Liquid Crystal Diffraction Element Patents (Class 349/201)
  • Patent number: 11822160
    Abstract: A phase modulation active device and a method of driving the phase modulation active device are provided. The phase modulation active device includes channels independently modulating a phase of incident light. The method includes selecting a first phase value and a second phase value to be used for the channels, setting a binary phase profile by allocating the selected first phase value or the selected second phase value to each of the channels quasi-periodically, in a sequence in which the channels are arranged, and driving the phase modulation active device, based on the set binary phase profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Duhyun Lee, Changgyun Shin, Jisoo Kyoung, Byounglyong Choi
  • Patent number: 11789185
    Abstract: Provided is a reflective sheet that includes a reflective layer having a wide reflection wavelength range, excellent diffusion reflection properties, and inconspicuous defects. The reflective sheet includes a plurality of reflective layers that are laminated, the reflective layers being obtained by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase, in a cross-section of the reflective layer observed with a scanning electron microscope, at least a part of bright portions and dark portions derived from the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase has a flapping structure, a helical pitch in one or more reflective layers changes in a thickness direction, and a thickness of a reflective layer that is formed on a surface other than a surface of the reflective layer is less than those of other reflective layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ishiguro, Hideki Kaneiwa, Nobuhiko Ichihara, Akira Yamamoto, Ryuji Saneto, Michio Nagai
  • Patent number: 11693278
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal diffraction element which exhibits low scattering and high sharpness of diffracted light, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yukito Saitoh, Keisuke Kodama, Hiroshi Sato, Katsumi Sasata
  • Patent number: 11609480
    Abstract: A two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer is described herein that can efficiently multiplex and distribute a light signal in two dimensions. An example of a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer can include a waveguide, a first diffraction grating, and a second diffraction grating disposed above the first diffraction grating and arranged such that the grating direction of the first diffraction grating is perpendicular to the grating direction of the second diffraction grating. Methods of fabricating a two-dimensional waveguide light multiplexer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Chulwoo Oh
  • Patent number: 11579450
    Abstract: A display uses a projector to project an image onto a holographic diffuser. The holographic diffuser scatters light of the projected image to at least one holographic element having optical power, which forms an image in angular domain for a direct observation by a user. The holographic diffuser and the holographic optical element, such as a freeform lens or a reflector, may be disposed on a transparent substrate in which the image light propagates. The architecture that immerses a display (HOE diffuser) and the eyepiece lens into the substrate may reduce the form factor of the system compared to the VR headset architecture, while being suitable for operation in AR configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Gang Li
  • Patent number: 11561409
    Abstract: An Electrically Switchable Bragg Grating (ESBG) despeckler device comprising at least one ESBG element recorded in a hPDLC sandwiched between transparent substrates to which transparent conductive coatings have been applied. At least one of said coatings is patterned to provide a two-dimensional array of independently switchable ESBG pixels. Each ESBG pixel has a first unique speckle state under said first applied voltage and a second unique speckle state under said second applied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern, John James Storey
  • Patent number: 11493797
    Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film, comprising: at least one first transparent flexible film coated with conductive material; at least one liquid crystal dispersion, allocated between said at least one first transparent flexible film and at least one second transparent flexible film; at least one second transparent flexible film coated with conductive material; where the PDLC comprises a pattern or a signage. Furthermore, the invention comprises a multichannel controller that enables independent control of each segment of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Gauzy Ltd.
