Abstract: A display system includes a light source and a first optical system coupled to the light source and adapted to provide an illumination beam along an illumination path. The display system also includes a spatial light modulator positioned in the illumination path. The spatial light modulator includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of electrode devices and a hinge structure coupled to the semiconductor substrate. The hinge structure includes silicon material. The spatial light modulator also includes a mirror post coupled to the hinge structure and extending to a predetermined distance from the semiconductor substrate and a mirror plate coupled to the mirror post and overlying the plurality of electrode devices. The display system further includes a second optical system coupled to the spatial light modulator and adapted to project an image onto a projection surface.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes: a first optical element having a first polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and first and second transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness; and a second optical element having a second polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and third and fourth transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness.

Abstract: An optical switch which minimizes losses in the power of output light while enabling deflection of light within a range of comparatively large deflection angles used for setting switching among output ports. The optical switch is configured to have a first light deflection element deflecting the input light at an angle appropriate to a position of an designated port with an applied first drive voltage; and a second light deflection element finely adjusting a deflection angle of the light output from the first deflection element to the designated port with an applied second drive voltage such that power of light output from the designated port becomes maximum.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying an image includes alternating an active state of each of a plurality of light sources. The light sources each generate a light beam when active. The alternating includes deactivating an active light source before an output of a light beam from the active light sources falls below a first predetermined threshold. The alternating further includes activating an inactive light source only after an output of the inactive light source reaches a second predetermined threshold. The method further includes receiving each of the light beams at a modulator. The modulator includes an array of micro-mirror devices.

Abstract: Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a grooved substrate having electrical conductors and an electro optical material are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror which includes a holding unit, a mirror that is held by the holding unit to be pivotable about a rotation axis of the mirror, a first fixed electrode group including a plurality of electrodes fixed to the holding unit, a second fixed electrode group including a plurality of electrodes fixed to the holding unit, a first movable electrode group including a plurality of electrodes fixed to the mirror and located adjacently to the first fixed electrode group, and a second movable electrode group including a plurality of electrodes fixed to the mirror and located adjacently to the second fixed electrode group.

Abstract: An image display medium comprising: a display layer; a pair of substrates that retain the display layer therebetween, with at least parts of the pair of substrates configuring a frame portion to which an electrical connection connector for electrical connection to the outside connects, and with at least one of the pair of substrates being transparent; a first scan electrode group; a second scan electrode group; a first electrical contact group; a second electrical contact group; a first connection wire group; and a second connection wire group, wherein the first electrical contact group and the second electrical contact group are disposed apart from each other a distance that is greater than the distance between two mutually adjacent contacts belonging to the first electrical contact group or the second electrical contact group along at least one of a thickness direction and a surface direction of the pair of substrates, is provided.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator, in which light modulation elements are arranged in a same plane. In the spatial light modulator, a plurality of the light modulation elements are arranged such that there are at least two periods of periodic structure corresponding to an arrangement of the light modulation elements in an arbitrary direction in the plane where the light modulation elements are arranged.

Abstract: A dynamic equalizing optical channel router includes an input port for receiving a wavelength division multiplexed composite optical signal comprising a plurality of channels; at least one output port; a diffraction grating optically coupled to the input and output ports; a lens optically coupled to the diffraction grating at a side opposite to the input and output ports; an array of steering devices optically coupled to the lens at a side opposite to the diffraction grating, wherein each channel is reflected by a different steering device of the array; and a plurality of attenuators, wherein each channel reflected by the array traverses one of the attenuators and the diffraction grating to the at least one output port. The router is able to dynamically adjust optical intensity of each wavelength channel by a different amount while also performing the function of wavelength routing.

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: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells are filled with charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent, and novel processes for its manufacture.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns systems and devices configured to implement impedance matching schemes in a high speed data transmission environment. In one example, an optoelectronic assembly is provided that includes a TO package having a base through which one or more leads pass. The leads are electrically coupled to an optoelectronic device in the TO package, and are electrically isolated from the base. Some or all of the leads include a ground ring that is electrically isolated from the lead and electrically coupled with the base. A circuit interconnect is also included that is electrically coupled to the optoelectronic device and the TO package. The circuit interconnect includes a dielectric substrate having signal traces that are electrically coupled to the signal leads. A ground signal conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate is electrically coupled with the ground rings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display having improved contrast ratio, switching performance, reflectivity at the Dmin state and structural integrity and methods for its manufacture.

