Abstract: A beamsplitter can include a first surface with a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a beam splitting surface arranged at an angle to the second surface that is less than 45 degrees. The beamsplitter may be configured to illuminate the entire second surface in response to an input beam at the first surface.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems and methods of use. A method can include providing an optical device having a first surface, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface can be reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. An input beam having the first state can be normally incident on the first surface. A transmissive diffractive optical element on the first surface can convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam directed toward the third surface, where it is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface. The reflected first diffracted beam can be modulated with image information using a spatial light modulator to produce a modulated light beam having the second state.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and may convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the second surface, is reflected by the second surface toward the third surface via total internal reflection, and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems and methods of use. A method can include providing an optical device having a first surface, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface can be reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. An input beam having the first state can be normally incident on the first surface. A transmissive diffractive optical element on the first surface can convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam directed toward the third surface, where it is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface. The reflected first diffracted beam can be modulated with image information using a spatial light modulator to produce a modulated light beam having the second state.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and may convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the second surface, is reflected by the second surface toward the third surface via total internal reflection, and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and may convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the second surface, is reflected by the second surface toward the third surface via total internal reflection, and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the third surface and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

Abstract: A display system includes a display screen, a plurality of subsystems, and a control system. The plurality of subsystems each generate an excitation beam that carries image information and a servo beam. For each subsystem, a servo feedback detector receives feedback light of the servo beam, detects the servo feedback mark, and produces a monitor signal. For each subsystem, a control unit is operable to adjust optical energies carried by the excitation beam using a scaling factor. Two adjacent subsystems of the plurality of subsystems are configured such that in operation the areas scanned by the excitation beams of the two subsystems overlap in an overlap region. The control system is configured to determine a range of the overlap region based on the monitor signals from the servo feedback detectors of the adjacent subsystems, and to determine the scaling factors for the excitation beams for the overlap region.

Abstract: Examples of light projector systems for directing input light from a light source to a spatial light modulator are provided. For example, an optical device is disclosed which includes a first surface having a diffractive optical element, a second surface normal to the first surface, and a third surface arranged at an angle to the second surface. The third surface may be a beam splitting surface that is reflective to light of a first state and transmissive to light of a second state. The diffractive optical element may receive an input beam made up of light having the first state, and convert the input beam into at least a first diffracted beam at a first diffraction angle such that the first diffracted beam is directed toward the third surface and is reflected by the third surface in a direction substantially parallel to the first surface.

Abstract: A display system includes a display screen, a plurality of subsystems, and a control system. The plurality of subsystems each generate an excitation beam that carries image information and a servo beam. For each subsystem, a servo feedback detector receives feedback light of the servo beam, detects the servo feedback mark, and produces a monitor signal. For each subsystem, a control unit is operable to adjust optical energies carried by the excitation beam using a scaling factor. Two adjacent subsystems of the plurality of subsystems are configured such that in operation the areas scanned by the excitation beams of the two subsystems overlap in an overlap region. The control system is configured to determine a range of the overlap region based on the monitor signals from the servo feedback detectors of the adjacent subsystems, and to determine the scaling factors for the excitation beams for the overlap region.

Abstract: Techniques and display devices that provide a built-in Moire reduction structure in a display screen are disclosed. The built-in Moire reduction structure is configured to suppress spatial frequencies that are associated with the sub-pixel level periodicities in the light emitted by the colored sub-pixels of the display screen, and hence, reduce the Moire patterns that might otherwise be produced when images presented on the display screen are captured by a digital image capturing device having a periodic light-sensing structure. The built-in Moire reduction structure is a blur layer placed on the viewer side of the screen and separated by a spacer layer from the pixel layer of the display screen. The blurring power of the blur layer is controlled to substantially preserve the pixel-level resolution of the display screen.

Abstract: Finger navigation methods, devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment the system comprises a light source configured to radiate a light beam towards a tactile surface. The system also comprises a photo detector module configured to sense speckle beams emitted by a target surface navigating the tactile surface in response to light hitting the target surface. The system further comprises a processor configured to track a movement of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface based on output from the photo detector module and a conductor structure for capacitive sensing of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface. The conductor structure is configured to determine a plurality of navigational functionalities based on the capacitive sensing of the target surface with respect to the tactile surface, including at least one of single click, double click, and scrolling.

