Abstract: One embodiment includes display comprising a light modulator configured to display a portion of an image such as a reflective light modulator, a light emitter configured to display the portion of the image and a circuit configured to selectively provide signals to at least one of the light modulator and the light emitter indicative of the portion of the image. In one such embodiment, an active matrix provides a simple, efficient drive for such devices. Other embodiments methods of making and driving such devices.

Abstract: A mirror system of a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and an information input display providing a display representative of a plurality of input characters. The information input display is disposed behind the reflective element and viewable through the reflective element and a transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element when the information input display is backlit by a backlighting device. A control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of an object at the reflective element and correlate the determined location to an input character of the information input display. The mirror system may include a video display for displaying video images and the information input display may be disposed at a main viewing region of the reflective element so as to provide an information input display that is larger than the video display.

Abstract: A display is provided that comprises a reflection board and a display element. The reflection board includes a plurality of first inclinations and a plurality of second inclinations which are alternately arranged to form an uneven reflective surface to reflect and diffuse incident light. The display element has controllable transparency at each pixel and is disposed in front of the reflective surface. The mean inclination angle of the first inclination occurs within a range of 10 to 25 degrees.

Abstract: A modulator for an optical transceiver is disclosed. The modulator has two quarter-wave stack mirrors composed of alternating dielectric layers with an optically absorbing layer sandwiched in between to form the vertical resonant cavity. The optically absorbing layer is made of semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in a dialectic material. The device is configured to operate near the saturation point of the absorption layer. By adjusting the biasing voltage across the absorption layer, the saturation threshold of the semiconductor nanocrystals is altered, resulting in the overall reflectivity of the resonant cavity to vary. The modulator is configured to be fabricated as the extension of the backend process of Si CMOS.

Abstract: There is provided an optical information detecting method comprising: detecting an image of a source data page containing a frame mask by the use of an optical detection region within respective 1:N (where N is greater than 1) excessive detection pixels; monitoring a light intensity of the detected image and determining a matching state of the frame mask; determining an arrangement pattern of valid detection pixels of the detection pixels in accordance with the determined matching state of the frame mask and detecting sampling detection pixels; and sampling an image of the sampling detection pixels from the detected image and reproducing the image of the source data page. There is also an optical information detector used to put the optical information detecting method into practice. Accordingly, it is possible to detect optical information with high reliability without performing complex calculation by the use of a 1:N over-sampling method.

Abstract: An optical path switching device is provided. The optical path switching device utilizes the electro-optic effect to apply an electric field on different reflective elements without moving an input/output end of optical signal or reflective elements. Thus, the reflective elements reflect optical beams to control travel paths of the optical beams, so as to switch the optical paths in the absence of mechanical motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a projection display system, comprising: plural laser light sources; an illumination optical system for illuminating, in different beam axes, light beams emitted from the individual laser light sources; a deflection mirror device, constituted by plural mirror elements, for modulating the light beams illuminated by the illumination optical system; and a projection optical system for projecting a reflection light from the deflection mirror device illuminated by the light beams.

Abstract: A resonance system (14, 15) is formed by a light incident side reflection mirror and a light exiting side reflecting mirror, arranged parallel to each other. The light incident on an incident side reflective mirror (14) is propagated in the outward path direction or in the backward path direction so that the light is set in a resonant state. The light in the resonant state in the resonance system (14, 15) is phase-modulated, responsive to a modulating signal supplied from an oscillating device (16) by a light modulation device (2) arranged between the light incident side reflective mirror (14) and the light exiting side reflective mirror (15). The oscillating device oscillates the modulating signal of a frequency fm.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly for vehicles includes a mirror case having a reflective element and a carrier positioned in the mirror case. The mirror case is adapted to mount to a vehicle. The reflective element includes a substrate, with a reflective coating on one side of the substrate, and a window therethrough. The carrier has a display element for displaying one or more indicia through the window to define a display area on the reflective element. The carrier comprises a plate member, with a first portion and a second portion offset rearwardly from the reflective element and from the first portion. The second portion includes the display element. Preferably, the interior rearview mirror assembly further includes at least one light assembly for displaying the indicia through said window so that it is visible to an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes at least one photonic crystal structure having alternating high and low index dielectric layers. At least two defect structures are positioned between said photonic crystal structures. The defect structure includes one or more nonlinear materials used to produce an index change, whose effect is amplified to produce a specified phase shift in the output signal of said phase shifter.

