Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and processes for constructing a contact lens. In one embodiment, a contact lens assembly is provided, comprising: a curved polymer polarizer with an aperture; a lenslet disposed inside the aperture, wherein the lenslet enables imaging near objects; and a filter attached to the lenslet. In further embodiments, a method for fabricating a flexible contact lens is provided, comprising: fabricating an element having an extrusion; providing a front concave mold, wherein the front mold has an intrusion to accommodate the extrusion of the optical element; affixing the extrusion of the optical element to the intrusion of the front mold; attaching a back convex mold to the front concave mold, thereby forming a mold cavity; and filling the mold cavity with a pre-polymerized liquid, whereby upon polymerization, the pre-polymerized liquid forms the flexible contact lens and the optical element is partially encapsulated within the lens.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and apparatus directed toward using a contact lens and deflection optics to process display information and non-display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a display panel assembly is provided, comprising: a transparent substrate that permits light to pass through substantially undistorted; a reflector disposed on the transparent substrate; and a display panel aimed toward the reflector and substantially away from a human visual system, wherein the reflector reflects light emitted from the display panel toward the human visual system. The reflector may comprise a narrow band reflector or a polarization reflector.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and apparatuses directed toward using a display panel to processes display information and non-display information. Further embodiments, utilize a display panel in conjunction with a contact lens assembly configured to process the display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a display system is provided, comprising: a display panel disposed on a head-borne apparatus such that when a viewer is wearing the head-borne apparatus, the display panel is positioned in close proximity to an eye of the viewer such that the eye is unable to focus on the display panel unassisted; and a contact lens having focusing optics that assists the eye in focusing on the display panel. Within the display system, the display panel has pixels and is configured without focusing optics, thereby allowing light emitted by the pixels to diverge in an unfocused manner.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and apparatus directed toward using a contact lens and deflection optics to process display information and non-display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a display panel assembly is provided, comprising: a transparent substrate that permits light to pass through substantially undistorted; a two-dimensional display panel disposed on the transparent substrate, wherein the display panel comprises pixel elements sufficiently spaced with respect to each other to allow light to pass through the display panel assembly; and at least one filter disposed on at least one pixel element. The filter may comprise a bandpass filter that reduces bandwidths of emitted light from the pixel element, or a polarizer filter that limits polarity of emitted light from the pixel element.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and apparatuses directed toward using a contact lens and deflection optics to processes display information and non-display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a contact lens assembly is provided, comprising: a substrate including optical path optics and configured to receive a display information optical path emitted from a display and a non-display information optical path not emitted from the display. The optical path optics of the substrate is configured to be partially deflective such that the non-display information optical path is transmitted to a human visual system without deflection, and the display information optical path is transmitted to the human visual system with deflection.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and processes for constructing a contact lens. In one embodiment, a contact lens assembly is provided, comprising: a curved polymer polarizer with an aperture; a lenslet disposed inside the aperture, wherein the lenslet enables imaging near objects; and a filter attached to the lenslet. In further embodiments, a method for fabricating a flexible contact lens is provided, comprising: fabricating an element having an extrusion; providing a front concave mold, wherein the front mold has an intrusion to accommodate the extrusion of the optical element; affixing the extrusion of the optical element to the intrusion of the front mold; attaching a back convex mold to the front concave mold, thereby forming a mold cavity; and filling the mold cavity with a pre-polymerized liquid, whereby upon polymerization, the pre-polymerized liquid forms the flexible contact lens and the optical element is partially encapsulated within the lens.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for light bar structures and scanned light display systems. A light bar structure includes an elongated support arm having a plurality of light conduits. Each of the light conduits includes at least one input portion and a distal output end. A plurality of light emitters may be mounted on the support arm, each of the light emitters being positioned over an input portion of a corresponding one of the light conduits and operable to provide light thereto so that the light is optically coupled to the corresponding one of the light conduits and output from the output end thereof as diverging light. A scanned light display system includes a curved mirror positioned to receive the diverging light and configured to substantially collimate the received light. An actuator is operable to relatively move the light bar structure and the curved mirror to scan the collimated light to form an image.

Abstract: A MEMS oscillator, such as a MEMS scanner, has an improved and simplified drive scheme and structure. Drive impulses may be transmitted to an oscillating mass via torque through the support arms. For multi-axis oscillators drive signals for two or more axes may be superimposed by a driver circuit and transmitted to the MEMS oscillator. The oscillator responds in each axis according to its resonance frequency in that axis. The oscillator may be driven resonantly in some or all axes. Improved load distribution results in reduced deformation. A simplified structure offers multi-axis oscillation using a single moving body. Another structure directly drives a plurality of moving bodies. Another structure eliminates actuators from one or more moving bodies, those bodies being driven by their support arms.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for scanned and non-scanned light display systems are disclosed. A scanned light display system includes a collimating element configured to at least partially collimate light, and a first and at least a second set of pixel sources. The first set of pixel sources may be offset a fixed distance from the at least a second set of pixel sources so that light provided by the pixel sources of the first set and light provided by the pixel sources of the at least a second set is at least partially collimated by the collimating element to different extents to provide pixels having different apparent depths in an image. In other embodiments, the display system may be a scanned or non-scanned display that may relatively move the pixel source and the collimating element to vary the apparent depth of selected pixels.

