Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet having a plurality of light guide plate patterns, each light guide plate pattern having a micro-patterned output surface for emitting light, and a micro-patterned bottom surface opposing to the output surface. The optical sheet is made in steps comprising: extruding a resin into the nip between a patterned roller and a patterned carrier film at a patterned roller temperature T1 and a nip pressure P1, to form the optical sheet, the optical sheet having a first patterned surface and a second patterned surface, the first patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned roller and the second patterned surface having a micro-pattern transferred from the patterned carrier film; and peeling off the patterned carrier film from the optical sheet.

Abstract: An optical element includes a first surface, a second surface positioned to face the first surface, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces arrayed in a first region defined by the first surface and the second surface, wherein the reflecting surfaces have a first length in a first direction vertical to the first surface and are arrayed at a pitch in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, light incident on one of the first surface and the second surface is reflected by the reflecting surfaces toward the other surface, and predetermined parameters satisfy predetermined relational formulae representing conditions for ensuring total reflection at the reflecting surfaces and for avoiding total reflection at a light emergent surface.

Abstract: An optical layer for a light control type solar photovoltaic module, a light control type solar photovoltaic module, and a light control type solar photovoltaic panel having an excellent directionality to the sunlight are provided. An optical layer 4 for a light control type solar photovoltaic module includes an entrance surface 11 and an exit surface 12 and is arranged opposite photovoltaic cells 6 that convert light into electric energy. A number of prismatic optical elements are formed in at least one of the entrance surface 11 and the exit surface 12, each of the prismatic optical elements is on a common plane S1 defined by a common base shared by the prismatic optical elements adjacent to each other, and a prism axis 7 of each of the prismatic optical elements is inclined toward a predetermined direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the common plane.

Abstract: A method for making a prismatic laminate includes the steps of: a) forming a back-coating roller having a roller surface with a plurality of recesses arranged in a predetermined pattern and produced by laser holography; b) preparing a prismatic structure including a plate body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of prismatic strips formed on the first surface of the plate body; c) applying a coating containing a resin component and an antistatic agent on the second surface of the plate body; and d) embossing the coating with the back-coating roller to form an optical layer including a plurality of microstructures protruding in a direction away from the second surface of the plate body and having a pattern corresponding to that of the recesses in the roller surface.

Abstract: A photovoltaic solar-light concentration apparatus comprises a focusing layer having a plurality of focusing elements disposed adjacent to each other. A waveguide optically coupled and separated from the focusing layer has an exit surface and a plurality of deflecting elements. Each of the deflecting elements receives a band shaped solar-light beam from a corresponding focusing element. The deflecting elements are shaped and disposed so as to deflect and trap the solar-light beams inside the waveguide at an angle that insures total internal reflection. This concentrated solar-light is conveyed along a main direction perpendicular to the exit surface towards a single or multi junction photovoltaic cell coupled to the waveguide via a secondary optical element. The multi junction PV cell is customized to respond to the spectral light emerging from the waveguide as changed by the partial absorption through the optics that is molded of a plastic resin.

Abstract: A device for homogenizing laser radiation has at least in a first direction perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the laser radiation partial beams spaced apart from each other, in particular for homogenizing laser radiation emanating from a laser diode bar, an array of refractive surfaces, which can deflect at least a majority of the partial beams of the laser radiation to be homogenized in such different manners that the beams run at least partially more convergingly to each other after passing through the refractive surfaces than before passing through the refractive surfaces. The device further has a lens device through which the partial beams, which have passed the array of refractive surfaces, can pass, wherein the lens device can superimpose at least some of the partial beams in a working plane.

Abstract: An optical sheet is disposed on an observer side relative to an image source and includes a plurality of layers that control light emitted from the image source to emit the light on the observer side. At least one of the plurality of layers is a base material layer. One layer disposed on one side of the base material layer is an optical functional sheet layer which includes prisms arranged in parallel along the sheet surface of the optical sheet whereby light can be transmitted and light-absorbing parts are arranged in parallel between the prisms whereby light can be absorbed. One layer disposed on the other side of the base material layer is an adhesive layer. An adhesive layer is not provided on a side surface of the optical functional sheet layer facing the side disposed with the base material layer.