    Inventors: Hassan-Ali Hakemi, Adrian Lofer, Eyal Peso
  • Patent number: 11474287
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element with which a high diffraction efficiency can be obtained with a simple configuration. The optical element includes: an optically-anisotropic layer that is formed using a composition including a liquid crystal compound, in which the optically-anisotropic layer has a liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from the liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction, and the optically-anisotropic layer has a region in which an alignment direction of a liquid crystal compound in at least one of upper and lower interfaces has a pre-tilt angle with respect to the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yukito Saitoh, Hiroshi Sato, Ayako Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11476235
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and method for a stacked light emitting diode (LED) hologram display. A stacked LED hologram display can include a first array of LEDs that are configured to emit red light received by a meta-optics panel configured to display a first portion of a holographic image, a second array of LEDs that are configured to emit green light received by a meta-optics panel configured to display a second portion of a holographic image, and a third array of LEDs that are configured to emit blue light received by a meta-optics panel configured to display a third portion of a holographic image. The stacked LED hologram display can include a number of actuators configured to adjust a position of a first array of LEDs in first direction and a second direction, adjust a position of a second array of LEDs in the first direction and the second direction, and adjust a position of a third array of LEDs in the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zahra Hosseinimakarem, Ariela E. Gruszka, Mandy W. Fortunati
  • Patent number: 11409168
    Abstract: An array substrate, a display panel, and a display device. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in a matrix, wherein each row of pixel units includes a plurality of first pixel units and a plurality of second pixel units arranged at intervals. Furthermore, the array substrate further includes: a first pixel electrode layer, a second pixel electrode layer, and a transparent insulating layer between the first pixel electrode layer and the second pixel electrode layer. In the above array substrate, for each row of pixel units, a plurality of first pixel electrodes for the plurality of first pixel units are arranged at intervals in the first pixel electrode layer, and a plurality of second pixel electrodes for the plurality of second pixel units are arranged at intervals in the second pixel electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haiyan Wang
  • Patent number: 11378915
    Abstract: Techniques related to generating holographic images are discussed. Such techniques include application of a pre-trained deep neural network to a target holographic image to generate a feedback strength value for error feedback in an iterative propagation feedback model and generating a diffraction pattern image corresponding to the target holographic image by applying the iterative propagation feedback model based on the target holographic image and using the feedback strength value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Alexey Supikov, Qiong Huang, Ronald T. Azuma
  • Patent number: 11366425
    Abstract: A polarization volume hologram (PVH) lens includes a PVH layer having a freeform design. The PVH layer includes a first region and a second region having different optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robin Sharma, Hannah Noble, Babak Amirsolaimani, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
  • Patent number: 11366260
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical lens, a polarization volume hologram (PVH) layer arranged over the optical lens, and an IR absorbing structure arranged between the optical lens and the PVH layer. The PVH layer being configured to reflect infrared (IR) light. The IR absorbing structure includes a quarter-wave plate (QWP) arranged between the optical lens and the PVH layer and a linear absorptive polarizer arranged between the QWP and the optical lens. The linear absorptive polarizer is configured to absorb IR light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Hannah Noble, Babak Amirsolaimani, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
  • Patent number: 11249323
    Abstract: An optical film includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer formed in a stripe-shaped pattern in which an optically anisotropic region having optical anisotropy and an optically isotropic region having optical isotropy are alternately disposed, a helical axis of a cholesteric liquid crystal in the optically anisotropic region is oriented in one axial direction tin a plane of the optical film, and the helical axis is oriented in a normal direction t of a boundary surface between the optically anisotropic region and the optically isotropic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yukito Saitoh, Daisuke Kashiwagi, Hirofumi Toyama, Naoyoshi Yamada, Takashi Yonemoto, Eiichiro Aminaka
  • Patent number: 11243448
    Abstract: An astigmatism compensation optical assembly includes a first liquid crystal layer disposed between opposing substrates. The astigmatism compensation optical assembly also includes a first electrode pattern disposed on at least one substrate. The first electrode pattern includes a set of parallel conductors each having a length proportional to the longest dimension of the clear aperture of the liquid crystal lens, and the parallel conductors are configured to generate a voltage distribution within the liquid crystal layer that results in the liquid crystal layer exhibiting cylindrical focal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Afsoon Jamali, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11231608
