Abstract: Methods and devices for coupling the output of multiple emitters of a laser diode bar using a beam transform system with high brightness and coupling efficiency. Some embodiments may include wavelength locking with devices such as VBGs and other suitable devices and methods.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a first cylindrical lens array in which a plurality of first lens segments each having a first radius of curvature and a first width so as to divide laser light into a plurality of light components are arranged, and a plurality of second lens segments each having a second radius of curvature and a second width, and provided in at least one position of the first cylindrical lens array so as to be arranged between adjacent first lens segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spot generator (10) having: —an entrysurface (12) for receiving an incident light beam (20) and an exit surface (14) for (22, 24) transmitting the light beam, the entry surface defining an entryside (16) and the exit surface defining an exit side (18). According to the invention, the spot generator is designed to modulate the incident light beam to generate on the exit side a first plurality (22) and a second plurality (24) of separate light spots, each light spot belonging to the first plurality having a first angular spectrum and each light spot belonging to the second plurality having a second angular spectrum different than the first angular spectrum. Advantageously, the spot generator comprises a periodic binary phase structure. The invention further relates to a multi-spot scanning microscope and to a method of imaging a microscopic sample.

Abstract: A laser beam multiplexer capable of easily multiplexing a plurality of laser beams is provided. A laser beam multiplexer includes a multiplexing element having a hollow portion with a sectional elliptical shape, in which the multiplexing element includes: a plurality of light-incident apertures guiding laser beams from outside toward one of two focal points of the hollow portion, a reflective layer arranged on a wall surface of the hollow portion, and multiplexing a plurality of incident laser beams while reflecting the plurality of laser beams, and a light-emitting aperture guiding laser beams multiplexed by the reflective layer toward outside.

Abstract: A beam splitter includes a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are linearly offset from one another along an axis. The first and second surfaces are positioned to receive an optical beam projected in a first direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis. The first surface is configured to redirect a first portion of the optical beam in a second direction that has a first rotational offset with respect to the first direction and a second rotational offset with respect to the axis. The second surface is configured to redirect a second portion of the optical beam in a third direction that has a third rotational offset with respect to the first direction and a fourth rotational offset with respect to the axis.

Abstract: The 2-channel display system with micro electromechanical systems (MEMS, e.g. DMDs from Texas Instruments) simultaneously generates a right and a left image in two discrete modulation channels, which differ by the polarization of their light beams. More specifically, the invention relates to the chirality (handedness) of MEMS and the geometric problems associated with this handedness in superposition systems. In this application we uncover a solution to superpose the images modulated by identical MEMSs which have their mirror deflection axes oriented parallel to an axis of symmetry of the image raster of the MEMSs.

Abstract: A wavelength-selective switch with a switch unit having a lens array, a first lens and a beam expander, and a branching unit having a second lens, a diffraction grating, a third lens and a mirror, in which the switch unit and the branching unit are accommodated in independent casings, and a confocal point of the light transmitted through the first lens and the light transmitted through the second lens are arranged on a connecting surface of the casing of the switch unit and the casing of the branching unit.

Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a light source section for emitting a beam of substantially parallel rays, a field lens for collecting the beam of substantially parallel rays, a condenser lens for introducing the beam of rays collected by the field lens onto an illumination target surface, and an aperture stop disposed at an entrance-side focal position of the condenser lens. The aperture stop and the light source are in conjugate positional relationship via the collector lens and the field lens. An optical element having different characteristics between the central region and the outer region is arranged in a path of the substantially parallel rays at a position satisfying the condition: 0.03<|L/fCD|<0.4 where FCD is a focal length of the condenser lens and L is a distance from the illumination target surface to a position that is, of positions on which the optical element is projected, closest to the illumination target surface.

