Abstract: A solid state optical beam steering device including a body of electro-optical material wherein the body of electro-optical material comprises any material of a class of hydrogen-doped phase-change metal oxide and wherein the body has a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a first transparent resistive sheet on the first face of the body of electro optic material, wherein the first transparent resistive sheet has a first side and a second side, and a transparent conductor on the second face of the body of electro optic material, wherein the transparent conductor is coupled to the second side of the first transparent resistive sheet.

Abstract: A backlight device includes: a light source to emit coherent light; an optical path difference generator on the light source, the optical path difference generator including an incident surface and a plurality of light emitting surfaces, the light emitting surfaces being parallel to the incident surface and having different separation distances from the incident surface; a light condenser on the optical path difference generator; a diffuser on the light condenser; and a collimator on the diffuser.

Abstract: Provided is a line beam forming device that can divide a laser beam into beam segments in a first direction (y-axis) perpendicular to the traveling direction (z-axis) of the laser beam, and arrange and emit the beam segments with regular intervals in a second direction (x-axis) perpendicular to the traveling direction of the laser beam, using a single mirror set composed of a plurality of mirrors. The line beam forming device of the present invention can be used for an excimer laser which is a multimode laser beam generator with high beam divergence, a high-power DPSS laser, or a laser diode, can obtain high-density energy by condensing beams, can obtain a beam profile having uniform intensity in both of a long axis and a short axis, and can combine a plurality of laser beams without being influenced by the properties of an incident beam.

Abstract: Binocular depth-perception systems use binary, phase-antisymmetric gratings to cast point-source responses onto an array of photosensitive pixels. The gratings and arrays can be manufactured to tight tolerances using well characterized and readily available integrated-circuit fabrication techniques, and can thus be made small, cost-effective, and efficient. The gratings produce point-source responses that are large relative to the pitch of the pixels, and that exhibit wide ranges of spatial frequencies and orientations. Such point-source responses make it easy to distinguish the point-source responses from fixed-pattern noise the results from spatial frequencies of structures that form the array.

Abstract: Optical modulator having wide bandwidth based on Fabry-Perot resonant reflection is disclosed. The optical modulator includes: a bottom Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer; a top DBR layer including at least one layer, and a modified layer; and an active layer disposed between bottom and top DBR layers, wherein the at least one layer includes at least one pair of a first refractive index layer having a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer having a second refractive index, the modified layer includes at least one pair of a third refractive index layer having a third refractive index and a fourth refractive index layer having a fourth refractive index, the third and the fourth refractive indexes being different, and at least one of the third and the fourth refractive index layers has a second optical thickness that is not ?/4 or that is not an odd multiple thereof.

Abstract: A total internal reflection (TIR) modulator includes a member comprising an electro-optic material; a plurality of first electrode sets; a plurality of second electrode sets; and a first set of electrical conductors, each electrical conductor in the first set of electrical conductors being coupled to one of the second electrode sets wherein the electrodes in each second electrode set are arranged in an interdigitated relationship with the electrodes in one of the first electrode sets; and each of the first electrode sets comprises a first electrode, the first electrodes being arranged in an interdigitated relationship with the electrical conductors in the first set of electrical conductors.

Abstract: An electrooptic device having a simple structure that can efficiently increase deflection of a beam is provided. The device includes: an electrooptic crystal (11) having an electrooptic effect; an electrode pair of a positive electrode (12) and a negative electrode (13) for generating an electric field inside the electrooptic crystal; and a power source for applying a voltage between the electrode pair so as to generate a space charge inside the electrooptic crystal. With this arrangement, by using a simple structure, a change in a deflection angle is temporally rapid, and a large deflection angle that cannot be obtained by a conventional electrooptic crystal prism can be acquired at a low applied voltage.

Abstract: Bi-stable electrophoretic display device (1) having a normal mode and a scrolling mode, in which image transitions are effected by causing the charged particles (8,9) to toggle between the intermediate optical states (e.g. grey-to-grey) or between an extreme optical state and an intermediate optical state (e.g. white-to-light grey), with a corresponding short update time tscroll. When the device (1) enters a scrolling mode in response to a scrolling command from a user, picture elements are first driven to a special scrolling optical. state, after which drive waveforms for scrolling mode are used for fast toggling between two scrolling states. An increased scrolling speed and very short scrolling time can be realized, without adversely affecting image quality during a normal mode.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical structure according to the present invention includes: a base 1; an elastic supporting member 5 having elasticity, the elastic supporting member 5 being formed on the base 1; and a movable section supported by the elastic supporting member 5 so as to be capable of making a relative move with respect to the base 1. This movable section includes a movable electrode 6 opposing the base 1 via a first gap, and a mirror 8 being affixed to the movable electrode 6 via a vertical rib 7.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode, and a third electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode and the second electrode. The MEMS device also includes a support structure which separates the first electrode from the second electrode and a reflective element located and movable between a first position and a second position. The reflective element is in contact with a portion of the device when in the first position and is not in contact with the portion of the device when in the second position. An adhesive force is generated between the reflective element and the portion when the reflective element is in the first position. Voltages applied to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode at least partially reduce or counteract the adhesive force.