    Abstract: An optical component including a first layer, a second layer and a bulk sandwiched between the first and second layers, where the bulk is formed by a composition containing a liquid crystal material which is in a blue phase. At least one of the first and second layers has, toward the bulk, an alignment layer. The blue phase of the liquid crystal material exhibits a uniform organization in three directions (Ox, Oy, Oz) in at least 80% of the volume of the bulk, the liquid crystal material being stabilized in the blue phase at least over the temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 35° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: NIKON CORPORATION, Essilor International
    Inventors: Eva Oton, Fuyuhiko Inoue, Toshiki Nakano, Estelle Netter, Yukiko Katayama
  • Patent number: 11226514
    Abstract: A display panel includes a light guide plate, a substrate, a reflector and a liquid crystal layer. A refractive index of the liquid crystal layer can vary between a minimum liquid crystal refractive index and a maximum liquid crystal refractive index. One side, facing the substrate, of the light guide plate includes a light entry region, light at least partially enters the liquid crystal layer through the light entry region and is propagated towards the reflector. The maximum liquid crystal refractive index is greater than a refractive index of the reflector, and the minimum reflective index is not greater than the refractive index of the reflector. When the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer is greater than the reflective index of the reflector, the reflector reflects at least a part of light entering the liquid crystal layer from the light entry region to the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sen Ma, Qian Wang, Zhongxiao Li, Qingxun Zhang, Wenqing Zhao, Xiaochuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11079095
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a laser light source emitting laser light; a liquid crystal device that transmits the laser light from the laser light source and diffracts the laser light; a phosphor unit that receives laser light from the liquid crystal device, converts a wavelength of the laser light to emit illumination light, the phosphor unit including a first phosphor of a first color and a second phosphor of a second color differing from the first color. The liquid crystal device controls an angle of the laser light and selects one of the first phosphor or the second phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Koyama
  • Patent number: 11016182
    Abstract: A through-the-lens, co-aligned aiming system for a phase-type, laser-based distance measuring device incorporating a co-aligned aiming system with an in-scope, view through LCD display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Laser Technology, Inc., Kama-Tech (HK) Limited
    Inventor: Jeremy G. Dunne
  • Patent number: 10969599
    Abstract: A device includes a first optical element configured to receive first light in a first direction. The first light includes a first component having a first circular polarization and a second component having a second circular polarization. The first optical element is also configured to convert the first component of the first light into second light having the second circular polarization and output the second light in a second direction. The first optical element is further configured to convert the second component of the first light into third light having the first circular polarization and output the third light in a third direction. The device also includes a second optical configured to receive and transmit the second light and to receive the third light and convert to the third light into fourth light having the second circular polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Charles McEldowney, Babak Amirsolaimani, Lu Lu
  • Patent number: 10942402
    Abstract: An electric response infrared reflection device and a preparation method thereof. The device comprises three light-transmitting conductive substrates which are oppositely arranged. Two adjacent light-transmitting conductive substrates of the three light-transmitting conductive substrates are respectively packaged to form a first adjusting area and a second adjusting area. Both the first adjusting area and the second adjusting area are filled with liquid crystal layers. Each of the liquid crystal layers comprises a mixed liquid crystal material. The mixed liquid crystal material comprises a chiral nematic phase liquid crystal, a monomer, a photoinitiator, and a chiral dopant. The spiral direction of the chiral nematic phase liquid crystal in the first adjusting area is opposite to the spiral direction of the chiral nematic phase liquid crystal in the second adjusting area, so that the total reflection of an infrared band can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: SOUTH CHINA NORMAL UNIVERSITY, SHENZHEN GUOHUA OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., ACADEMY OF SHENZHEN GUOHUA OPTOELECTRONICS
    Inventors: Guofu Zhou, Xiaowen Hu, Nan Li
  • Patent number: 10928641