Abstract: A path of travel for radiation extends to one optical element, then to another optical element, and then away from the latter. One of the optical elements is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation above and below a first wavelength, and the other is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation below and above a second wavelength. According to a different aspect, a path of travel for radiation extends to one of first and second optical elements, then to the other optical element, and then away from the latter. The first optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a first wavelength, and the second optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a second wavelength. The first optical element can tilt in relation to the path of travel to change the first wavelength.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmic display comprising an ophthalmic lens containing an optical imager insert (400) presenting a direction of polarization and serving to shape light beams and direct them towards the eye of the wearer to enable information content (I) to be viewed, the display also comprising at least one polarizer element for placing on a face of the lens. According to the invention, said polarizer element is constituted by an element (2A, 2B) having adjustable polarization.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a sub-millimeter scale curved surface on a substrate (10) includes cutting a plurality of trenches (12) of varying depth into the substrate (10). The depth of the trenches (12) corresponds to a desired surface profile. The substrate (10) is etched to remove material left (16) between the trenches to form the curved surface.

Abstract: A light from an optical fiber is incident on a dispersive element via an optical circulator and an optical fiber. The dispersive element disperses the incident light toward directions different depending on wavelength to apply the dispersed lights to a lens. The lens focuses the lights at positions different for each wavelength of the light. The patterning plate has desired reflection characteristics. The lights reflected on the patterning plate are multiplexed by the dispersive element through the identical path to be emitted from an optical fiber via the optical circulator. Desired characteristics can be obtained by arbitrarily changing a pattern with reflection characteristics of the patterning plate. In addition, a characteristic of the optical filter can be changed by moving the patterning plate.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein comprise mixers comprising a light pipe having input and output ends and a central region therebetween. An optical path extends in a longitudinal direction from the input end through the central region to the output end. The central region of the light pipe comprises one or more rippled reflective sidewalls having a plurality of elongate ridges and valleys and sloping surfaces therebetween. Light from the input end propagating along the optical path reflects from the sloping surfaces and is redirected at a different azimuthal direction toward the output end thereby mixing the light at the output end. Illuminance and/or color mixing can therefore be provided.

Abstract: A method for creating an improved signal light is disclosed. For example, the improved signal light includes a housing, one or more first type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting a light energy having a first dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, one or more second type of LEDs emitting a light energy having a second dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, a filter and a mixer. The filter may filter the light energy of the one or more second type of LEDs such that only a third dominant wavelength passes from the one or more second type of LEDs. The mixer may mix the light energy having the first dominant wavelength and the filtered light energy having the third dominant wavelength to form a light energy having a desired fourth dominant wavelength.

Abstract: An optical device for an image projector for providing a projected wide field of view image, includes a first dichroic mirror or splitter, arranged in an input path for receiving light of a plurality of wavelength bands, and adapted to output by reflection on a first path respective first portions of selected ones of the wavelength bands and by transmission on a second path respective second portions of the selected ones of the wavelength bands. Light modulating devices, arranged in respective ones of the first and second paths to receive the first and second portions, generate and output on respective first and second intersecting output paths modulated ones of the first and second portions.

Abstract: A light source includes a first set of first beam sources having parallel output beams lying in a first-beam-source plane and a second set of second beam sources having parallel output beams lying in a second-beam-source plane. The first-beam-source output beams are parallel to the second-beam-source output beams, but are spatially offset in a direction perpendicular to the first-beam-source output beams. A spatial optical interleaver disposed receives the first-beam-source output beams and the second-beam-source output beams. The first-beam-source output beams pass unimpeded through a set of first-beam openings in the spatial optical interleaver, and the second-beam-source output beams are reflected parallel to the first-beam-source output beams and in the first-beam-source plane.

Abstract: An optical tapped delay line device in accordance with the present invention is a method for and device for spatially resolving the spectral components of an optical signal, i.e., channelizing or spectrum analyzing the wavelength content of an optical signal. The device is based on a tapped optical delay line and enables numerous related optical signal processing functions.