Abstract: An optical element is disclosed which includes transparent superconductor material.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved design for the transmit and receive optical elements of a waveguide-based optical touch screen sensor, where at least one converging lens is incorporated within the body of each transmit and receive element. The optical elements of the improved design are more mechanically robust, easier to incorporate into the touch screen assembly, and are less susceptible to stray light and the ingress of foreign matter. In one embodiment the converging lens collimates the light into a plane wave. In another embodiment the converging lens focuses the light to an external point. In yet another embodiment, each transmit and receive element also includes at least one diverging lens. The transmit and receive elements and associated waveguides preferably comprise photo-patternable polymers.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A beam splitting film including a light transmissive plate and a plurality of strip protrusion groups is provided. The light transmissive plate has a first surface and a second surface. The strip protrusion groups are disposed on the second surface. Each of the strip protrusion groups includes a first strip protrusion and a second strip protrusion. The first strip protrusion has a first strip surface and a second strip surface inclined relative to the second surface. The second strip protrusion has a third strip surface and a fourth strip surface inclined relative to the second surface. An average slope of the first strip surface is not equal to an average slope of the third strip surface. An average slope of the second strip surface is not equal to an average slope of the fourth strip surface. A backlight module and a stereo display apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a light source unit which includes a luminescent light source which receives excitation light so as to emit light of a predetermined wavelength band, excitation light sources which shine excitation light on to the luminescent light source, a reflection space having the luminescent light source in an interior thereof and an emission space which emits luminescent light source light emitted from the reflection space from an emission port whose area is made smaller than the area of the luminescent light source and a projector which employs the light source unit.

Abstract: Microreplicated light redirecting films suitable for use in autostereoscopic displays and backlights are made to incorporate at least one nanovoided layer whose interface with another layer forms an embedded structured surface of the light redirecting film. The nanovoided layer includes a polymer binder and optional nanoparticles, and may have a refractive index less than 1.35 or 1.3. The light redirecting films may be adapted for attachment to one or more other components of an autostereoscopic display, such as a display panel and/or a light guide of a backlight.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel on which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix in a first direction and in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a lenticular sheet which is disposed above the display panel and includes a plurality of polygonal prism lenses that are arranged in the second direction. Each of the polygonal prism lenses extends in a third direction intersecting the second direction, and includes a plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces.

Abstract: A projection type display apparatus is provided that is safe even when a person looks directly into a laser beam. A laser operation control unit sets the output power of at least one laser source so that intensity A (mW/mm2) of the laser beam on at least one spatial light modulation element satisfies relationship of A<686×B2 when numerical aperture B on image side of an illumination optics system is set.

Abstract: An optical surface substrate. The optical substrate features a three-dimensional surface. The optical substrate is defined by a first surface structure function modulated by a second surface structure function, the first surface structure function producing at least one specular component from a first input beam of light. The second surface structure function has a geometry with at least pseudo-random characteristics to modulate the first surface structure function such that the surface of the optical substrate produces specular and diffuse light from the first input beam of light. The optical substrate is suitable for use in a variety of applications, including brightness enhancement and projection devices.

Abstract: A film sheet for area-focusing of sunlight and a greenhouse provided with the same are provided. A film sheet includes i) a film having a rectangular shape, and ii) a plurality of prism assemblies formed on one surface of the film to extend in one direction. At least one prism assembly of the plurality of prism assemblies includes i) at least one first prism unit including a plurality of first prisms with slanted angles that are substantially the same as each other, and ii) at least one second prism unit neighboring the first prism unit and including a plurality of second prisms with slanted angles that are substantially the same as each other. The width of the first prism unit is substantially the same as the width of the second prism unit and a slanted angle of one first prism among the plurality of first prisms is different from a slanted angle of one second prism among the plurality of second prisms, and light entering the prism assembly is configured to be area-focused.

