Abstract: An optical system is configured to support eye tracking operations in a head mounted device. The optical system includes a transparent layer, a laser, and first and second output couplers. The laser is configured to emit light into the transparent layer. The first output coupler is configured to out-couple a first portion of the light from a first location of the transparent layer. The second output coupler is configured to out-couple a second portion of the light from a second location of the transparent layer. The first and second output couplers are in the field-of-view of a user. A combination of the first portion of the light and the second portion of the light out-coupled from the first output coupler and the second output coupler is configured to generate a fringe pattern, for example, on an eye of a user of the head mounted device.

Abstract: There is provided a photonic integrated circuit configured for low-coherence interferometry and in-field sensing. The photonic integrated circuit can include an opto-coupler that has a substrate substantially transparent to a specified wavelength of light and a waveguide configured to route a light beam having a center wavelength at the specified wavelength. The opto-coupler further includes a mirror disposed at an angle, and the mirror is disposed on an angled surface of the substrate, the angled surface being proximate to an output end of the waveguide. The opto-coupler further includes a beam forming element configured to collect light reflected from the mirror, and the waveguide and the mirror are integrated within the substrate.

Abstract: The disclosed tunable laser array may include multiple lasers including at least first and second lasers having center emission wavelengths that are separated by at least a specified minimum wavelength. The tunable laser array may also include at least one coupler/splitter. In the tunable laser array, emitted light from the first laser at a first wavelength and emitted light from the second laser at a second, different wavelength may be combined and then split at the coupler/splitter. Moreover, the lasers may have at least a minimum amount of thermal resistance. Various other systems, apparatuses, and methods of manufacturing are also disclosed.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a display panel positioned to provide an image toward an eye of a wearer of the head-mounted display device; one or more light sources positioned to provide illumination light toward a head of the wearer; and one or more light detectors for receiving a portion of the illumination light that has been scattered by the head of the wearer so that one or more characteristics associated with a blood flow in the head of the wearer are determined based on the received portion of the illumination light. A method of determining one or more characteristics associated with a blood flow in a head of a wearer of the head-mounted display device is also described.

Abstract: An example device may include a light source, an optical element, and, optionally, an encapsulant layer. A light beam generated by the light source may be received by the optical element and redirected towards an illumination target, such as an eye of a user. The optical element may include a material, for example, with a refractive index of at least approximately 2 at a wavelength of the light beam. The light source may be a semiconductor light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser. The optical element may be supported by an emissive surface of the light source. Refraction at an exit surface of the optical element, and/or within a metamaterial layer, may advantageously modify the beam properties, for example, in relation to illuminating a target. In some examples, the light source and optical element may be integrated into a monolithic light source module.

Abstract: A device includes a light source, a waveguide layer, and a light director layer. The light source emits illumination light. The waveguide layer includes a cladding layer and an optical waveguide. The cladding layer provides a top planar surface of the waveguide layer and the optical waveguide is immersed in the cladding layer and includes a light input coupler. The light director layer includes a bottom planar surface that is disposed on the top planar surface of the waveguide layer. The light director layer also includes a light director that receives and directs the illumination light to the light input coupler as shaped light. The light director is configured to tilt the illumination light to give the shaped light a tilt angle with respect to the light input coupler.

Abstract: Outcoupling elements are disposed with a transparent layer. A transparent waveguide structure receives non-visible light and delivers the non-visible light to the outcoupling elements. The outcoupling elements outcouple the non-visible light as non-visible illumination light.

Abstract: An optical element includes a transparent layer, outcoupling elements, and a waveguide structure. The outcoupling elements are positioned across the transparent layer. The waveguide structure provides non-visible light to the outcoupling elements and the outcoupling elements outcouple the non-visible light as non-visible illumination light to illuminate an eye region.

Abstract: A device includes a light source, a waveguide layer, and a light director layer. The light source emits illumination light. The waveguide layer includes a cladding layer and an optical waveguide. The cladding layer provides a top planar surface of the waveguide layer and the optical waveguide is immersed in the cladding layer and includes a light input coupler. The light director layer includes a bottom planar surface that is disposed on the top planar surface of the waveguide layer. The light director layer also includes a light director that receives and directs the illumination light to the light input coupler as shaped light. The light director is configured to tilt the illumination light to give the shaped light a tilt angle with respect to the light input coupler.