Abstract: A head mounted display is disclosed that utilizes a single video display screen to transport images to both eyes. Multiple reflections are created by illuminating the display screen form a plurality of directions, or by illuminating the display screen with light beams of differing polarizations. The reflections of the display screen are focused in order to reduce the splitting volume and then redirected by a plurality of reflective surfaces located near the focal point of the display images. Different images may be sent to each eye of a user by interlacing multiple data streams for the display and linking each data stream with a specific illumination direction, or specific polarization.

Abstract: A laser apparatus (10) has a plurality of light sources (11a to 11c) that include laser array stacks (12a to 12c). Laser beams (32b, 32c) are respectively deflected by a slit mirror (14) and a polarizing beam splitter (16) and synthesized with other laser beams (32a). These laser beams have optical axes that are inclined with respect to each other and slow axis directions that are mutually parallel. A converging optical system (20) converges the laser beams from the respective light sources at positions that are separated along a direction perpendicular to the slow axis directions.

Abstract: A method for dividing substantially nonpolarized white light into three substantially nonpolarized fractions includes splitting the substantially nonpolarized white light into a first fraction and a second fraction, the first fraction being substantially nonpolarized light of a first wavelength interval and the second fraction of substantially nonpolarized light of a second and a third wavelength interval, the first wavelength interval being located between the second and the third wavelength interval and splitting the second fraction into a third fraction with substantially nonpolarized light of the second wavelength interval and into a fourth fraction with substantially nonpolarized light of the third wavelength interval.

Abstract: There are disposed two homogenizers for controlling an irradiation energy density in the longitudinal direction of a laser light transformed into a linear one which is inputtted into the surface to be irradiated. Also, there is disposed one homogenizer for controlling an irradiation energy density in a width direction of the linear laser light. According to this, the uniformity of laser annealing can be improved by the minimum number of homogenizers.

Abstract: A beam combiner for combining at least two light beams (1, 2) into one combined light beam (3), in particular in the beam path of an optical arrangement, preferably of a microscope, is with respect to a flexible beam combination with structurally simple means characterized by an acousto-optical element (4) in which a mechanical wave or sound wave for deflecting or bending light beams can be generated, so that a first light beam (1) entering the acousto-optical element (4) and at least a second light beam (2) entering the acousto-optical element (4) exit the acousto-optical element (4) in a collinear manner as a combined light beam (3). Further, a light source with such a beam combiner is specified.

Abstract: An image display system provides a viewer with an experience of three-dimensional imagery by presenting a composite image made up of at least two separate images. The system includes at least first and second image sources, a beam combiner, and a “background-image-occluding element” which prevents background imagery from being seen through foreground image elements. The system presents the image from one of the image sources, containing background image information, at a distance from the viewer which is greater than the distance from the viewer to the other image presented from the other image source, which contains foreground image elements.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus forms, onto a linear array light modulator, a line of illumination that extends in a linear direction. The illumination apparatus has a first laser array with laser emitters for forming a first linear beam array and a second laser array with laser emitters for forming a second linear beam array. An array combiner aligns at least the first and second linear beam arrays in the linear direction and directs the first and second linear beam arrays along a propagation path to form a mixed illumination. At least first and second cylindrical lens elements having power in the linear direction relay the mixed illumination from the propagation path toward the linear array light modulator. At least third and fourth cylindrical lens elements having power in the cross-array direction that is orthogonal to the linear direction focus the mixed illumination onto the linear array light modulator.

Abstract: An image projecting device and method are presented. The device comprises a light source system, a spatial light modulator (SLM) unit, and an image projection optics accommodated at the output side of the SLM unit. The SLM unit may be reflective or transmissive. The SLM unit comprises an SLM pixel arrangement enclosed between two glass substrates. The pixel array arrangement is formed by a pixel array assembly and at least one microlens assembly. The microlens assembly includes at least one microlens array accommodated proximate of the pixel array assembly. The light source system may comprise n light sources and a light converting means in optical path of light generated by the n light sources, to thereby produce m light beams of different wavelength ranges, wherein m>n. The light source system may comprise a multi-mode laser, thereby reducing a speckle effect in an integrated speckle pattern produced by the multiple modes, as compared to that of a single mode.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging system uses a single primary optical lens along with three non-collinear apertures to obtain three offset optical channels each of which can be separately captured with an optical sensor.