Abstract: An electro-optic semiconductor device (e.g., an optical modulator) having side access and beam propagation within the device is provided. Side access for the optical input and/or output facilitates disposition of electronic circuitry and/or heat sinking structures on the top and bottom surfaces of the modulator. Internal beam propagation instead of internal waveguiding advantageously simplifies optical coupling and alignment to the modulator. Interaction length within the device is preferably enhanced by passing through the device active region at a relatively shallow angle. The internally propagating beam is reflected from a reflective face parallel to the device active region. The side faces can be perpendicular or tilted with respect to the reflective face. Tilted side faces are preferably tilted to provide external beam paths parallel to the reflective face. Internal reflection from an angled side face can be employed to provide configurations having one side port and one top or bottom port.

Abstract: An electro-optic semiconductor device (e.g., an optical modulator) having side access and beam propagation within the device is provided. Side access for the optical input and/or output facilitates disposition of electronic circuitry and/or heat sinking structures on the top and bottom surfaces of the modulator. Internal beam propagation instead of internal waveguiding advantageously simplifies optical coupling and alignment to the modulator. Interaction length within the device is preferably enhanced by passing through the device active region at a relatively shallow angle. The internally propagating beam is reflected from a reflective face parallel to the device active region. The side faces can be perpendicular or tilted with respect to the reflective face. Tilted side faces are preferably tilted to provide external beam paths parallel to the reflective face. Internal reflection from an angled side face can be employed to provide configurations having one side port and one top or bottom port.

Abstract: The present invention is a device, method and system for making a display and displaying information that includes a fibrous organic substrate, e.g., multiribbon cellulose or cellulose substrate, and a variable reflectivity dye disposed in the fibrous substrate, wherein the reflectivity of the dye is modulated in situ. The display device may use a dye selected from an electrochromic, a thermochromic, a magnetochromic, an ionochromic, a light sensitive, a fluorescent, a fluorescent effect energy transfer dye or combinations thereof and may be used as high storage, high contrast and/or high definition paper.

Abstract: Provided are a reflective unit using an electroactive polymer and a flexible display. The reflective unit includes: an electroactive polymer layer which becomes strained when a voltage is applied thereto by an electrode; a light reflecting unit reflecting external light and having reflecting cells arranged on the electroactive polymer layer to be spaced apart from one another wherein a distance between the reflecting cells is changed according to the strain of the electroactive polymer layer; and a light blocking layer preventing external light from being reflected by the light reflecting unit and having blocking cells arranged over the light reflecting unit to be spaced apart from one another.

Abstract: A light modulator array includes a plurality of light modulator devices, each the light modulator device including a resistor, a conductor coupled to a first end of the resistor, a post coupled to a second end of the resistor, and a reflective plate supported by the post, an insulator separating a first of the modulator devices from an adjacent light modulator device, and an energy penetration reducer configured to prevent the insulator from becoming conductive in a region between a resistor of the first light modulator device and a conductor of the adjacent device.

Abstract: To provide a spatial optical modulation element having a long life free from a deterioration of optical modulation characteristics even if a high power laser beam with an ultra-short pulse is used as a modulation drive light. A spatial optical modulation element 1 wherein disposed between a prism 2 and an optical functional material layer 3 made of an optical functional material with the refractive index changeable by light irradiation, is a low refractive index layer 4 made of a transparent material with a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the dielectric. A spatial optical modulation method characterized in that using such a spatial optical modulation element 1, at the interface between the prism and the low refractive index layer, reflection of a to-be-modulated light 5 entering through the prism, is controlled by a modulation drive light 6.