Abstract: The invention presents an optical element with which an optical head can be configured, in which there is little deterioration of the correctional effect when the objective lens shifts, as well as an optical head and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using such an optical element. The invention also presents a novel optical recording/reproducing apparatus and optical recording/reproducing method. The optical element, includes a first voltage application electrode 13, a first opposing electrode 17 arranged in opposition to the first voltage application electrode 13, and a first phase changing layer 15 arranged between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17. By changing a voltage between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17, a phase that converts plane waves into spherical waves is imparted on light that is incident on the first phase changing layer 15.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel sealing composition for the manufacture of an electrophoretic or liquid crystal display, and a sealing process using the composition. The composition allows electrophoretic or liquid crystal cells to be seamlessly sealed and the sealing layer free of any defects.

Abstract: The electroabsorption modulator comprises a p-i-n junction structure that includes an active layer, a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer with the active layer sandwiched between the cladding layers. The electroabsorption modulator additionally comprises a quantum well structure located within the active layer. The p-type cladding layer comprises a layer of heavily-doped low-diffusivity p-type semiconductor material located adjacent the active layer that reduces the extension of the depletion region into the p-type cladding layer when a reverse bias is applied to the electroabsorption modulator. The reduced extension increases the strength of the electric field applied to the quantum well structure by a given reverse bias voltage. The increased field strength increases the extinction ratio of the electroabsorption modulator.

Abstract: Due to an ever growing shortage of conventional energy sources, there is an increasingly intense interest in harnessing solar energy. The instant invention can contribute to the goal of achieving environmentally clean solar energy to be competitive with conventional energy sources. Method and apparatus are presented for coupling to a transparent sheet with an embedded array of preformed or formable mirrored micro-balls for use in a solar energy concentrator, and functionally similar applications such as optical switches and solar rocket assist. Mirrored micro-balls and particulate formable mirrors in cells are covered with a thin spherical shell of lubricating liquid so that they are free to rotate in an almost frictionless encapsulation in the sheet. Induced polarization electric or magnetic dipoles in the mirrors provide a method of controlling the alignment of the mirrored balls. Electrophoretically and magnetophoretically forming mirrors in situ on a rigid surface in a rotatable cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention deals with the broad general concept for dynamic reflection, illumination and direct image projection. A mini-optics reflection and focussing system is presented that ranges from interior illumination, to exterior illumination, to large scale space based illumination, to ordinary and to telescopic image formation. It can be used both as a source of illumination, and to project images, figures, and the written word. This system has broad applications such as dynamic full color displays. Its use of a novel induced dipole coupling for rotation of planar mirrors lets it operate with greater simplicity and efficiency than other display devices. Furthermore in its capacity as a high altitude active reflector of solar radiation, it can be utilized to supply illumination, energy, and provide climate control.

Abstract: Illumination exposure control systems comprising reflective pixelated spatial light modulators that reflect substantially all of the light impinging on them into at least two different light paths. At least one of the light paths acts as a propagating light path and transmits the light beam out of the lighting system. At least one other light path acts as a non-propagating light path and prevents the light beam from being transmitted out the system. The illumination exposure control systems provide high speed of exposure actuation and precision control of exposure duration and frequency or exposure sequences.

Abstract: An optically addressed extreme ultraviolet (EUV) modulator in which a spatial amplitude or phase pattern is provided to an EUV beam that is reflected from, or transmitted through the modulator. The modulator includes a modulator structure that includes a material with a high coefficient of thermal expansion. When a thermal impulse is incident on one part of the modulator, the resulting expansion changes the reflected phase or amplitude of the EUV beam from that part. A thermal pattern is imprinted on the modulator by absorption of a visible or ultraviolet pattern, resulting in a corresponding modulation of the EUV beam. A lithography system is based on the optically addressed EUV modulator.