Abstract: A composite optical-dividing component receives a light beam. There are mixed-bands in the light beam. The composite optical-dividing component includes a first optical-patch and a second optical-patch. The first optical-patch has multiple micro-structural lenses in an identical shape. Each micro-structural lens receives the light beam and generates a deflecting light in some degrees of condense. The second optical patch has multiple polygonal structures. Some polygonal structures are periodic and provide the function of deflection in order to receive the deflecting light and then separate multiple bands from the beam. In accordance with wavelengths in multiple bands, the bands are emitted to a target area (RGB) in a plane, respectively. Another part of the polygonal structures has the capability of light refraction, which receives the deflecting light and deflects and the rest of the bands in the beam. And it is emitted to a target area (W) in a plane.

Abstract: A compact optical splitter module is disclosed. One type of compact optical splitter module is a planar attenuated splitter module that includes a branching waveguide network having j?1 50:50 splitters that form up to n?2j output waveguides having associated n output ports, wherein only m<n output ports are suitable for transmitting light to the at least one external output device. This provides a 1×m splitter module wherein each output port has the attenuation of a 1×n splitter module, thereby obviating the need for external attenuation. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a direct-connect splitter module that eliminates the need for an optical fiber array when coupling to external optical fibers. Another type of compact optical splitter module is a microsplitter module that serves as device and module at the same time and that eliminates the differentiation between device and module. The integration of device and module also makes manufacturing the microsplitter module cost-effect.

Abstract: A first beam splitter splits each laser beam into a first beam and a second beam. A deflecting unit deflects a direction of the second beam. A second beam splitter splits the second beam into multiple split beams. A first photoelectric converting unit measures intensity of the first beam and outputs first voltage. A second photoelectric converting unit measures intensity of each split beam and outputs second voltage. A control unit updates a driving-current correction value using the first voltage and the second voltage, corrects a driving current, and controls intensity of the laser beam based on corrected driving current.

Abstract: A light source for use in a projection system comprises a pair of lamps each effective to produce a substantially collimated beam. Part of the light emitted by each lamp is directed through the light originating part of the same, or another, lamp. A light combiner is arranged within the path of the light beams from each of the two lamps to provide a composite light beam of a cross section less than the sum of the cross section of the beams produced by each of the lamps.

Abstract: A system for optical color division receives an incident light from a side and divides the incident light into a plurality of color lights. The system includes a light guide plate for allowing the incident light to have total internal reflection back and forth therein. A surface of the light guide plate has a plurality of microstructures, which can destroy the total internal reflection and enable the light to exit.

Abstract: A projection engine is disclosed, in which white light from a uniform telecentric source is collimated, polarized, and split into red and cyan beams. The collimated red light passes through a red focuser, which has an off-axis, front-surface mirror that has an aspheric and/or conic profile, and a spherical lens. The collimated cyan light passes through a similar cyan focuser, after which it is split into blue and green beams. The mirror reflective surface has an aspherical shape to minimize aberrations at the edge of the field of view in the illumination optical path. The collimator is at the front focal plane of each focuser, making the emergent converging beam telecentric, and a pixelated panel is at the rear focal plane of each focuser. The reflected light beams from the red, green and blue pixelated panels are superimposed on a pixel-by-pixel basis and are directed to a projection lens.

