Faraday rotates the polarization state from one of the partially rotated states into one of three fully rotated states at angles +2?, 0, ?2?. A polarization selection mechanism guides light in the three fully rotated states differently to enable various devices and different modes of operation. For example, the polarization selection mechanism can generate a tri-state output in the form of two distinct output beams corresponding to two of the three fully rotated states, and an overlapping pair of output beams obtained when the compound tri-state non-reciprocal rotator produces the third of the three fully rotated states.

Abstract: A micromechanical device including an improved sensing element and improved bending elements is described. Sensing elements include multi-layered structures which are thinner, lighter, and flatter than structures presently known within the related arts. Bending elements include structures which separately respond to illumination by an infrared source so as to twist a sensing element. Micromechanical pixels may be arranged to form two-dimensional arrays of infrared sensitive pixels. Arrays of micromechanical pixels are applicable to imaging devices for use within the fields of security and surveillance, firefighting, automotive safety, and industrial monitoring.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved optical switches in which no mechanical movement is required to direct optical pathways between plural fiber ports. Advantageously, the inventive switches incorporate two-stage polarization rotation to improve isolation depth, as well as temperature and wavelength independence. The inventive switches also incorporate light bending devices to allow two fibers to be coupled to the light beams using a single lens achieving small beam separation for compactness. In the inventive switch, an optical signal is spatially split into two polarized beams by a birefringent element, which passes through a polarization rotation device that comprises waveplates, walk-off elements, and electrically controllable polarization rotators, and recombine into an output fiber, achieving polarization independent operation.

Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention includes the manufacturing of integrated photonic circuit devices using deposition processes such as, for example, supercritical fluid deposition (SFD). The present invention further includes the coupling of photonic crystal structures and planar waveguides to provide high performance, low-cost and scalable photonic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved optical switches in which no mechanical movement is required to direct optical pathways between plural fiber ports and light transmission is bi-directional. Advantageously, the inventive switches permit bi-directional light transmission. The inventive switches also incorporate light bending devices to allow two fibers to be coupled to the light beams using a single lens for compactness. In the inventive switch, an optical signal is spatially split into two polarized beams by a birefringent element, which passes through a polarization rotation device that comprises waveplates, walk-off elements, and an electrically controllable polarization rotator, and recombine into an output fiber, achieving polarization independent operation. The switches of the present invention rely on electro-magnetically or electro-optically switching the beam polarizations from one state to another to rapidly direct the light path.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved optical switches in which no mechanical movement is required to direct optical pathways between plural fiber ports. Advantageously, the inventive switches incorporate two-stage polarization rotation to improve isolation depth, as well as temperature and wavelength independence. The inventive switches also incorporate light bending devices to allow two fibers to be coupled to the light beams using a single lens achieving small beam separation for compactness. In the inventive switch, an optical signal is spatially split into two polarized beams by a birefringent element, which passes through a polarization rotation device that comprises waveplates, walk-off elements, and electrically controllable polarization rotators, and recombine into an output fiber, achieving polarization independent operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering an optical input is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, an optical input is split into polarization components along separate paths. The polarization components are then fed into a first electro-optic device that includes a set of electrodes across which a voltage is applied to adjust a wavelength transmission characteristic of the device. A section of the first device positioned between the electrodes preferably has a birefringence that is adjusted depending on the voltage applied across the electrodes. The adjusted components of the optical input are thereafter combined to produce an optical output. Accordingly, the optical input can be attenuated based on the voltage applied to electrodes of the first electro-optic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering an optical input is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, an optical input is split into polarization components along separate paths. The polarization components are then fed into a first electro-optic device that includes a set of electrodes across which a voltage is applied to adjust a wavelength transmission characteristic of the device. A section of the first device positioned between the electrodes preferably has a birefringence that is adjusted depending on the voltage applied across the electrodes. The adjusted components of the optical input are thereafter combined to produce an optical output. Accordingly, the optical input can be attenuated based on the voltage applied to electrodes of the first electro-optic device.