Abstract: An electro-optic crystal based beam-steering device preferably based on KTN, having a first deflector and a second deflector. The first deflector has a pair of substrates each having a plurality of first electrode lines extending along a first direction and a plurality of electro-optic crystal modulators interposed between the first electrode lines. The second deflector has a pair of substrates each having a plurality of second electrode lines extending along a second direction and a plurality of electro-optic crystal modulators interposed between the second electrode lines. The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

Abstract: The invention presents an optical element with which an optical head can be configured, in which there is little deterioration of the correctional effect when the objective lens shifts, as well as an optical head and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using such an optical element. The invention also presents a novel optical recording/reproducing apparatus and optical recording/reproducing method. The optical element, includes a first voltage application electrode 13, a first opposing electrode 17 arranged in opposition to the first voltage application electrode 13, and a first phase changing layer 15 arranged between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17. By changing a voltage between the first voltage application electrode 13 and the first opposing electrode 17, a phase that converts plane waves into spherical waves is imparted on light that is incident on the first phase changing layer 15.

Abstract: In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the collection optics, in the present invention, micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimize the cost of the illumination optics and the size of the display unit of the present invention, the light source is placed orthogonal to the rows (or columns) of the array, and/or the light source is placed orthogonal to a side of the frame defining the active area of the array. The incident light beam, though orthogonal to the sides of the active area, is not however, orthogonal to any substantial portion of sides of the individual micromirrors in the array. Orthogonal sides cause incident light to diffract along the direction of micromirror switching, and result in light ‘leakage’ into the ‘on’ state even if the micromirror is in the ‘off’ state. This light diffraction decreases the contrast ratio of the micromirror.

Abstract: In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the collection optics, in the present invention, micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimize the cost of the illumination optics and the size of the display unit of the present invention, the light source is placed orthogonal to the rows (or columns) of the array, and/or the light source is placed orthogonal to a side of the frame defining the active area of the array. The incident light beam, though orthogonal to the sides of the active area, is not however, orthogonal to any substantial portion of sides of the individual micromirrors in the array. Orthogonal sides cause incident light to diffract along the direction of micromirror switching, and result in light ‘leakage’ into the ‘on’ state even if the micromirror is in the ‘off’ state. This light diffraction decreases the contrast ratio of the micromirror.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel sealing composition for the manufacture of an electrophoretic or liquid crystal display, and a sealing process using the composition. The composition allows electrophoretic or liquid crystal cells to be seamlessly sealed and the sealing layer free of any defects.

Abstract: Polarization controlling elements equivalent to quarter and half waveplates are constructed from sequences of variable retarder plates having fixed retardation axes. An endless polarization control algorithm is provided.

Abstract: An electric field activated bi-stable molecular system configured within an electric field generated by a pair of electrodes is provided for use, e.g., as electronic ink or other visual displays. The molecular system has at least one rotor portion connected to at least one stator portion, wherein the rotor portion rotates with respect to the stator portion between at least two different states upon application of the electric field, thereby inducing a band gap change in the molecular system, wherein in a first state, there is extended conjugation throughout the major portion of the molecular system, resulting in a relatively smaller band gap, and wherein in a second state, the extended conjugation is destroyed, resulting in a relatively larger band gap. A primary advantage of the molecular system is improved contrast. Because the colorant of the present invention is molecular and thus effectively monoplanar, there should be no backside reflection or scattering from the colorant.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising isolated cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells have internal sub relief structures and are filled with charged pigment particles dispersed in a dielectric solvent. The display shows an improved contrast ratio and resistance against shear and compression pressures. The display may have the traditional up/down switching mode, an in-plane switching mode or a dual switching mode.

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: A liquid crystal optical phase modulator includes first and second substrates. A plurality of strip-shaped individual electrodes that are arranged parallel to each other on one surface of the first substrate. A common electrode is arranged on one surface, which faces towards the surface of the first substrate, of the second substrate. Both the individual electrodes and the common electrode are made of a conductive material that is transparent. A driver unit drives the liquid crystal optical phase modulator. A wedge-shaped prism is located near another surface of the second substrate of the liquid crystal optical phase modulator. The prism is such that a surface of it from where a light enters and a surface of it from where the entered light is output make a predetermined angle with each other.

