Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for spatially controlling illumination provided by a flash module. The flash module includes a flash controller that controls light emitters of an emitter array according to an illumination profile. The illumination profile is selected to reduce a relative brightness to a target region of the flash module's field of illumination. The target region is associated with a portion of a target object identified in the field of illumination. In some instances, the target region corresponds to a portion of a user's eye that is positioned within the field of illumination. In other instances, the flash module is incorporated into a device, and the target region corresponds to a reflected image of a portion of the device that is positioned within the field of illumination.

Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and multiple arrays of emitters disposed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to emit beams of optical radiation. An optical substrate is mounted over the semiconductor substrate. An optical metasurface disposed on the optical substrate includes multiple optical apertures. Each aperture is configured to receive, collimate and split the beams emitted by a respective array of the emitters into a respective group of collimated sub-beams, so as to direct the collimated sub-beams toward a target at different, respective angles to form a pattern of spots on the target.

Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and an array of emitters disposed on the semiconductor substrate and configured to emit beams of optical radiation having respective chief rays. An optical diffuser is mounted over the semiconductor substrate and configured to diffuse the beams. Microlenses are disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the optical diffuser in respective alignment with the emitters and configured to steer the beams at different, respective angles, which are selected so that at least some of the chief rays cross one another before passing through the diffuser.

Abstract: An optical component includes a mask defining a light blocking portion and a light transmitting portion of the optical component. The light blocking portion is separated from the light transmitting portion by one or more mask edges, at least one of which is defined by an apodized pattern. The apodized pattern of the mask edge reduces diffraction and thus flare caused by the mask.

Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes an array of emitters configured to emit beams of optical radiation. An optical substrate is mounted over the array. An optical metasurface is disposed on the optical substrate and configured to collimate and split each of the emitted beams into a respective group of collimated sub-beams, and to direct the collimated sub-beams toward a target to form a pattern of spots on 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: Various embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for spatially controlling illumination provided by a flash module. The flash module includes a flash controller that controls light emitters of an emitter array according to an illumination profile. The illumination profile is selected to reduce a relative brightness to a target region of the flash module's field of illumination. The target region is associated with a portion of a target object identified in the field of illumination. In some instances, the target region corresponds to a portion of a user's eye that is positioned within the field of illumination. In other instances, the flash module is incorporated into a device, and the target region corresponds to a reflected image of a portion of the device that is positioned within the field of illumination.

Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes a substrate and first and second arrays of emitters disposed on the substrate and configured to emit respective first and second beams of optical radiation. The apparatus further includes an optical metasurface disposed on the substrate and configured to collimate and diffuse the first beams without diffusing the second beams, and an optical projection element, configured to intercept both the first and the second beams that have passed through the optical metasurface and to direct both the first and the second beams toward a target while focusing the second beams to form a pattern of spots on the target.

Abstract: One disclosed embodiment includes techniques for temperature-dependent reference image correction in structured light projectors that may be used for generating three-dimensional (3D) scene depth maps. The techniques disclosed herein include receiving an indication of a temperature (e.g., an actual current operating temperature or a change in the current operating temperature relative to an established reference temperature) associated with one or more components of a projector and then determining, based on the temperature indication, an amount of adjustment needed to correct a reference pattern image based on an estimated effective focal length change of the projector. Next, a reference pattern image may be appropriately adjusted, e.g.

Abstract: One disclosed embodiment includes techniques for temperature-dependent reference image correction in structured light projectors that may be used for generating three-dimensional (3D) scene depth maps. The techniques disclosed herein include receiving an indication of a temperature (e.g., an actual current operating temperature or a change in the current operating temperature relative to an established reference temperature) associated with one or more components of a projector and then determining, based on the temperature indication, an amount of adjustment needed to correct a reference pattern image based on an estimated effective focal length change of the projector. Next, a reference pattern image may be appropriately adjusted, e.g.

Abstract: Sensing apparatus includes a projector, which projects toward a target a pattern of spots extending over a predefined angular range about a projection axis. An imaging assembly includes an image sensor and objective optics, which form on the image sensor an image of the target along an imaging axis, which is offset transversely relative to the projection axis. A processor is configured to process signals output by the image sensor so as generate, while the target is within a first span of distances from the apparatus, a depth map of the target responsively to shifts of the spots in the image, and to estimate, while the target is within a second span of distances, nearer to the apparatus than the first span, a distance to the target from the apparatus by detecting in the image a part of the pattern located at an edge of the angular range.

