Abstract: A high-voltage optical transformer may include (1) an array of light-emitting devices that are connected in parallel with one another and are electrically coupled to an electrical input, (2) a transfer medium, and (3) an array of photovoltaic cells that (A) are optically coupled to the array of light-emitting devices via the transfer medium, (B) are connected in series with one another, and (C) produce an electrical output whose voltage is higher than the electrical input. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A varifocal lens includes a substrate having an inclined region, a primary electrode disposed over the inclined region of the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the primary electrode, a deformable membrane disposed over and at least partially spaced away from the dielectric layer, a secondary electrode disposed over a surface of the deformable membrane facing toward or away from the dielectric layer and overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a fluid between the membrane and the substrate, wherein a surface of the dielectric layer facing the secondary electrode comprises a textured surface.

Abstract: A light source based on an optical frequency mixer is disclosed. The light source has a first laser for emitting light at a first optical frequency, and a plurality of second lasers for emitting light at different second optical frequencies. The optical frequency mixer provides output light beams at mixed optical frequencies of the first and second lasers. Wavelength of output light beams may be tuned by tuning wavelength of any of the first or second lasers. In this manner, RGB wavelength-tunable light sources may be constructed based on red or near-infrared lasers. The wavelength tunability of the output light beams may be used to angularly scan or refocus the light beams.

Abstract: A method of forming a high voltage optical transformer includes forming a via through a transparent carrier wafer, forming a conductive layer within the via, bonding a solid state lighting (SSL) package to a first side of the carrier wafer, and bonding a photovoltaic (PV) wafer to a second side of the carrier wafer opposite to the first side. The photovoltaic wafer may include an active area and a conductive area located outside of the active area that is in electrical contact with the conductive layer. The method further includes forming both an SSL contact with the solid state lighting package and a PV contact with the conductive layer on the same side of the carrier wafer.

Abstract: A device includes a light source to emit light and a light detector to receive the light emitted by the light source. The device may include a high voltage optical transformer and may be configured such that the light detector is laterally spaced away from the light source. In some architectures, the light source and the light detector may be arranged in a common plane. A photonic integrated circuit may be used to couple light emitted from the light source to the light detector.

Abstract: A step-down optical AC/DC transformer may include (1) an array of light-emitting devices that are disposed to be electrically coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source are connected in series with one another and (2) an array of photovoltaic cells that are optically coupled to the array of light-emitting devices and produce a direct current (DC) electrical output. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor light source including a planar optical component that focuses long-wavelength (e.g., infrared) light emitted in a resonant cavity into a nonlinear crystal, which then converts the long-wavelength light into light having a shorter wavelength (e.g., visible light) by frequency doubling. A wavelength-selective reflection layer on the nonlinear crystal reflects the long-wavelength light back into the resonant cavity to form an external cavity and transmits the light having the shorter wavelength out of the external cavity. The resonant cavity includes an active region that emits the long-wavelength light at a high efficiency. The planar optical component includes a micro-lens formed in semiconductor layers or a gradient refractive index lens formed in the nonlinear crystal.

Abstract: An eye-tracking device includes an optical device that includes a light source with an optical cavity and a light sensor. The light source is positioned to output coherent light toward an eye of a user and receive at least a portion of the coherent light back from the eye of the user as feedback light. The feedback light enters the optical cavity and causes modulation of an intensity of the coherent light. The light sensor is optically coupled with the light source for detecting the modulated intensity of the coherent light and generating one or more signals based on the detected intensity of the coherent light. The eye-tracking device also includes one or more processors that are coupled to the optical device for determining, from the one or more signals, movement information of the eye. A method of detecting movement of an eye using the eye-tracking device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A configuration circuit may be used with a power converter. The configuration circuit dynamically reconfigures one or more connections of output stages of a power converter to vary the output. A capacitive load may receive the output of the power converter.