Abstract: An embodiment of an optical manifold has first and second collimators, each arranged to receive light from a source and transmit the light to an exit port of the collimator, and a separator arranged to emit some of the light from the exit ports of the first and second collimators and to recycle some of the light into the collimators. Another embodiment has at least three collimators of substantially equal length and having central axes, respective light sources at entry ports of the collimators, the collimators being arranged with their central axes parallel and with their light sources in a common plane and reflectors positioned to direct light from exit ports of the collimators to a selectively reflective component that guides all the light into a common exit beam.

Abstract: A projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. The intrinsic polarizer can be an intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive.

Abstract: An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.

Abstract: An illumination system is provided for combining two or more light sources. A plurality of light sources radiate random polarization light. A plurality of collecting light pipes corresponds to the plurality of light sources. Each collecting light pipe has an entrance end disposed towards the respective light source. The collecting light pipes are laterally offset and overlapping opposite their respective entrance ends. A combining light pipe is disposed perpendicular to the collecting light pipes. A polarizing beam splitter and a mirror are sequentially arranged in each collecting light pipe essentially opposite the entrance end directing a first polarization light and a second polarization light, respectively upwards towards the combining light pipe. The combining light pipe has an entrance end overlying the polarizing beam splitter and mirror of each collecting light pipe to collect and combine the light from each polarizing beam splitter and mirror.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional video display device using a single image source for background image and object image display, which uses a double Fresnel lens structure, multi-reflector, and half mirror part. In particular, the present invention relates to a 3-dimensional image device with which the problem in prior art of spatial size in obtaining a background image is resolved, and with which a background image of a large display and a 3-dimensional image having an enhanced sense of depth and a large image are displayed simultaneously using only a single image source.

Abstract: A composite light dividing device is provided. The composite light dividing device receives a light beam mixed by lights of at least two wavebands. The composite light dividing device includes a refracting/diffracting unit, and a refracting unit. The refracting/diffracting unit is adapted for receiving the light beam and condensing the light beam into a condensed light beam, and dividing the condensed light beam at a deflection direction to obtain the lights of the wavebands. The refracting unit is adapted for deflecting the divided lights of the wavebands for outputting them from a specific direction. The composite light dividing device for example can be used in an image apparatus, and the divided lights of the wavebands can serve as primary color lights of the pixel colors.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are used for controlling electromagnetic radiation pulse duration in a lithographic apparatus. A dividing element is arranged to divide an electromagnetic radiation pulse into a first portion and a second portion. A prism receives, refracts, and subsequently emits the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation pulse. A directing element is arranged to direct the first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation pulse parallel to a common optical axis. The first portion combines with the second portion to form a combined radiation beam pulse. The combined radiation beam pulse has a longer pulse duration than the divided electromagnetic pulse and experiences no corresponding loss in intensity.

Abstract: A tactical radiating device for directed energy includes at least two generators of high energy directed beams. At least one beam combining system combines high energy directed beams emitted by the generators into a combined high energy beam. A focusing device focuses the combined high energy beam.

Abstract: A display system includes an angle-mapped display engine operable to launch angle-mapped image-bearing rays through an image-guiding substrate for display.

Abstract: A liquid immersion type projection optical system that can stably prevent the outflow of immersion liquid into inside of an optical system and can maintain good imaging performance. In the projection optical system of the present invention, an optical path between a light transmitting member (Lp) disposed closest to a second surface (W) side and the second surface is filled with a liquid (Lm1) having a refractive index greater than 1.1, and a light shielding film (36) for shielding the passing of light is formed on the side surfaces (41, 42) of the light transmitting member. When D is a space between the second surface and the light shielding film, ? is a maximum incident angle of an image forming beam which reaches the second surface, and Ym is a maximum image height on the second surface, the condition of 0.25<D/Ym×tan ?<1.7 is satisfied.

Abstract: An optical integrating bar is square or rectangular in cross-section having first and second axes each perpendicular to opposite sides of the cross-section. Source light beams are transmitted to the optical integrating bar in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section. The source light beams exhibit first, second, or first and second polarization states that are orthogonal to each other. The first, second, or first and second polarization states are aligned or substantially aligned with the first, second, or first and second axes of the optical integrating bar, respectively, when the source light beams are transmitted to the optical integrating bar. In this manner, combined light exiting the optical integrating bar maintains or substantially maintains the polarization of each of the source light beams.