Abstract: A technique, associated system and program code, for retrieving depth information about at least one surface of an object. Core features include: projecting a composite image comprising a plurality of modulated structured light patterns, at the object; capturing an image reflected from the surface; and recovering pattern information from the reflected image, for each of the modulated structured light patterns. Pattern information is preferably recovered for each modulated structured light pattern used to create the composite, by performing a demodulation of the reflected image. Reconstruction of the surface can be accomplished by using depth information from the recovered patterns to produce a depth map/mapping thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polarization maintaining optical delay circuit (1) for providing a time delay to an incident light (S1), comprising an optical directional element (11) adapted for directing an incident light (S1) from a first port (111) to a second port (112) and directing a returning light from the second port to a third port (113), a mirror element (12) adapted for reflecting the incident light (S1), thereby changing the polarization state, so that the returning light (S2) has a substantially orthogonal polarization state compared to the polarization state of the incident light (S1), and an optical waveguide (13) adapted for optically connecting the second port (112) of the optical directional element (11) and the mirror element (12). The invention also relates to a ring cavity (2,3) comprising such an optical delay circuit, and an optical interferometer (4,5) with said optical delay circuit.

Abstract: A light managing screen may provide a rear projection screen, front projection screen or component thereof. The screen may comprise a polymeric composition including a first polymeric material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically.

Abstract: A backside light unit employs a light valve having an array of individually addressable pixels for illuminating direct view imaging panels.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include a device and system for providing reflective electrochromic switching devices having an optically reflective layer with at least one electrochromic material, a substrate, and an excitation means and controller for transmitting received light in association with transmissivity of the reflective layer at a predetermined time. The devices may be used in an array or system format to provide improved display resolutions in a manner where the devices are fixedly mounted in relation to an emitting light source.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for modulating an optical signal. The apparatus includes a spatial dispersion mechanism and a modulating mechanism. The spatial dispersion mechanism spatially disperses the optical signal. The spatially dispersed optical signal has a plurality of frequency components where each frequency component has an associated beam size. The modulating mechanism includes an array of modulating components where each modulating component has a pitch. The pitch of each modulating component is substantially equal to or less than the beam size of each frequency component.

Abstract: Light beam splitting and combining system integrate some optic elements into the interfaces of two sets of prisms. Films for reducing stray color beams are coated the interfaces. Two sides of bigger prisms are faced to each other. Another side of each bigger prism is attached to the hypotenuse side of one small prism. A dichroic mirror and PBS are coated on those interfaces. Modulators are parallel to and positioned on the sides of the small prisms and a third side of one bigger prism. Such a system may be applied to a projector.

Abstract: An interferometric modulator array device with backlighting is disclosed. The interferometric modulator array device comprises a plurality of interferometric modulator elements, wherein each of the interferometric modulator elements comprises an optical cavity. The interferometric modulator array includes an optical aperture region, and at least one reflecting element is positioned so as to receive light passing through the optical aperture region and reflect at least a portion of the received light to the cavities of the interferometric modulator elements. In some embodiments, the interferometric modulator elements may be separated from each other such that an optical aperture region is formed between adjacent interferometric modulator elements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical modulator module package structure. In the optical modulator module package structure, an optical modulator device and a drive integrated circuit device are flip-chip bonded to a substrate, and an opening of the substrate is blocked using a piece of glass.

Abstract: A structure includes a substrate and a light modulating film formed on top of the substrate. The light modulating film is made of polycrystalline PLZT containing Pb, Zr, Ti, and La as constituent elements. The film has a La concentration in the range of 5 at % to 30 at %. The relative dielectric constant at a frequency of 1 MHz is higher than or equal to 1200.

Abstract: A light control unit comprises: a substrate; an insulating film; a first transistor; a reflecting film formed on the insulating film; a light modulating film formed on the reflecting film; a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged two-dimensionally on the light modulating film; and a polarizing plate formed on a first electrode. Here, the light modulating film is made of a material that varies in refractive index in accordance with the intensity of an electric field applied thereto. For such a material, PLZT containing Pb, Zr, Ti, and La as constituent elements may be used.

