Abstract: A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone.

Abstract: A tunable light projector including the following is provided. A light source is configured to emit a light beam. A fixed optical phase modulator is disposed on a path of the light beam and is configured to modulate phases of the light beam. A tunable liquid crystal panel is disposed on the path of the light beam and a partial region of the tunable liquid crystal panel is configured to electrically switch the light beam between a structured light and a flood light. A driver is configured to control the light source and control the tunable liquid crystal panel to switch the light beam between the structured light and the flood light. The tunable liquid crystal panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer; a first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a sensor, a reflective polarizer disposed on the sensor, a dye-doped polymeric layer disposed on the reflective polarizer, and a patterned liquid crystal polymer layer disposed on the dye-doped polymeric layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element includes a substrate, a diffractive optical element layer, and a liquid crystal material. The diffractive optical element layer has an uneven surface. The liquid crystal material is between the substrate and the uneven surface of the diffractive optical element layer. The liquid crystal material is disposed contiguously with the uneven surface of the diffractive optical element layer.

Abstract: A method for performing hybrid depth detection with aid of an adaptive projector and associated apparatus are provided. The method includes: utilizing an image processing circuit to obtain distance information; utilizing the image processing circuit to determine a distance range according to the distance information; utilizing the image processing circuit to perform projection type selection to determine at least one selected projection type corresponding to the distance range among multiple predetermined projection types; utilizing the adaptive projector to perform projection of the at least one selected projection type to capture at least one corresponding image with a camera, and utilizing the image processing circuit to perform depth detection according to corresponding image to generate depth map; and utilizing the image processing circuit to selectively output the depth map as resultant depth map or perform depth data combination to generate combined depth map as resultant depth map.

Abstract: A dimmer includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel and a driving circuit. The LC panel has a plurality of LCs doped with dichroic dye. The LC panel comprises a plurality of pixels. The driving circuit is electrically connected to the LC panel, and configured to control driving of the pixels of the LC panel. At least one of the pixels has a storage capacitor and an LC capacitor coupled in parallel. A ratio of a capacitance value of the LC capacitor to a capacitance value of the storage capacitor is greater than 10:1. The driving circuit is configured to control an LC angle of LCs in each of the pixels, and the dichroic dye is driven by surrounding LCs and presents an angle correlated with the LC angle of the surrounding LCs.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a sensor, a reflective polarizer disposed on the sensor, a dye-doped polymeric layer disposed on the reflective polarizer, and a patterned liquid crystal polymer layer disposed on the dye-doped polymeric layer.

Abstract: An ocular optical system including an eyewear device and a tunable light attenuator is provided. The tunable light attenuator is disposed on a light path which the eyewear device is disposed on and includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal layers, a plurality of electrode layers, and a controller. Each of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers is disposed between two of the electrode layers. The controller is electrically connected to the electrode layers and configured to adjust voltages applied to the electrode layers so as to operate the cholesteric liquid crystal layers in at least two steps of light attenuation for randomly polarized light with at least one of a blue band and an ultraviolet band.

Abstract: A tunable light projector including a light source, a fixed optical phase modulator, a tunable liquid crystal panel, and a driver is provided. The light source is configured to emit a light beam. The fixed optical phase modulator is disposed on a path of the light beam and configured to modulate phases of the light beam. The tunable liquid crystal panel is disposed on the path of the light beam from the fixed optical phase modulator and configured to switch the light beam between a structured light and a flood light. The driver is electrically connected to a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer of the tunable liquid crystal panel and configured to change a voltage difference between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so as to switch the light beam between the structured light and the flood light.

Abstract: A tunable light projector including the following is provided. A light source is configured to emit a light beam. A fixed optical phase modulator is disposed on a path of the light beam and is configured to modulate phases of the light beam. A tunable liquid crystal panel is disposed on the path of the light beam and a partial region of the tunable liquid crystal panel is configured to electrically switch the light beam between a structured light and a flood light. A driver is configured to control the light source and control the tunable liquid crystal panel to switch the light beam between the structured light and the flood light. The tunable liquid crystal panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer; a first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer.