Abstract: A system comprising (1) at least one optical element having a nonplanar surface, (2) at least one photonic integrated circuit disposed on the nonplanar surface of the optical element, the photonic integrated circuit comprising (A) an optical core that contains an optically anisotropic organic material and (B) a cladding disposed over the optical core. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device or system includes a light source, an optical waveguide, and a light director. The light source emits illumination light. The optical waveguide includes a light input coupler. The light director receive the illumination light and generates shaped light. The light director adjusts the tilt angle and/or the divergence angle of the illumination light.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit assembly generates light for use in a display system or a depth sensing system. The photonic integrated circuit assembly includes optical conditioning elements integrated into a photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes one or more light sources on the photonic integrated circuit. The photonic integrated circuit includes a waveguide and one or more gratings located in a core of the photonic integrated circuit. The gratings may collimate and/or collocate light emitted by the light source. The photonic integrated circuit may include a beam shaping element integrated into the photonic integrated circuit. A MEMS scanner may use the collocated and/or collimated light emitted by the photonic integrated circuit to generate a display for a user or to generate a structured light pattern for use in a depth sensing system.

Abstract: A device includes an optical assembly and a digital projector. The optical assembly is configured to receive visible scene light at a backside of the optical assembly and to direct the visible scene light on an optical path toward an eyeward side. The optical assembly includes a dimming layer disposed on the optical path. The dimming layer includes a photochromic material that is configured to darken in response to exposure to a range of light wavelengths. The digital projector is disposed on the eyeward side of the optical assembly and is configured to selectively emit an activation light within the range of light wavelengths to activate a darkening of a region of the dimming layer to dim the visible scene light within the region.

Abstract: An audio system including an optical microphone and an audio controller. The optical microphone includes a light source and a detector. In some embodiments, the light source illuminates skin of a user. Alternatively the optical microphone also includes a membrane, and the light source illuminates a portion of the membrane. Sounds from a local area cause vibrations in the skin (or vibrations in the membrane). The detector may be in an interferometric configuration or a non-interferometric configuration with the light source. The audio controller monitors the vibrations of the skin (or membrane) using signal output from the detector, and measures the sounds using the monitored vibrations.

Abstract: A device or system includes a light source, an optical waveguide, and a light director. The light source emits illumination light. The optical waveguide includes a light input coupler. The light director receive the illumination light and generates shaped light. The light director adjusts the tilt angle and/or the divergence angle of the illumination light.

Abstract: An optical assembly is configured to receive visible scene light at a backside of the optical assembly and to direct the visible scene light on an optical path toward the eyeward side. The optical assembly also includes a dimming layer disposed on the optical path, where the dimming layer includes a photochromic material that is configured to darken in response to exposure to a range of light wavelengths. An activation layer, included in the optical assembly, is also disposed on the optical path and includes an in-field dimmer. The in-field dimmer is configured to selectively emit an activation light within the range of light wavelengths to activate a darkening of a region of the dimming layer to dim the visible scene light within the region.

Abstract: An optical assembly is configured to receive visible scene light at a backside of the optical assembly and to direct the visible scene light on an optical path toward the eyeward side. The optical assembly also includes a dimming layer disposed on the optical path, where the dimming layer includes a photochromic material that is configured to darken in response to exposure to a range of light wavelengths. An activation layer, included in the optical assembly, is also disposed on the optical path and includes an in-field dimmer. The in-field dimmer is configured to selectively emit an activation light within the range of light wavelengths to activate a darkening of a region of the dimming layer to dim the visible scene light within the region.

Abstract: A device includes an optical assembly and a digital projector. The optical assembly is configured to receive visible scene light at a backside of the optical assembly and to direct the visible scene light on an optical path toward an eyeward side. The optical assembly includes a dimming layer disposed on the optical path. The dimming layer includes a photochromic material that is configured to darken in response to exposure to a range of light wavelengths. The digital projector is disposed on the eyeward side of the optical assembly and is configured to selectively emit an activation light within the range of light wavelengths to activate a darkening of a region of the dimming layer to dim the visible scene light within the region.

Abstract: A tunable liquid crystal (LC) device includes an LC layer between a pair of reflectors forming an optical cavity. The reflectors include conductive layers for applying an electrical signal to the LC layer. One of the conductive layers may include an array of conductive pixels for spatially selective control of the effective refractive index of the LC layer. The phase delay introduced by the LC layer may be greatly increased or magnified by placing the LC layer into the optical cavity. This enables a substantial reduction of the LC layer thickness, which in its turn enables very tight pitches of the LC pixels, with a reduced inter-pixel crosstalk caused by fringing electric fields, as well as faster switching times. A tight-pitch, fast LC device may be used as a configurable hologram or a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A tunable liquid crystal (LC) device includes an LC layer between a pair of reflectors forming an optical cavity. The reflectors include conductive layers for applying an electrical signal to the LC layer. One of the conductive layers may include an array of conductive pixels for spatially selective control of the effective refractive index of the LC layer. The phase delay introduced by the LC layer may be greatly increased or magnified by placing the LC layer into the optical cavity. This enables a substantial reduction of the LC layer thickness, which in its turn enables very tight pitches of the LC pixels, with a reduced inter-pixel crosstalk caused by fringing electric fields, as well as faster switching times. A tight-pitch, fast LC device may be used as a configurable hologram or a spatial light modulator.