Abstract: An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers, at least one of the two optical elements being a spherical lens. The resulting optical system presents a high numerical aperture. One of the optical elements may be a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.

Abstract: A thin camera having sub-pixel resolution includes an array of micro-cameras. Each micro-camera includes a lens, a plurality of sensors of size p, and a plurality of macro-pixels of size d having a feature of size q. The feature size q smaller than p and provides a resolution for the micro-camera greater than p. The smallest feature in the micro-cameras determines the resolution of the thin camera. Each macro-pixel may have any array of m features of size q, where q=d/m. Additional micro-cameras may be included to increase power.

Abstract: A camera including a mount substrate, a detector on a first surface of the mount substrate, a spacer on the mount substrate, the spacer including a hole exposing the detector, a cover on the spacer, the cover covering the hole, the mount substrate, the spacer and the cover together sealing the detector, the cover having a planar surface facing the detector, and an external electrical interconnection for the detector provided outside the sealing, the external electrical interconnection being on a first surface and a second surface, different from the first surface, of the mount substrate, the external electrical interconnection adapted to connect the detector to an electrical contact pad.

Abstract: A sub-wavelength anti-reflective diffractive structure is incorporated with a base diffractive structure having a small period to form a high efficiency diffractive structure. In the high efficiency diffractive structure, the anti-reflective structure and/or the base diffractive structure are altered from their ideal solo structure to provide both the desired performance and minimize reflections.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) corrector for use with three different wavelengths includes a first diffractive element on a first surface of a first material, the first diffractive element diffracting a first wavelength of the three wavelengths, while directing a majority of light of second and third wavelengths of the three wavelengths into a zero-th order, and a second diffractive element on a second surface of a second material, the second material being different from the first material, the second surface being different from and in an optical path of the first surface, the second diffractive element diffracting the second wavelength, while directing a majority of light of the first and third wavelengths into a zero-th order.

Abstract: A diffractive coupler coupling light between an opto-electronic element and a waveguide minimizes variation in coupling over an offset range, while providing good coupling efficiency. The offset range may be along the optical axis and/or radial. The diffractive coupler has a long depth of field and no best focus.

Abstract: A thin camera having sub-pixel resolution includes an array of micro-cameras. Each micro-camera includes a lens, a plurality of sensors of size p, and a plurality of macro-pixels of size d having a feature of size q. The feature size q smaller than p and provides a resolution for the micro-camera greater than p. The smallest feature in the micro-cameras determines the resolution of the thin camera. Each macro-pixel may have any array of m features of size q, where q=d/m. Additional micro-cameras may be included to increase power.

Abstract: A method for forming a camera including an integrated optical subsystem, includes aligning a plurality of second dies with a plurality of first dies, each first die having a second die aligned therewith, at least one of the plurality of first dies and the plurality of the second dies include a corresponding number of optical elements, securing aligned dies, and dividing secured aligned dies into a plurality of portions, a portion containing a first die, a second die and at least one optical element, thereby forming the integrated optical subsystem.

Abstract: A camera having an imaging system including first and second substrates, a first optical element on a first surface of the first substrate, and a second optical element on a second surface of the second substrate, the first and second surfaces being parallel and the first and second optical elements being substantially centered along an optical axis of the imaging system, and a detector positioned in optical communication with the imaging system, wherein an imaging function of the imaging system is distributed over at least the first and second optical elements.

Abstract: An optical transceiver includes at least one light source and at least one detector mounted on the same surface of the same substrate. The detector is to receive light from other than a light source on the surface. At least one of the light source and the detector is mounted on the surface. An optics block having optical elements for each light source and detectors is attached via a vertical spacer to the substrate. Electrical interconnections for the light source and the detector are accessible from the same surface of the substrate with the optics block attached thereto. One of the light source and the detector may be monolithically integrated into the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated optical imaging system includes a first substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, a second substrate having third and fourth opposing surfaces, a spacer between a substantially planar portion of the third surface of the second substrate and a substantially planar portion of the second surface of the first substrate, at least two of the spacer, the first substrate and the second substrate sealing an interior space between the third surface of the second substrate and the second surface of the first substrate, and an optical imaging system having n surfaces, where n is greater than or equal to two, at least two of the n surfaces of the optical imaging system are on respective ones of the first, second, third and fourth surfaces.