Abstract: Long-distance transfer of a super-resolution near field can be performed with a wavelength condition of high degree of freedom. Not only an image in same size can be merely transferred, but also a magnified image can be transferred. Thus the processing technique of a near-field image is improved. Small rods are erected at predetermined spacing with one another on a two-dimensional plane. At least the exterior surface of each small rod is made of a predetermined material having a dielectric constant ?m meeting the condition “?m???d” where ?d is the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium. The axes of the small rods can be extended to a predetermined direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane. An optical near-field is incidented to one end of each small rod.

Abstract: A light converging sheet unit includes first and second light converging sheets stacked one on top of the other. The first light converging sheet has first light converging micro-prism structures with a first average peak-to-peak distance between adjacent ones of the first light converging micro-prism structures. The second light converging sheet has second light converging micro-prism structures with a second average peak-to-peak distance between adjacent ones of the second light converging micro-prism structures. At least one of the first and second average peak-to-peak distances is not larger than 35 ?m.

Abstract: A method of extrusion molding a prism film and a prism film manufactured by the same, the method including providing a molten film, simultaneously forming a prism pattern and an embossed pattern on opposite surfaces of the molten film by passing the molten film through a gap between a prism roll and an emboss roll, and cooling the molten film having the prism pattern and the embossed pattern on opposite surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the transparent main body. The first surface defines a plurality of a plurality of elongated arc-shaped grooves. The second surface defines a plurality of parallelogram microstructures. Each parallelogram microstructure defines four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions.

Abstract: A composite optical dividing device can receive a light beam, which is mixed with at least multiple wavelength ranges of light. The optical dividing device includes a first optical film plate and a second optical film plate. The first optical film plate has multiple micro-structure lenses in same shape, for deflecting and the incident light with a condense level. The second optical film plate has multiple periodic polygon structures, for receiving the deflected light and dividing constitutions of the light beam, according to the wavelength ranges. Each of the multiple ranges of light respectively travels toward a predetermined region on a plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element, which comprises: (a) a substrate, (b) a first surface on one side of the substrate wherein said first surface comprises a plurality of prism columnar structures with rounded peaks and the curvature radii of the rounded peaks are in the range from 3 ?m to 20 ?m, and (c) a second surface on the other side of the substrate wherein the second surface can be a plane surface or with concave-convex structures.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a 3D image capture device and a symmetric prism array for the same. The symmetric prism array comprises a plurality of right triangle prisms, wherein the longer legs of the right triangle prisms are arranged along an identical line on the incident plane, and wherein the right triangle prisms are left-right symmetric with respect to a central symmetry line, and wherein the normals of the hypotenuses of the right triangle prisms diverge from the central symmetry line. The symmetric prism array that captures light from two different directions is arranged in front of the lens of the 3D image capture device, whereby the 3D image capture device can capture images from two different directions simultaneously. After the image processing by the 3D image capture device, 3D images are presented.

Abstract: An imaging device (3) including a plurality of pixels (3a) having a photoelectric conversion function, and a microlens array (1) including a plurality of microlenses (1a) that form subject images on these plurality of pixels (3a) and are arranged in a matrix are disposed so as to face each other. The microlens array (1) includes grooves (20) in a lattice form between the microlenses (1a) that are adjacent to each other. The depth of the grooves (20) is larger than a half of the thickness of the microlens array (1). Accordingly, it is possible to achieve an imaging apparatus that is easy to manufacture, has a simplified configuration and can capture a clear image and in which an influence of stray light and cross talk are reduced sufficiently.

