Abstract: A laser assembly includes a vertical cavity surface emitting laser and a resonant cavity extension. The resonant cavity extension is defined by two separate portions. A first portion may be formed from gallium arsenide and can define a microlens. A silicon dioxide layer can be disposed over the first portion and may be polished to a flat, planar surface. Reflective layers may interpose the first portion and second portion of the resonant cavity extension, and a reflective layer may be disposed over the planar surface. As a result of this construction, an extended cavity vertical surface emitting laser can be defined that is resistant to mode hopping and exhibits improved coherence length, beam divergence (high numerical aperture), and beam quality.

Abstract: Optical sensing apparatus includes a transmitter, which is configured to emit FM coherent optical radiation toward a target. A receiver alongside the transmitter includes an array of optical detectors. An objective optic focuses optical radiation that is reflected from the target onto the receiver. A transparent slab over the transmitter and the receiver has a first face facing the substrate and an opposing second face, which includes a first diffractive structure intercepting the transmit axis and configured to deflect a part of the FM coherent optical radiation to form a local beam propagating diagonally within the transparent slab and reflecting from the second face toward the receive axis. A second diffractive structure on the second face intercepts the receive axis and projects the reflected local beam onto the array of detectors, whereby the local beam mixes at the array with the optical radiation reflected from the target.

Abstract: A system for optical sensing, consisting of a transmitter that transmits outgoing collimated light toward a target along a transmit axis, and a receiver, positioned alongside the transmitter, that receives incoming light propagating from the target along a receive axis parallel to the transmit axis and that outputs electrical signals in response to the received incoming light. The system includes a switchable liquid crystal polarized grating (LCPG) positioned to intercept and divert, by a common angle, both the outgoing collimated light along the transmit axis and the incoming light along the receive axis, the common angle being selectable from among a plurality of preset diversion angles of the LCPG. A controller switches the LCPG over the preset diversion angles and processes the electrical signals output by the receiver in response to the incoming light received at the preset diversion angles so as to sense a property of the target.

Abstract: Optical sensing apparatus includes a transmitter, which emits frequency-modulated (FM) coherent optical radiation along a transmit axis toward a target, and a receiver, which is disposed alongside the transmitter and comprises an array of detectors. An objective optic focuses the optical radiation that is reflected from the target onto the receiver along a receive axis. A transparent slab, disposed over the transmitter and receiver, includes a diffractive surface, which deflects a part of the FM coherent optical radiation to form a local beam propagating diagonally within the transparent slab and reflecting from within the slab toward the receive axis. A collimating metasurface on the slab, intercepting the receive axis, deflects and collimates the reflected local beam onto the array of detectors, whereby the local beam mixes at the array with the optical radiation reflected from the target.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a detector assembly, which includes a matrix of optical sensing elements having a predefined pitch. Each optical sensing element includes an active area having a width that is less than 90% of the pitch. An array of optical apertures are respectively aligned with the optical sensing elements such that each optical aperture is positioned at a distance from a respective optical sensing element that is no less than twice the width of the active area. Objective optics are configured to focus light from a scene onto the detector assembly.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and an array of emitters disposed on the substrate. The array includes a first sub-array, having a first pitch, disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate, a second sub-array, also having the first pitch, disposed in a central area of the substrate, which is contained within the peripheral area, and a third sub-array, having a second pitch finer than the first pitch, interleaved with the second sub-array in the central area of the substrate. Conductors disposed on the substrate are configured to activate the first, second, and third sub-arrays selectively.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein light source arrays with integrated beam-splitting prisms. The beam-splitting prisms are formed in a surface of a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate, and split input beams generated by an array of emitters. The beam-splitting prisms each include a plurality of prism surfaces that generate a different output beam.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a detector assembly, which includes a matrix of optical sensing elements having a predefined pitch. Each optical sensing element includes an active area having a width that is less than 90% of the pitch. An array of optical apertures are respectively aligned with the optical sensing elements such that each optical aperture is positioned at a distance from a respective optical sensing element that is no less than twice the width of the active area. Objective optics are configured to focus light from a scene onto the detector assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying an aiming vector of a firearm to a user, including: at least one illuminating source, positioned along a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the firearm and at least one light sensor, mounted onto a headgear at a predetermined position, and configured to detect light parameters from the at least one light source, and a processor, configured to: (i) receive the detected light parameters of the at least one illuminating source (ii) determine a location of the at least one illuminating source, based on the detected light parameters, and (iii) generate an aiming vector of the firearm based on the location of the at least one illuminating source with respect to the predetermined position of the at least one light sensor. A display unit mounted onto a headgear is configured to display the aiming vector generated by the processor.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying an aiming vector of a firearm to a user, including: at least one illuminating source, positioned along a longitudinal axis of a barrel of the firearm and at least one light sensor, mounted onto a headgear at a predetermined position, and configured to detect light parameters from the at least one light source, and a processor, configured to: (i) receive the detected light parameters of the at least one illuminating source (ii) determine a location of the at least one illuminating source, based on the detected light parameters, and (iii) generate an aiming vector of the firearm based on the location of the at least one illuminating source with respect to the predetermined position of the at least one light sensor. A display unit mounted onto a headgear is configured to display the aiming vector generated by the processor.

Abstract: A solar cell system comprises a solar cell comprising a grid and a photo-sensitive area, wherein the grid includes a conductor, and an optical micro-structure positioned between the conductors, wherein the micro-structure covers at least a portion of the conductors.