Abstract: A micro-mirror array that is useful, for example, in a reflective spatial light modulator. In one embodiment, the micro mirror array includes spacer support walls, a vertical torsion hinge, and a mirror plate, all being fabricated from a single wafer. The micro-mirror array has a large fill ratio.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus for modulating an optical signal. The apparatus includes a modulating mechanism comprising a plurality of modulating component arrays, each modulating component array comprising a plurality of modulating components, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating components in each modulating component array are separated by gaps, and wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating component arrays are offset along a dispersion direction of an incident optical signal such that the gaps associated with the adjacent ones of the plurality of modulating component arrays are offset. In one embodiment, rows of the modulating components in the modulating component arrays are offset along the dispersion direction of the incident optical signal by a fraction of the modulating component pitch.

Abstract: Prism elements having TIR surfaces placed in close proximity to the active area of a SLM device to separate unwanted off-state and/or flat-state light from the projection ON-light bundle. The TIR critical angle of these prisms is selected to affect either the off-state light or additionally, any portion of flat-state light reflected from the SLM. To further improve the optical performance of the system, these TIR prisms can be attached directly to the SLM package, completely eliminating the package window.

Abstract: An electro-optical device is provided comprising an electro-optical material and means for applying an electric field to the electro-optical material, in which a plurality of pixel regions DR, DG and DB capable of separately controlling optical states of the electro-optical material are arranged and each pixel region is provided with a light transmitting portion (an aperture portion (212aR, 212aG, and 212aB)) and a light reflecting portion (a reflective surface (212R, 212G, and 212B)). At adjacent pixel regions that are arranged in a predetermined direction, end edges Ea and Eb of each of the light transmitting portions orthogonal to the predetermined arrangement direction are aligned with each other.

Abstract: An electro-absorption light intensity modulator device is provided that comprises a first and a second layer disposed relative to the first layer so as to provide a light-absorbing optical confinement region. The first layer comprises a first insulator layer, and the light-absorbing optical confinement region comprises at least one quantum-confined structure. The at least one quantum-confined structure possesses dimensions such, that upon an application of an electric field in the at least one quantum-confined structure, light absorption is at least partially due to a transition of at least one carrier between a valence state and a conduction state of the at least one quantum-confined structure. A method is also provided for fabricating an electro-absorption light intensity modulator device.

Abstract: An improved optical transmitter comprises a vertically lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA) coupled to an external modulator and/or a laser source. The VLSOA, external modulator and laser source are discrete devices or alternatively integrated onto a common substrate. The integrated optical transmitter may be fabricated using a number of different methods, including based on selective area epitaxy, impurity induced disordering, etch and fill and silicon optical bench.

Abstract: A chirp compensation dielectric multilayer film mirror (10) reflects an incident light in a predetermined wavelength range and has group delay characteristics that prevent at least one of the dielectric multilayer film mirror (10) and a light transmission portion from applying a phase disturbance to an incident light within the predetermined wavelength range. Therefore, all the wavelength components of the incident light in the predetermined wavelength range are reflected by the chirp compensation dielectric multilayer-film mirror (10), and no additional undesired phase disturbance occurs by the dielectric multilayer film mirror (10) and the light transmission portion. Accordingly, a spatial light modulator (1) enables a desired modulation only by a liquid crystal layer without giving an additional undesired phase disturbance to an output light.

Abstract: An optical interference color display comprising a transparent substrate, an inner-front optical diffusion layer, a plurality of first electrodes, a patterned support layer, a plurality of optical films and a plurality of second electrodes is provided. The inner-front optical diffusion layer is on the transparent substrate and the first electrodes are on the inner-front optical diffusion layer. The patterned support layer is on the inner-front optical diffusion layer between the first electrodes. The optical film is on the first electrodes and the second electrodes are positioned over the respective first electrodes. The second electrodes are supported through the patterned support layer. Furthermore, there is an air gap between the second electrodes and their respective first electrodes.

