Abstract: A diffractive optical element including microstructures, along a surface of an optical material, having a phase profile to diffract input illumination into structured light of a plurality of different diffraction orders; wherein the phase profile is at least partially phase unwrapped is disclosed. Methods of generating the diffractive optical element is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical element comprising a body having a surface, wherein the surface has a plurality of regions periodically arranged in a tessellation, and wherein each region of the plurality of regions has a random spatial distribution of microstructures is disclosed. An optical system comprises a light source; and the optical element is also disclosed. Methods of making and using the optical element and the optical system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diffuser is disclosed. A system comprising a light source and a diffuser is disclosed. The light source is aligned with a microlens of the diffuser in a static configuration. A method of reducing speckle with the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical element including a body of optical material; and a plurality of microstructures along a surface of the body, wherein each microstructure of the plurality of microstructures has a sag profile. An optical system can include a light source; and an optical element having a body of optical material and a plurality of microstructures along a surface of the body, wherein each microstructure of the plurality of microstructures generates a super-cosine intensity profile that provides an irradiance over a field of view. Methods of making and using the optical element and optical system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical element comprising a body having a surface, wherein the surface has a plurality of regions periodically arranged in a tessellation, and wherein each region of the plurality of regions has a random spatial distribution of microstructures is disclosed. An optical system comprises a light source; and the optical element is also disclosed. Methods of making and using the optical element and the optical system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical device, such as a diffuser, can include a substrate; and a diffuser surface, in which the diffuser surface has an index of refraction greater than about 1.8. A method of making and using the optical device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical system including a first microstructured surface; and a second microstructured surface; wherein the first microstructured surface is aligned along an axis with the second microstructured surface is provided. An illumination system including a light source and the optical system is also included. A method of diffusing light is included.

Abstract: Optical elements for efficiently diffusing or shaping light have substrates with saddle shaped structures on their surfaces which provide substantially uniform light along a predefined angular range. Each saddle shaped structure defines an aperture of a lens, where the outer boundary of such aperture, when viewed normal to surface, may be of one of more different shapes, such as square or rectangular, circular, hexagonal, oval, or other geometric or arbitrary shape which may represent a full saddle shape or a subset region thereof. A plurality of saddle shaped structures may be arranged periodically or randomly along the surface. An optical element with a saddle shaped structure is referred to as a saddle lens, and optical elements with different shaped saddle shaped structures provide different types of saddle lenses.

Abstract: A method and system of retro-emission include a microlens array to focus light of a first wavelength on a layer of luminescent material configured to emit light of a second wavelength when excited by a light of the first wavelength.

Abstract: Microlens arrays (105) having high focusing efficiencies are provided. The high focusing efficiencies are achieved by accurately producing the individual microlenses making up the array at high fill factors. Arrays of positive microlenses are produced by forming a master having a concave surface-relief pattern (101) in a positive photoresist (21) using direct laser writing. Through this approach, the problems associated with the convolution of a finite laser beam with a desired profile for a microlens are overcome. The microlens arrays of the invention have focusing efficiencies of at least 75%.

Abstract: Structured screens for the controlled spreading, diffusion, or scattering of an incident beam are provided. The screens are composed of microstructures (1,2) whose configurations and distribution on the surfaces of the screen are precisely determined. In certain embodiments, the configurations and/or their distribution is randomized. The structured screens can be used as diffusing screens or display screens.

Abstract: Microlens arrays are defined with microlens elements that differ from each other in accordance with a probability distribution for shaping an optical beam having a prescribed intensity profile within a desired far-field scatter pattern. The differences include random variations in a sag profile corresponding to a surface shape of the microlenses, a boundary profile corresponding to a boundary of the microlenses, and a spatial distribution corresponding to the relative position of the microlenses within the array. The sag profile variations can be used to homogenize an intensity profile of the optical beam. The boundary profile variations within an irregular spatial distribution can be used to apply the prescribed intensity profile of the optical beam within the desired scatter pattern.

Abstract: Microlens arrays (105) having high focusing efficiencies are provided. The high focusing efficiencies are achieved by accurately producing the individual microlenses making up the array at high fill factors. Arrays of positive microlenses are produced by forming a master having a concave surface-relief pattern (101) in a positive photoresist (21) using direct laser writing. Through this approach, the problems associated with the convolution of a finite laser beam with a desired profile for a microlens are overcome. The microlens arrays of the invention have focusing efficiencies of at least 75%.

Abstract: Microlens arrays are defined with microlens elements that differ from each other in accordance with a probability distribution for shaping an optical beam having a prescribed intensity profile within a desired far-field scatter pattern. The differences include random variations in a sag profile corresponding to a surface shape of the microlenses, a boundary profile corresponding to a boundary of the microlenses, and a spatial distribution corresponding to the relative position of the microlenses within the array. The sag profile variations can be used to homogenize an intensity profile of the optical beam. The boundary profile variations within an irregular spatial distribution can be used to apply the prescribed intensity profile of the optical beam within the desired scatter pattern.

Abstract: Screens for use with image-forming illumination (53,54) are provided, as well as methods for producing such screens. The screens include an array of lenses (51), a substrate, and a layer of light-absorbing material (55) in which apertures are formed using aperture-forming illumination (52) which passes through the lenses (51). The optical properties of the lenses (51) and the thickness of the substrate are selected so as to maximize the light-blocking area of the layer of light-absorbing material (55) while allowing long-wavelength image-forming illumination (54) to pass through the apertures substantially unimpeded. The array of lenses can be an array of randomized, anamorphic microlenses.

Abstract: Superresolution elements which provide masks and are integrated into superresolution lenses, and in confocal imaging, optical disk and reprographic systems and laser pattern generation systems. The elements are phase-only elements, where the phase transmittance varies across the diameter of the element while the amplitude transmission is kept to one, although the amplitude can be varied to provide more design flexibility. These element filters can be fabricated by means of a variety of techniques including diffractive optics technology, holographic methods, thin film deposition, and as gradient-index elements.