    Abstract: The cost and power consumption of an imaging apparatus are reduced by facilitating detection of an incident angle of a light beam transmitted through a grating substrate. An image sensor converts an optical image captured by pixels arranged on an imaging surface and outputs the converted image signal. A modulator is configured to modulate intensity of light; and an image processing circuit performs image processing of the output image signal. The modulator has a grating substrate, a grating pattern formed on a back surface side of the grating substrate arranged in proximity to the light receiving surface of the image sensor; and a grating pattern formed on a front surface facing the back surface. Each of the grating patterns is constituted of a plurality of concentric circles. The modulator performs intensity modulation on the light transmitted through the grating pattern and outputs the modulated light to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Shimano
  • Patent number: 10877193
    Abstract: Unpolarized broadband reflectors enabled by a serial arrangement of a pair of polarized subwavelength gratings are disclosed. Device illustrations include partially-etched crystalline-silicon films on quartz substrates and amorphous silicon films on glass. The individual reflectors exhibit extremely wide spectral reflection bands in one polarization. By arranging two such reflectors sequentially with orthogonal periodicities, there results an unpolarized spectral band that exceeds those of the individual polarized bands. In the prototypes disclosed, there results zero-order reflectance exceeding 97% under unpolarized light incidence over a 500-nm-wide wavelength band. This wideband represents a ˜44% fractional band in the near infrared spectral band. The elemental polarization-sensitive reflectors based on one-dimensional resonant gratings have simple design, robust performance, and are straightforward to fabricate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Magnusson, Manoj Niraula, Yeong Hwan Ko, Kyu Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10761330
    Abstract: A waveguide display includes a first substrate and one or more grating layers on a first surface of the first substrate. The one or more grating layers are configured to cause destructive interference between ambient light diffracted by at least two grating layers or between ambient light diffracted by different portions of one grating layer. In some embodiments, the waveguide display also includes an angular-selective transmissive layer. The angular-selective transmissive layer is configured to reflect, diffract, or absorb ambient light incident on the angular-selective reflective layer with an incidence angle greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hee Yoon Lee, Ningfeng Huang, Eric Fest, Pasi Saarikko, Erik Shipton, Giuseppe Calafiore
  • Patent number: 10761391
    Abstract: A device includes a number of grating stages having a liquid crystal layer disposed between at least two substrates, where at least one is coated with a photo-alignment layer and transparent electrodes. Each grating stage may be switchably responsive to a voltage, with grating periods of each grating stage selected such that, when the voltage is applied to a grating stage and a laser beam is passed therethrough, optical energy from the laser beam in plus and minus first orders is deflected toward sides of the grating stage and optical energy from a zero order of the laser beam is allowed to pass through the grating stage. A polarization state of the laser beam may be maintained from an input through an output. Each grating stage may include a thickness selected to achromatize the laser beam through the grating stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Joshua Lentz
  • Patent number: 10761392
    Abstract: We describe a multimode reconfigurable optical spatial mode multiplexing system having first and second first and second input beams and a beam combiner to combine these into an optical output. At least one of the paths comprises a polarisation-independent reconfigurable phase modulator to impose a controllable phase profile on an input beam in an input beam phase modulating optical path, to controllably convert a spatial mode order of the input beam from a lower to a higher order spatial mode. The system also has a control input to control the phase modulator to configure the phase profile for the mode conversion. The input beams are combined into a multiple spatial mode combined beam output independent of a polarisation of the input beams. The number of spatial modes of the combined beam can be more than a number of spatial modes in either of the first and second input beams separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Daping Chu, Haining Yang
  • Patent number: 10746912
    Abstract: A color generation device 1000 according to the present invention has a light source 8, and also has a linear polarizing means 10, a first birefringence medium 30a and a second birefringence medium 30b attached to each other in sequence in front of the light source 8. A display means 500 is provided which is distanced from the linear polarizing means 10, the first birefringence medium 30a and a second birefringence medium 30b. The first birefringence means 30a is arranged for the principal axes thereof to be at angle of 45° or ?45° with respect to the polarization direction a1 of the linear polarizing means 10 and the second birefringence medium 30b is arranged for the principal axes thereof to be the same as or perpendicular to polarization direction a1 of the linear polarizing means 10 and quarter wave plate is used therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Uk Choi, Ju Won Kim
  • Patent number: 10642058
    Abstract: A transparent wearable data display having a source of collimated light, a deflector for deflecting the collimated light into a scanned beam, and a first of switchable grating elements sandwiched between first and second parallel transparent substrates, which together functioning as a first light guide. A first coupling is provided for directing the scanned beam into a first total internal reflection (TIR) light path of the first light guide along the first array column. The grating elements having diffracting and non-diffracting states, in their diffracting state deflecting light out of said light guide. The grating elements are switchable into their diffracting states one group of elements at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Patent number: 10416518