Abstract: In a luminous display element, a retro-reflector is provided on the back side of an organic EL layer which includes an emission layer whose state changes between an emission state and a non-emission state. The retro-reflector includes a corner cube array, and reflects incident light in the same direction as an incident direction. A unit structure of the corner cube array is a form of a triangular pyramid which is made up of rectangular equilateral triangles having three faces, and a light shielding process is performed on the periphery of a base angle of the rectangular equilateral triangle. Thus, it is possible to prevent an image from being reflected, so that it is possible to provide the luminous display element whose contrast ratio and the utilization efficiency of emission are high.

Abstract: A true-time delay feeder for multiple aperture beam steering devices. The feeder comprises a plurality of tunable time delay modules. The tunable time delay modules provide different delays to different beamlets without changing the spectrum of each beamlet. The tunable true-time delay modules provide for temporal synchronization and spatial coherence of the beam front.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a transflective mode color liquid crystal display, whose white backlight source is composed of several narrowband monochromatic light sources. A color filter for displaying colors is designed to match the wavelength of each of the monochromatic light sources so that the color filter can let a monochromatic light source of one color be transmitted, while selectively absorb the wavelengths of the monochromatic light sources of other colors. The present invention can achieve high color saturation at the backlight mode while maintaining high reflectance.

Abstract: An image display has a transparent front sheet with a prismatically microstructured inward surface and a rear sheet substantially parallel to and spaced from the front sheet. An electrophoretic suspension fills the space between the sheets. The suspension is formed by suspending non-light-scattering light absorptive particles in an electrophoresis medium until the particles form a substantially unitary thermodynamically stable agglomeration. Application of a voltage across the suspension establishes an electric field for controllably electrophoretically moving the particle agglomeration as a substantially unitary whole toward the front sheet's inward surface to frustrate total internal reflection at the inward surface of light rays passing through the front sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a complex frequency response filter providing a frequency response having a desired shape. A first complex frequency response filter includes a first and a second reflecting surfaces defining a resonant cavity therebetween. Each of the reflecting surfaces respectively has a predetermined surface finish providing a given reflectivity, therefore providing resonances with a predetermined shaped frequency response of a predetermined amplitude and of a predetermined periodicity. Those frequency responses can then be summed to generate an arbitrarily complex spectral response. In another embodiment, the complex frequency response filter includes a transmission medium and a first and a second reflecting surfaces defining a resonant cavity therebetween.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a switching layer, placed between substrates, for switching between a transmissive state for allowing transmission of incident light and a scattering state for scattering the incident light, and a retro-reflector for reflecting an incident ray from the liquid crystal layer so that an outgoing ray of the reflected light is parallel to the incident ray. A pitch of smallest unit structures of the retro-reflector is set to be larger than 0 mm and not more than 5 mm. The retro-reflector is preferably in a form of a corner cube array and has light absorbing surface portions at borders of the smallest unit structures. With this reflective display device, brightness of white state and contrast ratio can be improved.

Abstract: An optical reading system is described herein which can be used to detect the presence of a biological substance (e.g., cell, drug, chemical compound) on a surface of a grating-based waveguide sensor. In one embodiment, the reading system includes a light source (e.g., laser, diode) for directing a light beam into the grating-based waveguide sensor and a detector (e.g., spectrometer, CCD imaging device) for receiving a reflected light beam from the grating-based waveguide sensor and analyzing the reflected light beam so as to detect a resonant wavelength/angle which corresponds to a predetermined refractive index that indicates whether a biological substance is located on the surface of the grating-based waveguide sensor.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a switching layer, placed between substrates, for switching between a transmissive state for allowing transmission of incident light and a scattering state for scattering the incident light, and a retro-reflector for reflecting an incident ray from the liquid crystal layer so that an outgoing ray of the reflected light is parallel to the incident ray. A pitch of smallest unit structures of the retro-reflector is set to be larger than 0 mm and not more than 5 mm. The retro-reflector is preferably in a form of a corner cube array and has light absorbing surface portions at borders of the smallest unit structures. With this reflective display device, brightness of white state and contrast ratio can be improved.