Abstract: A spatially aware apparatus includes a projector. Projected display contents can change based on the position, motion, or orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus may include gyroscope(s), accelerometer(s), global positioning system (GPS) receiver(s), radio receiver(s), or any other devices or interfaces that detect, or provide information relating to, motion, orientation, or position of the apparatus.

Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for scanned beam endoscopes, endoscope tips, and scanned beam imagers are disclosed. In one aspect, a scanned beam endoscope includes an endoscope tip having a scanner, an illumination optical fiber, and at least one light detection element. The illumination optical fiber may be positioned so that a beam emitted from it passes through one of the openings in the scanner. In another aspect, a scanned beam endoscope includes an endoscope tip having a handle substrate that may be attached to the scanner and include one or more vias formed therein for selectively positioning and aligning the illumination optical fiber, detection optical fibers, or both.

Abstract: A portable video projector includes facility to direct a projected image field along an axis in an alignment corresponding to the state of an optical element.

Abstract: A control system for a projection display includes means for compensating for relative movement between a projection display and a projection surface and/or between a projected image and a viewer. The system may compensate for image shake. Movement may be detected optically, through motion or inertial detection, etc. The image may be compensated by modifying image properties such as resolution, by modifying an image bitmap, by moving a display engine or a display engine component, and/or by deflecting the projection axis, for example. According to an embodiment the projection display may include a display engine utilizing a laser scanner.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes an exposure unit having a MEMS scanner operable to scan a beam of light across a photoconductor. The MEMS scanner includes a mirror having an aspect ratio similar to the shape of the facets of a conventional rotating polygon scanner. In a preferred embodiment, the scan mirror has a length of about 750 microns in a dimension parallel to its axis of rotation and a length of about 8 millimeters in a dimension perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The MEMS scanner is operable to scan at a frequency of about 5 KHz and an angular displacement of about 20 degrees zero-to-peak mechanical scan angle.

Abstract: A laser drive controller compensates for temperature-dependent effects of a temperature-sensitive laser. Temperature variations in the laser may be measured and/or predicted based on variable pulsed output. The controller may drive the laser to maintain temperature and/or to compensate for variations in temperature. The techniques may be applied to a laser scanner, scanned beam display, laser printer, laser camera, scanned beam imager, etc.

Abstract: A scanned light display system includes a light emitter array having a plurality of light sources operable to emit diverging light and an array of collimating elements positioned so that each of the collimating elements receive at least a portion of the light emitted from a corresponding one of the light sources. Each of collimating elements is configured to substantially collimate the received light from at least one corresponding light source into respective beams. The scanned beam display is operable to scan the respective beams to provide an image to a viewer. The displayed image appears substantially fixed to a viewer as the viewer's eye moves relative to the array of collimating elements. In one embodiment, each of the collimating elements is a curved mirror. In other embodiments, each of the collimating elements includes at least one lens or a curved mirror/lens pair.

Abstract: A scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light and a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light. The curved mirror is configured to substantially collimate the received light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other. Alternatively, the scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light, a curved mirror positioned to receive some of the light, and an optical element positioned to receive light reflected from the curved mirror. The optical element is configured to substantially collimate the reflected light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source, the curved mirror, and the optical element. Scanning mirror assemblies and methods of making are also disclosed.

Abstract: A scanned light display system includes a light emitter array having a plurality of light sources operable to emit diverging light and an array of collimating elements positioned so that each of the collimating elements receive at least a portion of the light emitted from a corresponding one of the light sources. Each of collimating elements is configured to substantially collimate the received light from at least one corresponding light source into respective beams. The scanned beam display is operable to scan the respective beams to provide an image to a viewer. The displayed image appears substantially fixed to a viewer as the viewer's eye moves relative to the array of collimating elements. In one embodiment, each of the collimating elements is a curved mirror. In other embodiments, each of the collimating elements includes at least one lens or a curved mirror/lens pair.

Abstract: A scan assembly includes an emitter array containing a plurality of optical emitters. Each optical emitter generates a corresponding image beam and the scan assembly scans the image beams in a plurality of overlapping display zones. The overlap of adjacent image display zones forms blending zones and the scan assembly can modulate the intensities of the image beams as a function of the position of the image beams in the blending zones. This modulation for a given blending zone may be a linearly increasing intensity of a first image beam and a linearly decreasing intensity of a second image beam.