Abstract: A switchable privacy display apparatus comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, and an additional polariser. A reflective polariser, switchable liquid crystal polar control retarder, passive polar control retarders and air gap are arranged between the display output polariser and additional polariser. The passive retarders are arranged to provide no phase difference to polarised light from the spatial light modulator for on-axis light; and simultaneously provide a non-zero phase difference for polarised light in off-axis directions. The polar control retarders are further arranged to achieve low reflectivity for light propagating through the air gap. A switchable privacy display that can be conveniently assembled at low cost can be provided with high contrast images for display users while maintaining high visual security level for off-axis snoopers.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit comprises an optical deinterleaver, including an input region, a dispersive region, and at least two output regions. The input region is adapted to receive an input optical signal including a plurality of channels. The dispersive region is optically coupled to the input region to receive the input optical signal. The dispersive region includes an inhomogeneous arrangement of a first material and a second material to structure the dispersive region to separate the input optical signal into a plurality of multi-channel optical signals, including a first multi-channel optical signal and a second multi-channel optical signal. The at least two output regions, include a first out region and a second output region optically coupled to the dispersive region. The first output region is positioned to receive the first multi-channel optical signal and the second output region is positioned to receive the second multi-channel optical signal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a backlight with an LED assembly. The LED assembly includes a dichroic combiner and two or more different color LEDs. A substrate of the dichroic combiner receives color light from multiple color LEDs at different input regions and propagating in different directions. Dielectric layers within the substrate selectively reflect or transmit the color light to spatially superimpose the color light, and output the color light in a particular direction at a light output region of the substrate. The light output regions of LED assemblies are arranged behind an LCD panel, along one or more edges, to illuminate the LCD panel. The LED assembly provides edge-lighting without requiring LED placement along the one or more edges.

Abstract: A swing prism endoscope with adjustable viewing direction includes a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end and a window of a transparent material that seals an opening on the distal end of the shaft so that it is fluid-tight. In addition the swing prism endoscope includes a pivotable prism on the distal end of the shaft for adjustable diversion of light that falls through the window into the shaft of the swing prism endoscope onto an object lens, where the pivotable prism is made of diamond.

Abstract: An optical transmitting module includes: light sources configured to output optical signals, an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the optical signals output from the light sources, a collimating lens configured to convert an optical signal output from the optical multiplexer to a form of parallel beam, a package inside which the light sources, the optical multiplexer, and the collimating lens are provided, and an optical isolator disposed on one inner surface of the package, in which the optical signals output from the light sources are multiplexed into a single optical signal through the optical multiplexer disposed inside the package, and the single optical signal passes through the collimating lens and is then optically coupled to an optical fiber stub in a receptacle through a focusing lens disposed outside the package to be output externally.

Abstract: A multi-pass-type Faraday rotator useful in an optical isolator is provisioned with high-efficiency, high-field permanent magnets formed with minimal magnetic material. A high magnetic field is generated by two sets of magnets attached to outer pole plates that are mirror images of each other. Like-type poles of the magnets in each set are disposed against each other above and below the beam path plane of a multi-pass Faraday optic. Each set of magnets is formed of a central block of magnetic material with magnetization oriented substantially parallel to the multi-pass beam path on the Faraday optic, adjoined by adjacent blocks of magnetic material with magnetization oriented substantially perpendicular to the central magnet block and with like poles to the central magnet block where the magnets border the multi-pass Faraday optic.

Abstract: Transparent heat-conductive layers of significant thickness are bonded or adhered to opposing optical faces of a Faraday optic to form a Faraday optic structure that can be used with beam-folding mirrors and an external magnetic field to form a multi-pass Faraday rotator with minimal thermal gradient across the beam within the Faraday optic. The transparent heat conductive layers conduct heat through the Faraday optic substantially parallel to the beam propagation axis for each pass through the Faraday optic structure and thereby reduce thermal gradients across the beam cross section that would otherwise contribute to thermal lens focal shifts and thermal birefringence in the Faraday optic structure. The multi-pass Faraday rotator of this invention is suitable for use with any device based upon the Faraday effect such as optical isolators, optical circulators and Faraday mirrors that are scalable with beam size to power levels in excess of 2 kW.

Abstract: Optical polarizers and optical isolators and systems that incorporate the optical polarizers and isolators are disclosed. In one aspect, an optical isolator includes a Faraday crystal with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first one-dimensional sub-wavelength grating disposed on the first surface, and a second one-dimensional sub-wavelength grating disposed on the second surface. The isolator is to receive a first input beam of light on the first grating and output a polarized first output beam of light through the second grating approximately parallel to the first input beam. The isolator is to also receive a second input beam of light on the second grating and output a polarized second output beam of light through the first grating with the second output beam offset from the second input beam.

Abstract: A light source switching device for use in a projection system is provided. The light source switching device comprises at least two light guiding devices and at least one phase switching device. The phase switching device is disposed between the two light guiding devices and adapted to be in one of a first status and a second status. When the first light travels into the light source switching device, the phase switching device is capable of being in the first status such that the first light is adapted to emit out from the outlet surface. When the second light travels into the light source switching device, the phase switching device is capable of being in the second status such that the second light is adapted to emit out from the outlet surface. With the switching operation of the phase switching device, the plural lights provided by plural light sources would be selected and uniformized by the light source switching device.