Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided. One exemplary system incorporates multiple lenses that are individually configured to receive multi-wavelength light from an object to be imaged. Each lens provides an optimal modulation transfer function (MTF) for an individual wavelength contained in the multi-wavelength light when this individual wavelength of light strikes the lens at a particular incident angle. Associated with each lens is a color filter and a sensor. The color filter receives the multi-wavelength light from the lens, and transmits the individual wavelength of light on to the sensor. The image signals obtained from each of the multiple sensors are combined to generate an image of the object.

Abstract: A projection optical system for digital lithography. The system includes an Offner imaging system defining an optical axis and having a well-corrected region. The system also includes spatial light modulators circumferentially arranged about the optical axis, such that optical beams emitted thereby propagate through the Offner imaging system within the well-corrected region.

Abstract: A projection optical system for digital lithography includes an Offner imaging system with a defined optical axis. The Offner imaging system has a well-corrected region. The system includes means for shaping an optical beam having an extent too large to fit within the well-corrected region to propagate through the Offner imaging system within the well-corrected region.

Abstract: A color image sensor has imaging elements each structured to form, at an image plane, an image of a subject having a respective magnification. Ones of the imaging elements forming respective ones of the images with the same magnification in light of mutually different colors constitute a set characterized by the magnification of the images. The sets having mutually-different magnifications. The color image sensor additionally has a light sensor located in the image plane and comprising a region of sensor elements disposed opposite each of the imaging elements. The regions of sensor elements opposite each of the sets of imaging elements are operable to generate, in response to light incident thereon, a respective color image signal representing the image of the subject at the respective magnification.

Abstract: The color-tunable light emitter has a first electrode and a light-generating layer adjacent the first electrode. The light-generating layer is operable to generate light in a band of wavelengths. The color-tunable light emitter also includes an electro-optical layer, a second electrode adjacent the electro-optical layer and a corrugated metal layer between the light-generating layer and the electro-optical layer. The corrugated metal layer couples a sub-band of the light from the light-generating layer to the electro-optical layer. The sub-band has a center wavelength dependent on a voltage applied to at least one of the electrodes.

Abstract: An optical coupler including a substrate, a diffractive optical element defined in the substrate, the diffractive optical element structured to receive incident light diverging from a first location and to focus the incident light at a second location opposite the first location, an electro-optical device mounted on the substrate to one of (a) emit light from and (b) receive light at one of the locations, and an optical waveguide mounted on the substrate to one of (a) receive light at and (b) emit light from the other of the locations.

Abstract: An external cavity laser and method for selectively emitting light based on wavelength utilizes a focusing diffractive optical element (DOE) that has been corrected for spherical aberration. The use of the aberration-corrected focusing DOE narrows the cavity spectral response of the external cavity laser, which enables single wavelength/mode lasing and suppresses mode hopping. The aberration-corrected focusing DOE may be transmissive or reflective, depending on the configuration of the external cavity laser.

Abstract: The color image sensor generates an image signal representing a subject. The color image sensor has a light sensor and imaging elements arranged to form images of the subject in light of different colors on respective regions of the light sensor. The light sensor includes sensor elements and is operable to generate the image signal in response to light incident on it.

Abstract: The color image sensor generates a color image signal representing a subject and includes an optical substrate and a light sensor. The optical substrate includes spatially-separated imaging elements. Each of the imaging elements is configured to image light of a respective color. The light sensor includes regions of sensor elements disposed opposite respective ones of the imaging elements. The sensor elements in each of the regions are operable to generate a component of the color image signal in response to the light of the respective color incident on them.

Abstract: A technique for changing the cross-sectional profile of a beam of light from, for example, circular or elliptical to thin involves dividing the beam of light into cross-sectional portions, rotating the cross-sectional portions, and then concatenating the rotated cross-sectional portions to form a thin beam. The resulting thin beam has a long dimension that is formed by the concatenation of the cross-sectional portions of the original beam. A device for changing the cross-sectional profile of a beam of light may be fabricated with silicon optical bench technologies or other molding technologies. The device includes facets that divide a beam of light into cross-sectional portions, rotate the cross-sectional portions, and then concatenate the rotated cross-sectional portions to form a thin beam.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electro-absorption modulator including an optical waveguide and a microwave waveguide. The microwave waveguide is electromagnetically coupled to the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a quantum well region and a substantially sinusoidal structure. The waveguide mode of the optical waveguide is responsive to the substantially sinusoidal structure.

Abstract: A monolithic multi-focal length miniature refractive element comprising a first surface region and a second surface region. The first surface region has a first characteristic radius of curvature. The second surface region has a second radius of curvature that is different from the first characteristic radius of curvature. The first and second surface regions are formed on a single optical element blank. The optical element blank can be a composite of two or more materials.

Abstract: A method of tunable wavelength filtering without requiring mechanical motion is provided. The method comprises receiving a light beam of wavelength within a range of wavelengths, dispersing the light beam at a wavelength-dependent angle, and propagating the light beam through an electro-optic device including an electrically-variable refractive index electro-optic element. The method further comprises applying a control voltage to the electro-optic device, causing tunable wavelength filtering dependent on the control voltage.

Abstract: A method of enhancing wavelength tuning performance in an external cavity laser includes providing a diffractive focusing element, emitting light into the cavity of the laser at a range of angles relative to an optical axis of the cavity, and diffractively focusing the light back onto the optical axis at a wavelength-dependent focal distance using the diffractive focusing element. The method further includes confining the diffractive focusing to a high dispersivity portion of the diffractive focusing element. In various embodiments, the confining may include offsetting the diffractive focusing element radially relative to the optical axis, or selectively blocking a portion of the light emitted into the cavity at emission angles less than a threshold emission angle.

Abstract: A method of enhancing wavelength tuning performance in an external cavity laser includes emitting light into the cavity of the laser at a range of angles relative to an optical axis of the cavity, and transforming emitted light of narrow beam divergence to light with beam divergence wider than the narrow beam divergence. The method further includes diffractively focusing the light of wider beam divergence.

Abstract: A device and method for emitting light with increased brightness utilizes a lamp having a diffractive grating pattern. The diffractive grating pattern diffracts incident light that originates from a light source toward a light output region of the lamp. The diffraction of the incident light causes more of the light to impinge the light output region of the lamp at desired angles. This reduces the angular distribution of the light emitted from the light output region as output light. The reduction in angular distribution of emitted light results in an increased brightness of the device.

Abstract: Motion of a speckle pattern is employed to provide for navigation in three dimensions. Non-speckle optical navigation methods may also be used to provide for two dimensional surface navigation with speckle being used to provide for navigation in the third dimension.

Abstract: Speckle based optical navigation is improved by increasing the collection efficiency of the photodetector through the introduction of a lightpipe or reflector technology. For example, the use of elliptical sidewalls and diffraction gratings in conjunction with a lightpipe leads to improvements in collection efficiency.