    Abstract: The invention provides a light modulation element comprising a flexoelectric polarisable liquid-crystalline medium, characterized in that the switching from a boundary state A to a boundary state B comprises a combination of a distinct flexoelectric switching regime and a distinct dielectric switching regime upon application of an electric field. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such a light modulation element in an electro-optical device, i.e. an LCD display device, and electrooptical devices comprising the light modulation element according to the present invention. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of production of the light modulation element according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Rachel Tuffin, Rebecca Proctor, Simon Siemianowski, Karl Skjonnemand, Owain Llyr Parri, Geoffrey Luckhurst
  • Patent number: 10359641
    Abstract: A transparent wearable data display having a source of collimated light, a deflector for deflecting the collimated light into a scanned beam, and a first of switchable grating elements sandwiched between first and second parallel transparent substrates, which together functioning as a first light guide. A first coupling is provided for directing the scanned beam into a first total internal reflection (TIR) light path of the first light guide along the first array column. The grating elements having diffracting and non-diffracting states, in their diffracting state deflecting light out of said light guide. The grating elements are switchable into their diffracting states one group of elements at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: DigiLens Inc., Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Patent number: 10261224
    Abstract: An optical element includes a transmission diffraction portion, which reflective portions and transmissive portions. The reflective portions are arranged at equal intervals along a given axis. Each reflective portion reflects light included in the visible light. The light reflected by the reflective portions forms a reflection image. The transmissive portions transmit the visible light. Each transmissive portion is sandwiched by two corresponding reflective portions that are adjacent to each other along the given axis. At least part of each reflective portion forms the reflection image by rendering a reflection angle of the light reflected by the reflective portions different from an angle of light incident on the reflective portions. The transmission diffraction portion forms diffracted images having different colors with diffracted light that is produced by diffracting light transmitted through the transmissive portions in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yashiki, Akira Kubo, Chikara Sawamura, Haruna Ooki
  • Patent number: 10254551
    Abstract: A virtual image display device includes a light source unit, a polarization switching unit, an image generation unit, an optical path unit and a projection unit. The polarization switching unit switches a polarization direction of a light beam emitted from the light source unit. The optical path unit includes a first optical path through which the light beam having the first polarization direction travels and a second optical path through which the light beam having the second polarization direction travels. A first virtual image is displayed at a first distance with the light beam that has traveled through the first optical path. A second virtual image is displayed at a second distance farther than the first distance with the light beam that has traveled through the second optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomo Kishigami, Hironori Nakahara, Nozomi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10132685
    Abstract: A detection device for a microscope comprises a dispersive element in the beam path of light and a selection element. The selection element separates a beam path of a spectral portion of the light from the beam path of the light. The detector device furthermore comprises a focusing optical unit configured to focus the beam path of the spectral portion of the light onto a sensor. By way of example, the microscope may be a confocal microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: David Shafer, Tiemo Anhut, Matthias Wald
  • Patent number: 9989692
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing one or more components for a display system, particularly for producing diffused light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Etienne, Richard Curwood Peterson, Vasudha Ravichandran, Kathleen Ann Wexell
  • Patent number: 9891456
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to be opposed to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first electrode arranged for each of a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix; a second electrode arranged at a position opposed to the first electrode; a plurality of first areas in which light transmission is suppressed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first areas extending in at least one direction to traverse the pixels; and a second area in which liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are rotated according to an electric field acting between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second area being sandwiched between the first areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventor: Toshiharu Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9846266
