Abstract: A beam steering system may include a dynamically controllable liquid crystal (LC) beam steering device including an array of multiple LC beam steering segments, an upstream lens array arranged upstream of the beam steering device, and control electronics configured to control the beam steering device to output a directionally steered light. The upstream lens array includes multiple upstream lens elements, each configured to reduce a beam width of a respective light beam to provide a reduced-diameter light beam to a corresponding LC beam steering segment in the multi-segment LC beam steering device. Providing reduced-diameter light beams to the beam steering device may reduce unwanted beam steering effects and provide an improved beam steering efficiency of the beam steering system.

Abstract: A device for producing an output light emission having a light source for emitting light and a first polarizing beam splitter element positioned so at least one portion of the emitted light is incident thereupon, wherein a first reflected light beam of a first polarization state and a second transmitted light beam of a second polarization state are produced. The device also includes a first liquid crystal element having at least two states which are actuated using a control unit. The first liquid crystal element at least partially reflects the first light beam, wherein the polarization state of the first light beam is altered based on the state of the first liquid crystal element. The first polarizing beam splitter element is positioned so the first light beam is incident thereupon after reflection at the first liquid crystal element.

Abstract: A device for producing an output light emission having a light source for emitting light and a first polarizing beam splitter element positioned so at least one portion of the emitted light is incident thereupon, wherein a first reflected light beam of a first polarization state and a second transmitted light beam of a second polarization state are produced. The device also includes a first liquid crystal element having at least two states which are actuated using a control unit. The first liquid crystal element at least partially reflects the first light beam, wherein the polarization state of the first light beam is altered based on the state of the first liquid crystal element. The first polarizing beam splitter element is positioned so the first light beam is incident thereupon after reflection at the first liquid crystal element.