Abstract: An optoelectronic assembly includes a transistor outline (TO) package that houses an optoelectronic device. The TO package and the optoelectronic device are coupled to a circuit interconnect. The circuit interconnect includes an insulator having a first side for transmitting a signal current between the optoelectronic device and a device external to the TO package, and a second side for transmitting a ground current between the TO package and the external device. For a predefined operating frequency range, the impedance of the circuit interconnect approximately matches the impedance of the signal leads of the TO package and also approximately matches the impedance of the device external to the TO package. The optoelectronic device may include a laser diode or a photo diode. In addition, the present invention is an optoelectronic transceiver including a transmitter optoelectronic assembly and a receiver optoelectronic assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells are filled with charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent, and novel processes for its manufacture.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising isolated cells of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio which cells have internal sub relief structures and are filled with charged pigment particles dispersed in a dielectric solvent. The display shows an improved contrast ratio and resistance against shear and compression pressures. The display may have the traditional up/down switching mode, an in-plane switching mode or a dual switching mode.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprising at least one in-plane gating electrode. The gating electrode(s) provide a gating effect, which raises the effective threshold voltage to prevent the undesired movement of the charged particles in the cells. The design of the invention can be manufactured using low cost materials by efficient processes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical space switch accommodating a plurality of input light paths and output light paths. The optical space switch comprises a plurality of polarization control optical switches, each consisting essentially of: polarization control means having elements, one for each input light path, for rotating through 90° the polarizing direction of light information incident from each input light path or otherwise retaining the polarizing direction thereof for output; and a light path routing element for routing the light path for the light information output from the polarization control means in accordance with the polarizing direction of the light information. These polarization control optical switches are arranged in a matrix pattern or coupled in cascade to implement a polarization control optical space switch.

Abstract: A small,compact optical scanning system with small aperture size requirements, wide field-of-regard and minimal color dispersion characteristics. The inventive scanning system and method provides for optical beam steering over a broad spectral band and over a wide field-of-regard. The inventive system includes a novel device for receiving an input wavefront of electromagnetic energy along a first axis and refracting the wavefront as an output wavefront along a second axis. The device is a unique form of a liquid crystal array which can be electrically manipulated to change the effective refractive index of each pixel. The index of refraction of the device varies in response to an applied voltage. The voltage is supplied by a microprocessor and/or a servo-control system. By changing the index, the incident phase front can be steered at an angle with respect to the first axis and otherwise manipulated according to the index variant pattern induced in the array.

Abstract: A coplanar integrated optical waveguide electro-optical modulator comprises a substrate (1) of an electro-optic material, at least two optical waveguides (41, 42) integrated in the substrate in correspondence of a surface (71) thereof, and an electrode system (80, 90, 100; 80, 90, 900; 12-15; 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) arranged on the surface for applying a modulating electric field to the waveguides suitable for causing a modulation of a refractive index of the two waveguides in a device modulation region (50). The waveguides are formed, for at least a section thereof (411, 421) in the device modulation region, in respective substrate regions (61, 62) which have electro-optic coefficients of opposite sign along an axis transversal to the waveguide sections, so that a modulating electric field of same direction and orientation in the waveguide sections causes refractive index modulations of opposite sign in the waveguide sections.

Abstract: A quasi-optical system is provided. More specifically, a quasi-optical system is provided comprising various embodiments of quasi-optical grids (such as arrays or layers and the like) with reconfigurable quasi-optical unit cells. The quasi-optical system, grids and unit cells are configured to control an incident beam in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A method of reducing speckle includes dividing a laser illuminated area into phase cells, subdividing the phase cells into cell partitions, and applying a temporal phase variation to the cell partitions within an integration time of an intensity detector viewing the laser illuminated area. An apparatus for reducing speckle includes illumination optics, a diffuser, and projection optics. The illumination optics couple a laser illumination to the diffuser, which is located in a first image plane. The diffuser divides the laser illumination into the phase cells and subdivides the phase cells into the cell partitions. The diffuser also applies the temporal phase variation to the cell partitions. The projection optics project an image of the first image plane onto a diffuse surface. A display apparatus adds a light modulator to the apparatus for reducing speckle and places the light modulator in a third image plane located between a laser source and the diffuser.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is configured as a photonic crystal by an establishment of a network of biased liquid crystal regions within the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is situated between a dielectric plane including an electrode plate and a glass plate, and a dielectric plane including a glass plate and a plurality of electrode pixels. The network is established by a selective application of one or more electric potentials between an electrode plate and one or more of the electrode pixels.

Abstract: State of polarization detectors and polarization control systems are disclosed. For example, the invention features an integrated optical assembly including: (i) a series of polarization-sensitive interfaces defining an optical beam path for an input optical beam to pass through the assembly, wherein each polarization-sensitive interface derives a sample beam from the input beam; and (ii) one or more retardation layers each positioned between a different pair of the polarization-sensitive interfaces, wherein the retardation layers are integrally coupled with the polarization-sensitive interfaces, and wherein the retardation layers and polarization-sensitive interfaces cause each sample beam to have an intensity that provides different information about the state of polarization of the input beam.