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystalline polymer film where noise caused by diffraction light is removed. The liquid crystalline polymer film is configured to include a first liquid crystalline polymer film formed by simultaneously performing a bottom-up alignment method by a lower alignment film and a top-down alignment method by using a groove structure and a second liquid crystalline polymer film formed on an upper portion of the first liquid crystalline polymer film by overcoating. The second liquid crystalline polymer film is configured so as to satisfy a refractive index matching condition with respect to the first liquid crystalline polymer film, so that noise caused by undesired diffraction phenomenon generated by the groove structure on the upper surface of the first liquid crystalline polymer film is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KYUNGPOOK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Hak-Rin Kim
  • Patent number: 9817367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for authenticating a diffractive element, e.g., a hologram, on an object or document (2), wherein at least two images of the diffractive element are recorded by means of a portable device (1). The recordings are taken in different spatial orientations of the portable device in relation to the diffractive element. Recording data are created from the images and the associated spatial orientations. The recording data are electronically compared with reference data. The comparison can be performed locally or in a server-based manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: U-NICA Technology AG
    Inventor: Jonas Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9728567
    Abstract: A semiconductor sensor device is disclosed. The semiconductor sensor device includes a plurality of pixels and a phase grating structure. The phase grating structure has periodically arranged patterns and is disposed on the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jian-Bin Shiu, Wen-Zheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9638941
    Abstract: A photonic crystal type light modulator is provided. The photonic crystal type light modulator includes: a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the first electrode, where an optical characteristic of the active layer changes according to application of an electric field; a second electrode disposed on the active layer; and a photonic crystal layer disposed on the second electrode and comprising a 2D grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., INHA Industry Partnership Institute
    Inventors: Jang-woo You, Yong-hwa Park, Yong-ho Lee, Chang-kwon Hwangbo, Jin-joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9551653
    Abstract: The inventive concept provides apparatuses and methods for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes in real time using polarized light. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a light source configured to generate light, a beam splitter configured to reflect the light toward the wafer being processed, an objective polarizer configured to polarize the light reflected toward the wafer and to allow light reflected by the wafer to pass therethrough, a blaze grating configured to separate light reflected by the wafer according to wavelength, an array detector configured to detect the separated light and an analyzer to analyze the three-dimensional profile of the structure/pattern being formed in the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong-Kyu Son, Kwang-Hoon Kim, Deok-Yong Kim, Sung-Soo Moon, Jung-Hoon Byun, Ji-Hye Lee, Choon-Shik Leem, Soo-Bok Chin
  • Patent number: 9529430
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display, in particular an autostereoscopic or holographic display, for representing preferably three-dimensional information, wherein the stereo views or the reconstructions of the holographically encoded objects can be tracked to the movements of the associated eyes of one or more observers in a finely stepped manner within a plurality of zones of the movement region. In this case, the zones are selected by the activation of switchable polarization gratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventor: Norbert Leister
  • Patent number: 9519089
    Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is an apparatus, comprising: an optical substrate configured to manipulate light received from a light source; and at least one diffractive element in one layer in the optical substrate, each diffractive element comprising: a plurality of sub-substrate structures separated from one another by a plurality of valleys, the sub-substrate structures comprising a material having a first refractive index; and a filler material filling at least partially at least some of the plurality of valleys, the filler material having a second refractive index that is unequal to the first refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Brown, James H. Stanley
  • Patent number: 9464779
    Abstract: There is provided a color sequential illumination device comprising in series: first and second light sources; a condenser lens; and a grating device. The grating device comprises at least one Bragg grating. The condenser lens directs light from the first and second sources into the grating device at first and second incidence angles respectively. The grating device diffracts light from the first and second sources into a common direction. Desirably, the Bragg gratings are Electrically Switchable Bragg Gratings. In one embodiment of the invention the light sources are Light Emitting Diodes. Alternatively lasers may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: DIGILENS, INC.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Patent number: 9389430