Abstract: A mirror device which deflects incident light includes: a mirror arranged on a substrate and supported by a hinge; an address electrode deflecting the mirror to an ON state, an OFF state, or an oscillating state; a drive circuit applying a voltage to the address electrode; and a first stopper unit determining an oscillation amplitude in the oscillating state.

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: In display systems employing spatial light modulators, the OFF-state light from OFF-state pixels of the spatial light modulator can be captured and directed back to the pixels of the spatial light modulator so as to recycle the OFF-state light in the display system. Bitplanes derived from the desired image to be produced are calibrated to include the recycled off-state light to properly produce the desired image using the display system.

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: An optical instrument for splitting optical spectrum, comprising a series of hollow core optical wave guides (12, 22, and so on) connected by optical couplers (16, 26, and so on) transporting broad band incident optical wave from one stage to another, a narrow band optical wave guide (14, 24, and so on) made of photonic crystal materials mounted inside each of said hollow core optical wave guide and along it, and specified for confining certain portion of the incident optical spectrum. Said inner narrow band optical wave guides bend out at the ends of said outer hollow core optical wave guides to extract and guide out the selected component of the incident optical spectrum. Said optical couplers couple the output optical waves of said outer hollow core wave guides of the previous stages into said inner optical wave guides of the next stages for further splitting.

Abstract: A display device comprising the following arranged from light input side in the order listed below: a first reflector having a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective property; a translucent porous body having a plurality of pores in which a translucent material is filled, each of the pores having a substantially smaller diameter than the wavelength of input light; and a second reflector having a perfect reflection property, or a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective property. The average complex refractive index of the translucent porous body is changeable with respect to each display dot, and the wavelength of light absorbed by the translucent porous body is changeable with respect to each display dot according to the average complex refractive index. In this way, the input light is modulatable, and the modulated light is outputted from the first reflector and/or the second reflector to perform image display.

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: A method of displaying an image may include receiving image data for the image, and defining first and second sub-frames of the image. The first and second sub-frames may have corresponding pluralities of image elements, with each image element of the second sub-frame spatially offset an offset distance from a corresponding image element of the first sub-frame. The first sub-frame may be displayed in a first position, and the second sub-frame may be displayed in a second position. Each displayed image element of the second sub-frame may be spatially offset substantially the offset distance from the corresponding displayed image element of the first sub-frame.

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: A method for wavelength-selective mixing and/or distribution of polychromatic light. When mixing polychromatic light, lights having only one wavelength are successively fed to each member of a selective chain to form a partial spectrum, and when distributing chromatic light, one wavelength is filtered out of each member and the remaining spectrum is fed after reflection to the next member for being further decomposed. A chain of photonic crystals is used both for mixing and distributing and a wavelength-selective coupler/decoupler is associated to each crystal. Fields of application include the wavelength-selective mixture or distribution of polychromatic light and spectrometric measurements and environment monitoring.

Abstract: An Interferometric Modulator (IMod) is a microelectromechanical device for modulating light using interference. The colors of these devices may be determined in a spatial fashion, and their inherent color shift may be compensated for using several optical compensation mechanisms. Brightness, addressing, and driving of IMods may be accomplished in a variety of ways with appropriate packaging, and peripheral electronics which can be attached and/or fabricated using one of many techniques. The devices may be used in both embedded and directly perceived applications, the latter providing multiple viewing modes as well as a multitude of product concepts ranging in size from microscopic to architectural in scope. In another aspect, a structure for modulating light comprises modulators of light each including an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including in-resonator imaging lens for improving resolution of a resonator-enhanced optical system provides resolution improvements for optical inspection and measurement systems, optical storage and retrieval systems as well as other optical systems. An imaging lens is incorporated in the resonator to image a point or area of one of the reflective surfaces of the resonator on a point or area of another reflective surface of the resonator. Resonance may be supported between the two surfaces, or with respect to only one surface with the other surface acting as an intermediary reflector. The partially reflective surface or a totally reflective surface may also be incorporated on a planar outside surface of the imaging lens.

Abstract: A substrate is provided with a light reflection film in which the heights of a plurality of convex portions or the depths of concave portions formed on a base material are specified to be substantially the same. The two-dimensional shapes of the plurality of convex portions or concave portions are specified to be the two-dimensional shapes of independent circles and polygons, or of either of them. In addition, the plurality of convex portions or concave portions are arranged in the direction of the plane on a random basis. The substrate is formed using a mask in which light transmission portions or light non-transmission portions are formed in units of dots, the number thereof being smaller than the number of dot regions. The dots are arranged irregularly in each of the units, and a plurality of units are included.