Abstract: A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element includes a substrate, a diffractive optical element layer, and a liquid crystal material. The diffractive optical element layer has an uneven surface. The liquid crystal material is between the substrate and the uneven surface of the diffractive optical element layer. The liquid crystal material is disposed contiguously with the uneven surface of the diffractive optical element layer.

Abstract: A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone.

Abstract: An electrically tunable optical phase modulation element includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a transparent layer, a first compensation layer. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is between the first substrate and the second substrate. The transparent layer is between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer. The transparent layer has a first portion and a second portion. The first compensation layer is in between the first portion and the second portion of the transparent layer. The first compensation layer has a flat surface adjacent the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A light projector includes a light source, an optical phase modulator, and a liquid crystal element. The light source is configured to emit light. The optical phase modulator is configured to receive the light and to modulate a phase of the light. The liquid crystal element is configured to receive the light and to generate a patterned light. The liquid crystal element includes two substrates, two conducting electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the conducting electrodes. The conducting electrodes are respectively disposed on the substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes plural liquid crystals dispersed in a patterned polymer structure. A pattern of the patterned light is adjustable by changing a voltage applied between the conducting electrodes.

Abstract: An electrically tunable optical phase modulation element includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a transparent layer, a first compensation layer. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is between the first substrate and the second substrate. The transparent layer is between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer. The transparent layer has a first portion and a second portion. The first compensation layer is in between the first portion and the second portion of the transparent layer. The first compensation layer has a flat surface adjacent the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An achromatic phase modulator (100) adapted to modulate the phase of an incident beam of light (INCIDENT LIGHT) and to output the thus modulated light, the phase modulator (100) comprising a plurality of liquid crystal elements disposed in series on a light path of the incident light and a control unit (15) comprising a plurality of power sources (14) for applying drive electric signals to the liquid crystal elements, wherein the plurality of liquid crystal elements comprises at least a first and a second liquid crystal element groups (FIRST LIQUID CRYSTAL ELEMENT GROUP; SECOND LIQUID CRYSTAL ELEMENT GROUP), each group being composed of a pair of liquid crystal elements, the liquid crystal elements of the first and second group respectively being made of a first and a second liquid crystal material having a first and a second, different, refractive index wavelength dependence characteristic, the thicknesses (d1/2, d2/2) of the liquid crystal elements forming each group being equal.

Abstract: An ocular optical system including an eyewear device and a tunable light attenuator is provided. The tunable light attenuator is disposed on a light path which the eyewear device is disposed on and includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal layers, a plurality of electrode layers, and a controller. Each of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers is disposed between two of the electrode layers. The controller is electrically connected to the electrode layers and configured to adjust voltages applied to the electrode layers so as to operate the cholesteric liquid crystal layers in at least two steps of light attenuation for randomly polarized light with at least one of a blue band and an ultraviolet band.

Abstract: A tunable light projector including a light source, a fixed optical phase modulator, a tunable liquid crystal panel, and a driver is provided. The light source is configured to emit a light beam. The fixed optical phase modulator is disposed on a path of the light beam and configured to modulate phases of the light beam. The tunable liquid crystal panel is disposed on the path of the light beam from the fixed optical phase modulator and configured to switch the light beam between a structured light and a flood light. The driver is electrically connected to a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer of the tunable liquid crystal panel and configured to change a voltage difference between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so as to switch the light beam between the structured light and the flood light.

Abstract: A flexible optical element adopting liquid crystals (LCs) as the materials for realizing electrically tunable optics is foldable. A method for manufacturing the flexible element includes patterned photo-polymerization. The LC optics can include a pair of LC layers with orthogonally aligned LC directors for polarizer-free properties, flexible polymeric alignment layers, flexible substrates, and a module for controlling the electric field. The lens power of the LC optics can be changed by controlling the distribution of electric field across the optical zone.