Abstract: A transflective type liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a pixel region, the pixel region including a transmission region and a reflection region, the first substrate having a light guiding layer formed thereon, a reflector being formed on the light guiding layer with the reflection region, the light guiding layer including a first medium and a second medium, a refractive index of the first medium and a refractive index of the second medium being different from each other, a second substrate, which faces the first substrate, and on which a color filter layer is formed, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and the second substrates, and a backlight assembly positioned outside of the first substrate to provide light onto the first medium in a mode.

Abstract: A lens array includes a plurality of lens pairs each of which includes lenses so disposed that optical axes thereof are aligned with each other. The lens pairs are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the optical axes. The lens array further includes a light-blocking portion provided between the lens pairs. The light-blocking portion is formed to have a structure split into at least two parts in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: Arrangements for combination and fast-axis alignment of fast-axes of diode-laser beams are disclosed. Alignment arrangements include providing each diode-laser with a corresponding alignable fast-axis collimating lens, providing individually alignable mirrors for steering an re-orienting beams from each diode-laser, and providing single diode-laser slab-modules in which the diode-laser beams can be pre-aligned to a common propagation-axis direction, and in which edges and surfaces of the slabs can be used to align the fast and slow-axes of the beams. Beam combination methods include combination by dichroic elements, polarization-sensitive elements, and optical fiber bundles.

Abstract: A crystallization method includes wavefront-dividing an incident light beam into a plurality of light beams, condensing the wavefront-divided light beams in a corresponding phase shift portion of a phase shift mask or in the vicinity of the phase shift portion to form a light beam having an light intensity distribution of an inverse peak pattern in which a light intensity is minimum in a point corresponding to the phase shift portion of the phase shift mask, and irradiating a polycrystalline semiconductor film or an amorphous semiconductor film with the light beam having the light intensity distribution to produce a crystallized semiconductor film.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endoilluminator has a power supply coupled to a light source, a controller, a collimation device, an alignment device, a lens, and an optical fiber. The light source has three light emitting diodes. Each of the three light emitting diodes produces a different color light. The controller controls the operation of the three light emitting diodes. The collimation device collimates the light produced by at least one of the light emitting diodes. The alignment device aligns the light individually produced by the three light emitting diodes into a single light beam. The lens focuses the single light beam. The optical fiber for carries the single light beam.

Abstract: A method of detecting a movement of a measuring probe provided between an objective lens adapted to image an object plane on a predetermined image plane and the object plane is disclosed. Additionally, a measuring instrument comprising an objective lens and a measuring probe is disclosed. An input beam of light is split into a measurement beam and a reference beam. The measurement beam is focused on a reverse focal plane of the objective lens such that the measurement beam is collimated by the objective lens. The collimated measurement beam is reflected at the measuring probe. The reflected measurement beam is directed towards the objective lens such that the objective lens focuses the reflected measurement beam on the reverse focal plane. The reflected measurement beam is collimated. The collimated reference beam and the reference beam are superimposed to form a superimposed beam and an interference between the reflected measurement beam and the reference beam is detected.

Abstract: A zoomable light beam spreader comprising first and second multiple-lens arrays includes a plurality of plano-convex lenses in correspondence with a plurality of plano-concave lenses having matched, curved optical surfaces. In a zero-power state, the two multiple-lens arrays are very closely spaced so that the matched convex and concave surfaces effectively cancel each other optically but, as the two arrays are separated coaxially along the axis of a light beam, beam divergence angle increases as a function of the distance of separation. A large amount of beam divergence is obtained when the curved surfaces of the plano-concave lenses of the second array are positioned beyond the focus points of the plano-convex lenses of the first array.