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: An eyebox region is illuminated with first coherent light and second coherent light having a different wavelength than the first coherent light. A first self-mixed interferometer (SMI) signal is generated in response to first feedback light received back from the eyebox region. A second SMI signal is generated in response to second feedback light received back from the eyebox region. Eye data is generated in response to at least the first SMI signal and the second SMI signal.

Abstract: An optical transformer includes a plurality of light emitters, a plurality of photovoltaic cells positioned to receive light from at least a first subset of the plurality of light emitters, the plurality of photovoltaic cells including at least a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, and one or more optically triggered switches positioned to receive light from at least a second subset of the plurality of light emitters, the one or more optically triggered switches including at least a first optically triggered switch electrically coupled to the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell. A method of operating the optical transformer is also described.

Abstract: A transducer is described that includes a substrate configured to be deposited on a solid object, and a transparent medium coupled to the substrate and configured to oscillate at a pre-selected frequency upon receipt of an electrical excitation or a mechanical excitation and to provide a first acoustic wave. The transducer also includes an actuator configured to receive an electrical power, and to provide the electrical excitation or the mechanical excitation to the transparent medium, wherein at least a portion of the solid object is viewable through the transparent medium, and the first acoustic wave is at least partially transmitted through an interface of the transparent medium. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause the system to perform a method to use the transducer for generating acoustic waves in a transparent medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A light source of a self-mixed interferometer (SMI) emits infrared light. The infrared light is directed to an eyebox location with the scanning module by scanning the infrared light into a waveguide. Feedback infrared light is measured by a light sensor of the SMI.

Abstract: An optical transformer includes a light source and an array of photovoltaic cells optically coupled to the light source, where at least a portion of the photovoltaic cells are connected in series. An optical connector such as a waveguide or an optical fiber may be disposed between an output of the light source and an input of the array of photovoltaic cells. Configured to generate a high voltage output, the optical transformer may be configured to power a device such as an actuator that provides a tunable displacement as a function of voltage.

Abstract: Self-mixed interferometer (SMI) devices and techniques are described for measuring depth and/or velocity of objects. The SMI devices and techniques may be used for eye-tracking. A light source of an SMI sensor emits coherent light that is directed to a target location with a scanning module. One or more SMI signals are measured. The one or more SMI signals are generated by the SMI sensor in response to feedback light received from the target location. The feedback light is a portion of the coherent light that illuminated the target location.

Abstract: A transducer is described that includes a substrate configured to be deposited on a solid object, and a transparent medium coupled to the substrate and configured to oscillate at a pre-selected frequency upon receipt of an electrical excitation or a mechanical excitation and to provide a first acoustic wave. The transducer also includes an actuator configured to receive an electrical power, and to provide the electrical excitation or the mechanical excitation to the transparent medium, wherein at least a portion of the solid object is viewable through the transparent medium, and the first acoustic wave is at least partially transmitted through an interface of the transparent medium. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause the system to perform a method to use the transducer for generating acoustic waves in a transparent medium are also disclosed.

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 method of forming a high voltage optical transformer includes forming a via through a transparent carrier wafer, forming a conductive layer within the via, bonding a solid state lighting (SSL) package to a first side of the carrier wafer, and bonding a photovoltaic (PV) wafer to a second side of the carrier wafer opposite to the first side. The photovoltaic wafer may include an active area and a conductive area located outside of the active area that is in electrical contact with the conductive layer. The method further includes forming both an SSL contact with the solid state lighting package and a PV contact with the conductive layer on the same side of the carrier wafer.

Abstract: A transducer is described that includes a substrate configured to be deposited on a solid object, and a transparent medium coupled to the substrate and configured to oscillate at a pre-selected frequency upon receipt of an electrical excitation or a mechanical excitation and to provide a first acoustic wave. The transducer also includes an actuator configured to receive an electrical power, and to provide the electrical excitation or the mechanical excitation to the transparent medium, wherein at least a portion of the solid object is viewable through the transparent medium, and the first acoustic wave is at least partially transmitted through an interface of the transparent medium. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause the system to perform a method to use the transducer for generating acoustic waves in a transparent medium are also disclosed.