Abstract: A micro-mirror array fabricated on one substrate is bonded to a second substrate that includes addressing electrodes and control circuitry. In one embodiment, the micro mirror array is fabricated from a substrate that is a single crystal material. There is enough area beneath the micro mirror array for electrodes and control circuitry, including memory buffers and a pulse width modulation array to be fabricated on the second substrate.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a switching layer, placed between substrates, for switching between a transmissive state for allowing transmission of incident light and a scattering state for scattering the incident light, and a retro-reflector for reflecting an incident ray from the liquid crystal layer so that an outgoing ray of the reflected light is parallel to the incident ray. A pitch of smallest unit structures of the retro-reflector is set to be larger than 0 mm and not more than 5 mm. The retro-reflector is preferably in a form of a corner cube array and has light absorbing surface portions at borders of the smallest unit structures. With this reflective display device, brightness of white state and contrast ratio can be improved.

Abstract: An all solid-state light valve and tunable filter that uses color-selective absorption at a metal-dielectric interface by surface plasmons. The solid-state surface plasmon light valve and tunable filter comprises a substrate, a bottom electrode, a solid-state electro-optic material, and a top electrode through which electromagnetic radiation may pass through and whose optical properties may be modified by suitable modulation of an electrical bias, i.e., an applied voltage between the top and bottom electrodes. The bottom electrode must be specifically fabricated using a refractory metal to allow the formation of the solid-state electro-optic material.

Abstract: A light modulator is comprised of two unit devices each using surface plasmon generated at the interface between thin metal films respectively formed on prisms and an electro-optical material, and a mirror. Both of the transmitted light due to absorption and re-radiation, and the reflected light arising from the unit devices are made into the outgoing light, the incident light on the next unit device, or the incident light on the mirror. Consequently, all light beams can be utilized as the final outgoing light beams with no loss of light. Further, the color of light can be spatially divided, and still further, it can also be temporally divided by changing the wavelength due to a voltage. As a result, the original light can be divided both temporally and spatially with almost no loss by combining two unit devices so configured as to re-radiate the absorbed light by surface plasmon using surface plasmon and a mirror, and thus utilizing both of the reflected light and the transmitted light.

Abstract: A light modulator is comprised of two unit devices each using surface plasmon generated at the interface between thin metal films respectively formed on prisms and an electro-optical material, and a mirror. Both of the transmitted light due to absorption and re-radiation, and the reflected light arising from the unit devices are made into the outgoing light, the incident light on the next unit device, or the incident light on the mirror. Consequently, all light beams can be utilized as the final outgoing light beams with no loss of light. Further, the color of light can be spatially divided, and still further, it can also be temporally divided by changing the wavelength due to a voltage. As a result, the original light can be divided both temporally and spatially with almost no loss by combining two unit devices so configured as to re-radiate the absorbed light by surface plasmon using surface plasmon and a mirror, and thus utilizing both of the reflected light and the transmitted light.

Abstract: A surface plasmon optical modulator element includes a dielectric material block disposed so that light-to-be-modulated travels through the interior of the dielectric material block and impinges upon one surface thereof at an angle of total reflection, a metal film formed on the surface of the dielectric material block, a photo-functional film which is formed on the metal film and whose refractive index is changed upon exposure to light, and a modulating light source which projects modulating light onto the photo-functional film. The photo-functional film is formed of dye which contains an electron donor and an electron acceptor so that a photoelectron can be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: A substrate for an electrooptical device includes a base 1 in which a plurality of display dots D is formed, an underlayer 4 formed on the base 1, a reflective layer 2 formed on the underlayer 4, and color layers 3r, g, and b formed on the reflective layer 2. The underlayer 4 is provided at regions corresponding to the display dots D but is not provided at regions between the display dots D. In addition, concave areas are provided at the regions between the display dots D, and a light-shielding layer 3k is provided so as to get into the concave areas. Accordingly, the light-shielding layer 3k, and the color layers 3r, g, and b level with each other.