Abstract: The optical system includes a plurality of light modulators, one or more combining filters, and an optical relay system including a filter. Each light modulator modulates a corresponding incident light beam. The one or more combining filters superimpose the modulated light beams from each of the plurality of light modulators. The optical relay system filters the superimposed light and relays the filtered light to an image plane.

Abstract: An optical element has of a set of a plurality of three-dimensional cells. A specific amplitude and a specific phase are defined in each individual cell. Each cell has a concave part formed by hollowing a part having an area corresponding to the specific amplitude by a depth corresponding to the specific phase. The individual cell has a specific optical property so that, when incident light is provided to the cell, emission light is obtained by changing an amplitude and a phase of the incident light in accordance with the specific amplitude and the specific phase defined in the cell.

Abstract: A light modulating switch (210) including a switching element (218) having a first portion (226) of electro-optic material to which first and second electrodes (213, 224) are associated. A second portion (228) is composed of material having an index of refraction matching that of the first portion (226) when no voltage is applied to electro-optically activate the first portion (226), but the index of refraction of the second portion (228) is less than the index of refraction of the first portion (226) when the first portion (226) is electro-optically activated by application of voltage to the electrodes (213, 224).

Abstract: An RF combiner (10) that combines a plurality of RF signals (12) in the optical domain. The combiner (10) includes a single optical source (14) that generates an optical beam (16). The optical beam (16) is directed through a series of optical modulators (20), such as optical phase modulators. Each modulator (20) is responsive to an RF signal (12) that is to be combined with the other RF signals (12). Each modulator (20) modulates the optical signal (16) with the RF signal (12) so that the modulations combine in an additive manner. A single optical phase demodulator (32) is used to demodulate the composite phase modulated optical beam (16) to generate the combined RF signal (34). Suitable delay devices (50) can be used between the optical modulators (20), or the RF signals can be matched so that the RF signals combine in phase.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a laser light source for emitting a light beam having a coherence length; a beam expander for expanding the light beam; a spatial light modulator; beam shaping optics for shaping the expanded laser beam to provide uniform illumination of the spatial light modulator, the beam shaping optics including a fly's eye integrator having an array of lenslets; a diffuser located in the light beam between the laser light source and the beam shaping optics; an electrically controllable de-speckling modulator for modifying the temporal and spatial phase of the light beam; and a projection lens for producing an image of the spatial light modulator on a distant screen.

Abstract: The invention is an instrument for sensing the state of polarization (SOP), and for transforming the SOP of a beam of light from an incident continuously-varying arbitrary SOP to a desired exit SOP, using a polarization compensator under feedback control. A polarization sensor uses two or three samples of a beam to sense the Poincare sphere latitude and longitude error in SOP. A polarization controller adjusts the SOP of light, which is then sensed by the polarization sensor, which develops signals to drive the polarization compensator using feedback methods. Unlike prior-art systems, the feedback seeks a mid-point rather than an extremum in the sensed signals, so there is no sign ambiguity in the feedback control. Further, the sensor signals indicate orthogonal displacements in SOP that correspond to specific elements in the polarization controller, so there is no ambiguity as to which element needs adjustment in order to correct a given error in SOP.

Abstract: An optical device for modulating optical signals in a wavelength division multiplexed communication system. The device includes a plurality of phase modulators. Each of the phase modulators is configured to provide an associated phase modulated optical signal. Each of a plurality of optical filters receives an associated one of the optical signals and is configured to amplitude modulate the optical signal as an optical filter output signal. The optical filter output signals may be combined onto an aggregate path to a receiver including receiver optical filters for selecting the transmitted channels.

Abstract: An optical irregular phased-array is disclosed. The effective positions of the phase-controlled elements in the phased-array form an irregular array, such that the size of each phase-controlled element can be much larger than the wavelength of the light without having multiple beam problem. The effective phased-array is a virtual array of effective point-source of light, which is generated by an array of lenses or mirrors. An array of space-fed phase-modulators that is coupled with the array of lenses or mirrors provides means of adjusting the phase of the light from each effective point-source of light. While, the array of phase-modulators and array of lenses or mirrors can all be a regular array, which are simple in structure. A sub-array technique is provided to greatly reduce the controlling lines.