Abstract: A circuit and method are provided to control the strength of signals from an array of photo-detectors (PDs) in an optical navigation sensor. The circuit includes a number of transimpedance-amplifiers (TIAs) each coupled to an output of at least one PD to receive a current signal therefrom and generate a signal in response thereto. A controller coupled to outputs of the TIAs receives the signals and executes an algorithm to adjust gain of a signal processor coupled to the array. In one embodiment, the signal processor includes differential transimpedance-amplifiers (DIFF-TIAs) each including inputs coupled to receive current signals from the array, and the controller outputs a control signal to adjust a time over which the DIFF-TIAs and the TIAs integrate the current signals. Optionally, the signal processor includes gain-amplifiers coupled to the DIFF-TIAs and TIAs, and the controller outputs a signal to adjust gain thereof.

Abstract: A circuit and method are provided to control the strength of signals from an array of photo-detectors in an optical navigation sensor. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a current signal from an automatic gain control (AGC) photo-detector and generating an AGC signal in response thereto; generating an illumination control signal in response to the AGC signal; and coupling the illumination control signal to an illuminator configured to illuminate at least a portion of an array of photo-detectors with light reflected from a surface to sense displacement of the optical navigation sensor relative to a surface, and adjusting illumination from the illuminator. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques and display devices that provide a built-in Moire reduction structure in a display screen are disclosed. The built-in Moire reduction structure is configured to suppress spatial frequencies that are associated with the sub-pixel level periodicities in the light emitted by the colored sub-pixels of the display screen, and hence, reduce the Moire patterns that might otherwise be produced when images presented on the display screen are captured by a digital image capturing device having a periodic light-sensing structure. The built-in Moire reduction structure is a blur layer placed on the viewer side of the screen and separated by a spacer layer from the pixel layer of the display screen. The blurring power of the blur layer is controlled to substantially preserve the pixel-level resolution of the display screen.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing movement of a data input device across a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes at least an illuminator, telecentric imaging optics on the object (scattering surface) side, and an array of photosensitive elements. The illuminator is configured to illuminate a portion of the surface. The telecentric imaging optics is configured to image the optical features emanating from the illuminated portion of the surface, and the array of photosensitive elements is configured to detect intensity data relating to the optical features imaged by the telecentric imaging optics. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a laser positioning device for sensing relative movement between a data input device and a surface by determining displacement of image features in a succession of images of the surface. The device forms a single integrated package, which includes a planar substrate and a transparent encapsulant that also embodies a collimating lens. Both a coherent light source and a sensor array and associated circuitry are configured on the planar substrate. Another embodiment relates to a method of sensing relative movement between a data input device and a surface. Coherent light is emitted from a laser and collimated so as to form a collimated illumination beam with a predetermined diameter, D, and a substantially uniform phase front. A speckle pattern is generated by impingement of the collimated illumination beam on the surface and detected by a sensor array. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical sensor and method of using the same is provided for sensing relative movement between the sensor and a surface by detecting changes in optical features of light reflected from the surface. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements, the array including at least a first plurality of photosensitive elements arranged and coupled to sense a first combined movement along a first set of at least two non-parallel axes, and a second plurality of photosensitive elements arranged and coupled to sense a second combined movement along a second set of at least two non-parallel axes.

Abstract: An optical sensor and method of using the same is provided for sensing relative movement between the sensor and a surface by detecting changes in optical features of light reflected from the surface. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements, the array including at least a first plurality of photosensitive elements arranged and coupled to sense a first combined movement along a first set of at least two non-parallel axes, and a second plurality of photosensitive elements arranged and coupled to sense a second combined movement along a second set of at least two non-parallel axes.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing transverse displacement of a data input device relative to a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes at least a coherent light source, illumination optics to illuminate a portion of the surface, imaging optics, and a first array of photosensitive elements having a periodic distance. The illuminator and the detector are configured to produce on the first array of photosensitive elements an intensity pattern of light reflected from the illuminated portion of the surface. The intensity pattern comprises a plurality of speckles having an average speckle diameter which is between one half and two times the periodic distance of the array.