Abstract: A waveguide to waveguide monitor includes an optics block between the two waveguides. The optics block couples light between the two waveguides and includes at least two parallel surfaces. The monitor also has an optical tap which creates a monitor beam. The optics block may be flush with the endfaces of the waveguides, even if the endfaces are angled. At least two optical elements needed to couple the light between the two optical waveguides and direct the monitor beam on a detector are on the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block and any surfaces secured thereto.

Abstract: An optical chassis includes a mount substrate an optoelectronic device on the mount substrate, a spacer substrate, and a sealer substrate. The mount substrate, the spacer substrate and the sealer substrate are vertically stacked and hermetically sealing the optoelectronic device. An external electrical contact for the optoelectronic device is provided outside the sealing. At least part of the optical chassis may be made on a wafer level. A passive optical element may be provided on the sealer substrate or on another substrate stacked and secured thereto.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) corrector for use with three different wavelengths includes a first diffractive element on a first surface of a first material, the first diffractive element diffracting a first wavelength of the three wavelengths, while directing a majority of light of second and third wavelengths of the three wavelengths into a zero-th order, and a second diffractive element on a second surface of a second material, the second material being different from the first material, the second surface being different from and in an optical path of the first surface, the second diffractive element diffracting the second wavelength, while directing a majority of light of the first and third wavelengths into a zero-th order.

Abstract: A sub-wavelength anti-reflective diffractive structure is incorporated with a base diffractive structure having a small period to form a high efficiency diffractive structure. In the high efficiency diffractive structure, the anti-reflective structure and/or the base diffractive structure are altered from their ideal solo structure to provide both the desired performance and minimize reflections.

Abstract: A beam homogenizer that minimizes undesired intensity variations at the output plane caused by sharp breaks between facets in previous embodiments. The homogenizer includes a hologram made up of irregularly patterned diffractive fringes. An input beam illuminates at least part of the hologram. The hologram transmits a portion of the input beam onto an output plane. In doing so, the energy of the input beam is spatially redistributed at the output plane into a homogenized output beam having a preselected spatial energy distribution at the output plane. Thus, the illuminated portion of the output plane has a shape predetermined by the designer of the homogenizer.

Abstract: An optical coupler reduces differential mode delay in a fiber by reducing an amount of light incident on the fiber in a region in which the refractive index is not well controlled. This region of the fiber is typically in the center of the fiber The optical coupler directs light away from the this region and/or provides a high angle of incidence to any light on this region. A diffuser may be used to reduce sensitivity of the coupler to any fluctutations in the output of the light source. The optical coupler does not need to be offset from the center of the multi-mode coupler. A phase function of an azimuthal mode of the fiber may be imposed on the light beam so that a substantial null on axis is maintained even after propogation of the light beam beyond the depth of focus of the coupler. A diffractive element generating a beam which propogates in a spiral fashion along an axis allows the shape of the beam to be maintained for longer than a depth of focus of the diffractive element.

Abstract: An array of micro-optical components includes at least two micro-optical components. Each micro-optical component includes a refractive surface and a corresponding compensation surface for the refractive surface. The corresponding compensation surface includes a corresponding compensation feature when the refractive surface deviates from a desired optical performance. The micro-optical component provides the desired optical performance. At least two refractive surfaces of the array of micro-optical components are formed to have substantially a same desired optical performance. The array of micro-optical components includes at least one corresponding compensation feature, at least two compensation surfaces of the array of micro-optical components being different from one another. The compensation surface may be created after measuring the refractive surface.

Abstract: Etching in combination with other processing techniques is used to facilitate alignment of an optical die in an optical system. The optical dies are formed on a wafer level and need to be singulated for use in the optical system. The formation of a precise edge from etching allows more accurate alignment of the optical die in the optical system. The other processing techniques include dicing, sawing, cleaving, breaking and thinning.

Abstract: A beam homogenizer that minimizes undesired intensity variations at the output plane caused by sharp breaks between facets in previous embodiments. The homogenizer includes a hologram made up of irregularly patterned diffractive fringes. An input beam illuminates at least part of the hologram. The hologram transmits a portion of the input beam onto an output plane. In doing so, the energy of the input beam is spatially redistributed at the output plane into a homogenized output beam having a preselected spatial energy distribution at the output plane. Thus, the illuminated portion of the output plane has a shape predetermined by the designer of the homogenizer.