Abstract: A light beam deflector comprising a modified asymmetric Fabry-Perot (Gires-Tournois) etalon having a back reflecting and electrically conducting mirror and a front partially transmitting mirror spaced apart by an electro-optic material, there also being a transparent sheet resistor between the electro-optic material and the front mirror. The invention further comprises a pair of electrodes contacting two generally parallel edges of the transparent sheet resistor so that if different voltages are applied between the electrodes with respect to the back conducting mirror, a front to back electric field which varies in a linear manner from one electrode to the other will be produced.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a light reflective film which can prevent moire fringes from occurring. A rough face in which a plurality of rows of pyramidal convex portions that are linearly continuous are adjacently formed in parallel with one another is formed on one face of a die film. The rows of convex portions that are linearly continuous are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an edge of the die film. An optical film is produced by transferring the die film. A light reflective film is produced by vapor-depositing a light reflection film on the optical film. In a liquid crystal display panel having the light reflective film, the pitch of occurring moire fringes becomes so small that the moire fringes cannot be visually seen, and moire fringes can be prevented from occurring.

Abstract: An optical modulation element is capable of forming a reflective diffraction grating in which heights of a plurality of elements each having a reflecting surface periodically change. The reflecting surfaces of at least one of the plurality of elements are driven in a direction of height by piezoelectric elements. The plurality of elements each having the surface as the reflecting surface are two-dimensionally arrayed by juxtaposing long sides. A rear surface side of an effective reflecting portion of each of the elements is fixed to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A method and device for increasing the effective horizontal resolution of a display device. One embodiment forms a cardinal array of digital micromirror elements by staggering alternate rows in an array. According to a second embodiment, an ordinal pixel array 57, is converted to a cardinal pixel array, by grouping SLM elements 59, 61, 63, and 65 into a pixel block 58. All of the elements in a pixel block are controlled in unison such that the pixel block acts like a single pixel. Rows of pixel blocks 67 and 69 are offset to provide the effect of a cardinal array of pixels without the decrease in efficiency sometimes associated with cardinal pixel arrays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a beam of light that is substantially coherent and has a coherence length into substantially incoherent radiation. The method has the steps of collimating the beam, delaying a first portion of the beam by a first optical delay by ballistic passage through a first cell of an optical element, and delaying each of a plurality of other portions of the beam by an optical delay different from the first optical delay by an amount exceeding the coherence length of the beam.

Abstract: An access system based on piezo-electric transducer assembly or electro-optic device light beam deflector assembly which on application of electric signals deflects light beams, which are then passed through total internally reflecting surfaces to increase the separation between beams, is described. The light beams fall on large area information storage surface, such as optical disk or magnetic disk, for the purpose of reading and writing. The access time to the information is very fast. The nature of the reflected light from the memory surface is detected to read the digital signals stored on the surface as is conventionally done in the art. Except for the small friction-free movements of the piezo-electric transducers there are no moving parts for access to the storage surface. Instead of the memory surface a screen may be placed when tthe light beams can be used after large separation to form a fast display.

Abstract: A display system (20) that uses multiple SLMs (25) to enhance horizontal or vertical resolution, or both. For example, to approximate a two-fold increase in horizontal resolution, the input data is sampled at a doubled rate, and each SLM (25) receives every other sample. Each SLM (25) generates an image, and the two images are partially superposed with a horizontal offset and simultaneously displayed. The resulting output image has a perceived resolution that approximates that of an image generated by an SLM with twice as many pixels per row.

Abstract: A variable spectral resolution agile filter has instantly adjustable spectral resolution with no required mechanical motion and a quickly adjustable center wavelength. Adjustment of the center wavelength is accomplished by reliable piezoelectric actuators. Adjustment of the spectral resolution is achieved by changing the finesse of the system, the finesse being governed by the reflectivity of the faces. By making one of the faces exhibit electrically variable reflectivity, the finesse of the system is instantly changeable, and thus the spectral resolution is also instantly changeable.

Abstract: The total internal reflection modulator has an electrode array distributed across an area of the reflecting surface of the electro-optic material. The electrode array has multiple sets of electrodes forming an outer rectangle interdigitated with at least one reference set of electrodes forming a inner diamond. A diamond-shaped area with no electrodes is preferably symmetrically within the inner electrodes of the electrode array on the reflecting surface. The uniform voltage difference between the electrodes and the varying lengths of the electrodes creates a fringe electrical field in the electro-optical material and an optical phase grating to diffract the incident light on the reflecting surface. The zero order nondiffracted light becomes the output beam. The optical phase grating will control the incident beam's optical profile at the modulator (near field) and hence the imaged spot size at a focus at the image plane (far field).