Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light through one or more of a plurality of waveguides, a plurality of emitters, wherein at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters is disposed in communication with the one or more of the plurality of waveguides and configured to receive light and cause at least a portion of the light to exit the waveguide, and a lens disposed to receive light exiting the one or more of a plurality of waveguides via the at least one emitter, wherein the lens is configured to direct the received light as an optical output, and wherein the position of the at least one emitter relative to the lens facilitates beam steering of the optical output.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light through one or more of a plurality of waveguides, a plurality of emitters, wherein at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters is disposed in communication with the one or more of the plurality of waveguides and configured to receive light and cause at least a portion of the light to exit the waveguide, and a lens disposed to receive light exiting the one or more of a plurality of waveguides via the at least one emitter, wherein the lens is configured to direct the received light as an optical output, and wherein the position of the at least one emitter relative to the lens facilitates beam steering of the optical output.

Abstract: A millimeter scale weak grating coupler comprising a silicon waveguide having bars of overlay material of length (a) disposed periodically at a period (?) adjacent the silicon waveguide whereby a uniform grating output is achieved.

Abstract: Light recycling within a waveguide is achieved by mode conversion instead of resonance. A structure is provided in in which light makes multiple passes through the same waveguide by converting the mode to a different mode after each pass and rerouting the light back into the same waveguide. The structure includes a bus waveguide and at least one mode converter device disposed at or adjacent each of two opposing ends of the bus waveguide, wherein each mode converter devices is configured to receive light having a receiving mode along a first direction and to cause light having a different mode from the receiving mode to propagate in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprising an optical switch array comprising a plurality of optical switches configured to selectively route light through one or more of a plurality of waveguides, a plurality of emitters, wherein at least one emitter of the plurality of emitters is disposed in communication with the one or more of the plurality of waveguides and configured to receive light and cause at least a portion of the light to exit the waveguide, and a lens disposed to receive light exiting the one or more of a plurality of waveguides via the at least one emitter, wherein the lens is configured to direct the received light as an optical output, and wherein the position of the at least one emitter relative to the lens facilitates beam steering of the optical output.

Abstract: An optical coupling apparatus comprising a substrate having a trench formed therein, the trench having a width measured between two opposing walls that define a portion of the trench; and a waveguide disposed on or in the substrate, the waveguide having a width that tapers along an axis of light propagation.

Abstract: Light recycling within a waveguide is achieved by mode conversion instead of resonance. A structure is provided in in which light makes multiple passes through the same waveguide by converting the mode to a different mode after each pass and rerouting the light back into the same waveguide. The structure includes a bus waveguide and at least one mode converter device disposed at or adjacent each of two opposing ends of the bus waveguide, wherein each mode converter devices is configured to receive light having a receiving mode along a first direction and to cause light having a different mode from the receiving mode to propagate in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An optical coupling apparatus comprising a substrate having a trench formed therein, the trench having a width measured between two opposing walls that define a portion of the trench; and a waveguide disposed on or in the substrate, the waveguide having a width that tapers along an axis of light propagation.

Abstract: A millimeter scale weak grating coupler comprising a silicon waveguide having bars of overlay material of length (a) disposed periodically at a period (?) adjacent the silicon waveguide whereby a uniform grating output is achieved.

Abstract: A light field imaging system with transparent photodetectors is presented. The light field imaging system includes: a stack of two or more detector planes, an imaging optic, and an image processor. The detector planes include one or more transparent photodetectors, such that transparent photodetectors have transparency greater than fifty percent (at one or more wavelengths) while simultaneously exhibiting responsivity greater than one amp per watt. The imaging optic is configured to receive light rays from a scene and refract the light rays towards the stack of two or more detector planes, such that the refracted light rays pass through the transparent detector planes and the refracted light rays are focused within the stack of detector planes. The image processor reconstruct a light field for the scene (at one of more wavelengths) using the light intensity distribution measured by each of the photodetectors.

Abstract: A photodetector is provided with a thin film double layer heterostructure. The photodetector is comprised of: a substrate; a channel layer of a transistor deposited onto a top surface of the substrate; a source layer of the transistor deposited on the top surface of the substrate; a drain layer of the transistor deposited on the top surface of the substrate, the source layer and the drain layer disposed on opposing sides of the channel layer; a barrier layer deposited onto the channel layer; and a light absorbing layer deposited on the barrier layer. The light absorbing layer is configured to absorb light and, in response to light incident on the light absorbing layer, electrical conductance of the channel layer is changed through hot carrier tunneling from the light absorbing layer to the channel layer.