    Abstract: A light deflection element is capable of deflecting incident light so as to follow a position of an observer and suppressing reduction in intensity of light that reaches eyes of the observer regardless of their position. The light deflection element includes: a first optical element configured to deflect incident light; a second optical element configured to change a deflection direction of emitted light by changing a refractive index thereof according to a voltage applied thereto; a third optical element; and a control section configured to control the voltage applied to the second optical element. At least one of interfaces between the first and second optical elements and the second and third optical elements is an aspheric surface. The aspheric surface has an optical power that compensates enlargement of the emitted light which is caused by refractive index distribution caused when a voltage is applied to the second optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouki Ichihashi, Masahiro Kasano, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Katsuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9322771
    Abstract: The inventive concept provides apparatuses and methods for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes in real time using polarized light. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a light source configured to generate light, a beam splitter configured to reflect the light toward the wafer being processed, an objective polarizer configured to polarize the light reflected toward the wafer and to allow light reflected by the wafer to pass therethrough, a blaze grating configured to separate light reflected by the wafer according to wavelength, an array detector configured to detect the separated light and an analyzer to analyze the three-dimensional profile of the structure/pattern being formed in the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woong-Kyu Son, Kwang-Hoon Kim, Deok-Yong Kim, Sung-Soo Moon, Jung-Hoon Byun, Ji-Hye Lee, Choon-Shik Leem, Soo-Bok Chin
  • Patent number: 9285639
    Abstract: A slit electrode, an array substrate and a display device are provided to improve the brightness uniformity of the display image and reduce the color shift, thereby improving the image quality. The slit electrode comprises at least one slit electrode unit including a plurality of first groups of slits arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second groups of slits arranged in a second direction, wherein each of the first groups of slits include at least one first slit arranged in the first direction, and each of the second groups of slits include at least one second slit arranged in the second direction, and wherein the first and the second groups of slits are arranged alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yujuan Zhan, Park Ku Hyun
  • Patent number: 9179134
    Abstract: A multi-planar plenoptic display assembly with multiple spatially-varying light emitting and modulating planes. The display assembly includes at least one light emitting device and may include a modulating device used in conjunction according to display methods taught herein to display light field data. A display assembly controller may be used to render a light field with depth into a multi-planar plenoptic display assembly by assigning decomposed portions of the light field to the display assembly for display or presentation by differing ones of the emitting elements and by operating a modulating device to provide a parallax barrier. In one embodiment, a projector is used with bi-state screens. In another embodiment, two automultiscopic displays (either parallax barrier or lenticular lenses) are overlaid with a beam splitter. In a further embodiment, an oscillating mirror is used to temporally and optically move one automultiscopic layer (either parallax barrier or lenses) through space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Nicola V. Ranieri, Simon Heinzle, Quinn Smithwick, Markus Gross, Wojciech Matusik, Lanny Smoot, Daniel Reetz
  • Patent number: 9063360
    Abstract: A two-dimensional/three-dimensional switchable display apparatus includes: a display panel; a first substrate disposed on the display panel; a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate and including a plurality of first electrodes; a second substrate disposed on the first substrate; a second electrode layer disposed on the second substrate and including a plurality of second electrodes; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates. A plurality of lens units are formed in association with a first position of the liquid crystal layer when a lens forming voltage profile is applied to the first electrodes and a common voltage is applied to the second electrodes. When the common voltage is applied to the first electrodes and the lens forming voltage is applied to the second electrodes, the plurality of lens units are formed in association with a second position spaced apart from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Jung, Ji-Woong Jeong, Hae-Young Yun, Seung-Jun Jeong, Joo-Young Kim, Cheol-Woo Park, Il-Yong Yoon, Seung-Hoon Lee, Jin-Hwan Kim, Il-Joo Kim, Jung-Hwan Yi
  • Patent number: 9057914
    Abstract: A distribution-type compensator has an in-plane retardation of 18 nm±5 nm in a rectangular effective region with a long side and a short side. The slow axis direction of the distribution-type compensator changes continuously in a plane of the effective region and an angle difference between slow axis directions at any two positions in the effective region has a maximum value in a range of 10 degrees to 30 degrees. The distribution-type compensator is mounted to a projection-type display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutaka Aboshi
  • Patent number: 9055248
    Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SONY Corporation
    Inventors: Muhammad Atif, Muhammad Siddiqui, Christian Unruh, Markus Kamm