Abstract: A compact folded projection system is described that includes a laser light source, a folded lens system comprising a lens stack including two or more refractive lenses and a light folding element (e.g., a prism), and a diffractive beam splitter that includes at least one diffractive surface. The light folding element provides a “folded” optical axis for the lens system to reduce the Z-height of the projection system, for example to within a range of 1.7 to 4 millimeters (e.g., 2 millimeters in some implementations). The laser light source emits light that is refracted by the lens stack to the folding element. The folding element redirects the light to the beam splitter which replicates the light into N×M duplications or tiles to thus generate a larger field of view (FOV) than the internal FOV of the lens system.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a transparent envelope having opposing first and second faces. An electro-optic material is contained within the transparent envelope and includes molecules oriented in respective predefined directions selected so as to form a geometric-phase structure across an area of the transparent envelope. First and second transparent electrodes are disposed respectively across the first and second faces of the transparent envelope. A controller is coupled to apply a voltage between the first and second transparent electrodes that is sufficient to displace the molecules of the electro-optic material from the predefined directions.

Abstract: An opto-electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface. An emitter is formed on the substrate and configured to emit a beam of light away from the planar surface. A reflective layer is formed on the planar surface adjacent to the emitter. A transparent layer is formed over the planar surface and has a curved outer surface including a first segment positioned vertically over the emitter and configured to internally reflect the emitted beam of light toward the reflective layer, and a second segment positioned and configured to collimate and transmit the beam reflected from the reflective layer.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels for displaying images. The display may have a window region. During operation, a component such as an optical component may operate through the window region. The window region may overlap a movable portion of the display. The window region may be operated in open and closed states. In the closed state, the movable portion of the display overlaps the window region and pixels in the movable display portion emit light through the window region. In the open state, the movable portion of the display is moved away from the window region so that light for the optical component may pass through the window region. The optical component may be a camera or other component that receives light through the window region or may be an optical component that emits light through the window region.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a housing, with imaging optics mounted in the housing and configured to form an optical image, at a focal plane within the housing, of an object outside the housing. An image sensor, including a matrix of detector elements, is positioned at the focal plane in alignment with the imaging optics and is configured to output an electronic image signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements. At least one emitter is fixed within the housing and is configured to emit a test beam toward one or more reflective surfaces within the housing, which reflect the test beam toward the image sensor. A processor is configured to process the electronic image signal output by the image sensor in response to the reflected test beam so as to detect a change in the alignment of the image sensor with the imaging optics.

Abstract: A compact folded projection system is described that includes a laser light source, a folded lens system comprising a lens stack including two or more refractive lenses and a light folding element (e.g., a prism), and a diffractive beam splitter that includes at least one diffractive surface. The light folding element provides a “folded” optical axis for the lens system to reduce the Z-height of the projection system, for example to within a range of 1.7 to 4 millimeters (e.g., 2 millimeters in some implementations). The laser light source emits light that is refracted by the lens stack to the folding element. The folding element redirects the light to the beam splitter which replicates the light into NxM duplications or tiles to thus generate a larger field of view (FOV) than the internal FOV of the lens system.

Abstract: A compact folded projection system is described that includes a laser light source, a folded lens system comprising a lens stack including two or more refractive lenses and a light folding element (e.g., a prism), and a diffractive beam splitter that includes at least one diffractive surface. The light folding element provides a “folded” optical axis for the lens system to reduce the Z-height of the projection system, for example to within a range of 1.7 to 4 millimeters (e.g., 2 millimeters in some implementations). The laser light source emits light that is refracted by the lens stack to the folding element. The folding element redirects the light to the beam splitter which replicates the light into N×M duplications or tiles to thus generate a larger field of view (FOV) than the internal FOV of the lens system.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a housing, with imaging optics mounted in the housing and configured to form an optical image, at a focal plane within the housing, of an object outside the housing. An image sensor, including a matrix of detector elements, is positioned at the focal plane in alignment with the imaging optics and is configured to output an electronic image signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements. At least one emitter is fixed within the housing and is configured to emit a test beam toward one or more reflective surfaces within the housing, which reflect the test beam toward the image sensor. A processor is configured to process the electronic image signal output by the image sensor in response to the reflected test beam so as to detect a change in the alignment of the image sensor with the imaging optics.

Abstract: An opto-electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate having a planar surface. An emitter is formed on the substrate and configured to emit a beam of light away from the planar surface. A reflective layer is formed on the planar surface adjacent to the emitter. A transparent layer is formed over the planar surface and has a curved outer surface including a first segment positioned vertically over the emitter and configured to internally reflect the emitted beam of light toward the reflective layer, and a second segment positioned and configured to collimate and transmit the beam reflected from the reflective layer.