Abstract: A photodetector is provided with a thin film double layer heterostructure. The photodetector is comprised of: a substrate; a channel layer of a transistor deposited onto a top surface of the substrate; a source layer of the transistor deposited on the top surface of the substrate; a drain layer of the transistor deposited on the top surface of the substrate, the source layer and the drain layer disposed on opposing sides of the channel layer; a barrier layer deposited onto the channel layer; and a light absorbing layer deposited on the barrier layer. The light absorbing layer is configured to absorb light and, in response to light incident on the light absorbing layer, electrical conductance of the channel layer is changed through hot carrier tunneling from the light absorbing layer to the channel layer.

Abstract: A transparent speaker is suitable for being disposed on a display panel. The transparent speaker includes a transparent membrane, a transparent electrode plate, and spacers. Each transparent electrode plate has a plurality of openings. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels. The pixels emit optical signals. A Moire spatial period of the optical signals is less than 600 ?m after the optical signals pass through the transparent speaker. When the transparent speaker is disposed on the display panel, a user is able to watch an image on the display panel through the transparent speaker without being interfered by a Moire.

Abstract: A lens unit and a projection screen made of the same are disclosed. The lens unit includes a micro lens having a light incident surface and a light emergent surface opposing to the light incident surface; a light absorbing layer formed on the light emergent surface of the micro lens and having a cavity formed therein; a scattering layer formed in the cavity of the light absorbing layer and including a transparent resin blended with scattering particles; and a reflective layer formed on the light absorbing layer and the scattering layer. The projection screen includes a plurality of the lens units, thereby achieving high contrast and high energy utilization efficiency of incident light with a large viewing angle.

Abstract: A micro optical head is provided, which provides sub-wavelength focusing spot and very long depth of focus. The optical head includes a transparent substrate, an opaque film, and at least one sub-wavelength annular channel. After coherent light transmits the transparent substrate supporting the optical head and passes through the appropriately designed sub-wavelength annular channel, the transmitted light can overcome the diffraction limit, and the transmission energy is improved efficiently. The transmitted light converges after a certain distance behind the optical head and forms a sub-wavelength-scale beam that maintains a very long distance without divergence.

Abstract: A transparent speaker is suitable for being disposed on a display panel. The transparent speaker includes a transparent membrane, a transparent electrode plate, and spacers. Each transparent electrode plate has a plurality of openings. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels. The pixels emit optical signals. A Moire spatial period of the optical signals is less than 600 ?m after the optical signals pass through the transparent speaker. When the transparent speaker is disposed on the display panel, a user is able to watch an image on the display panel through the transparent speaker without being interfered by a Moire.

Abstract: A photoelectric converting device which includes a substrate layer and an active layer is proposed. The active layer, which is disposed over the substrate layer, has a light receiving surface with a textured structure. The textured structure includes multiple indented units and each of the indented units includes three planes, which form an indentation tip at the intersection point between the three planes. The three planes are perpendicular or about perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical head with a single or multiple sub-wavelength light beams, which can be used in arenas such as photolithography, optical storage, optical microscopy, to name a few. The present invention includes a transparent substrate, a thin film, and a surface structure with sub-wavelength surface profile. The incident light transmits through the transparent substrate, forms a surface plasma wave along the sub-wavelength aperture located within the thin film, and finally re-emits through spatial coupling with the sub-wavelength profile of the surface structure. As the coupled re-emitting light beam or light beams can maintain the waist less than that of the diffraction limit for a few micrometers out of the surface with sub-wavelength profile in many cases, this invention can have applications ranging from micro or nano manufacturing, metrology, and manipulation by using light beams with waist smaller than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: A lens unit and a projection screen made of the same are disclosed. The lens unit includes a micro lens having a light incident surface and a light emergent surface opposing to the light incident surface; a light absorbing layer formed on the light emergent surface of the micro lens and having a cavity formed therein; a scattering layer formed in the cavity of the light absorbing layer and including a transparent resin blended with scattering particles; and a reflective layer formed on the light absorbing layer and the scattering layer. The projection screen includes a plurality of the lens units, thereby achieving high contrast and high energy utilization efficiency of incident light with a large viewing angle.

Abstract: A micro optical head is provided, which provides sub-wavelength focusing spot and very long depth of focus. The optical head includes a transparent substrate, an opaque film, and at least one sub-wavelength annular channel. After coherent light transmits the transparent substrate supporting the optical head and passes through the appropriately designed sub-wavelength annular channel, the transmitted light can overcome the diffraction limit, and the transmission energy is improved efficiently. The transmitted light converges after a certain distance behind the optical head and forms a sub-wavelength-scale beam that maintains a very long distance without divergence.