Abstract: A method for making a prismatic laminate includes the steps of: a) forming a back-coating roller having a roller surface with a plurality of recesses arranged in a predetermined pattern and produced by laser holography; b) preparing a prismatic structure including a plate body having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of prismatic strips formed on the first surface of the plate body; c) applying a coating containing a resin component and an antistatic agent on the second surface of the plate body; and d) embossing the coating with the back-coating roller to form an optical layer including a plurality of microstructures protruding in a direction away from the second surface of the plate body and having a pattern corresponding to that of the recesses in the roller surface.

Abstract: An optical film includes a first base film having a first effective elongation axis that is skewed relative to a first reference line. The optical film further has a second base film having a second effective elongation axis that is opposingly skewed relative to the first reference line. Deformations are offset from each other when the deformations occur in the first and second base films in the directions of the first and second elongation axes due to variation of external temperature and humidity, thereby preventing the first and second base films from being excessively deformed.

Abstract: Optical films having anti-Moiré and anti-wetout features are described, along with systems and methods for making these optical films. A master used to make optical films is formed using a single axis actuator cutting along a trajectory that is out of plane with the surface of the master. Movement of the cutting tool along the trajectory cuts grooves having variable depth and variable pitch into the surface. Prisms formed from the master have variable depth, variable height prisms that provide anti-wetout and anti-Moiré features.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for transforming a laser beam to a polarized shaped beam in, for example, a frequency converted laser system. In one embodiment, an anamorphic optical system includes a first prism and a second prism that can be configured to form a Brewster telescope, the first prism and second prism each having an input surface and an exit surface, and wherein at least one surface of the input or exit surfaces are coated with a polarization selective coating. The optical system can include an adjustment system configured to change the position of one or both of the first prism and the second prism to adjust the transformation of the shape of the laser beam. In some embodiments of the optical system, a configuration of the first prism, the second prism, and the polarization selective coating produce a laser beam having a polarization ratio of about 100:1 or higher.

Abstract: An article having a surface bearing patterned indicia having micro-structures. A surface is provided with contrasting micro-structured features that form perceptible indicia or pattern having a recognizable pattern in reference to a background surface. The background surface is a micro-structured surface, on which perceptible indicia having the recognizable pattern of micro-structures are formed. The pattern of micro-structured features includes raised and/or recessed structures with respect to the substrate surface. The micro-structured surface includes irregular prisms forming structural features or topography within a plane of longitudinal rows of regular prisms. The indicia in reference to the background plane are perceivable, without requiring contrasting colors between the indicia and the background.

Abstract: In one embodiment a film can comprises a surface comprising a plurality of prism structures. Each prism structure has a lateral modulation in the w direction of less than or equal to ±20% of an average pitch of the prism structures. The plurality of prism structures can have a variation in the w direction of prism peak height that is discrete and/or continuous. In one embodiment, a method for making a film can comprise forming a plurality of prism structures on a surface. The plurality of prism structures can have a lateral modulation in the w direction of less than or equal to ±20% of an average pitch of the prism structures, and wherein the plurality of prism structures have a variation in the w direction of prism peak height that is discrete and/or continuous.

Abstract: An Abbe prism lens and lens array are disclosed. The lens comprises front lenses disposed on a front surface of the Abbe prism, rear lenses disposed on a rear surface of the Abbe prism, a front bottom reflecting surface, a rear bottom reflecting surface, a left top reflecting surface, and a right top reflecting surface. An aperture cover is positioned over the front surface of the Abbe prism lens and a field cover is positioned over the rear surface of the Abbe prism lens. The aperture cover comprises aperture holes encircling the aspherical front lenses. The field cover comprises field holes encircling the aspherical rear lenses. Light enters the Abbe prism lens and reflects off the front bottom reflecting surface, reflects off the left top reflecting surface and the right top reflecting surface, reflects off the rear bottom reflecting surface, and exits the rear lens of the Abbe prism lens.

Abstract: There are provided an optical surface protection film capable of permitting even a visual inspection of a coated body having a fine roughness, such as a prism sheet, to be performed under the condition that the protection film is attached to the coated body and excelling in adhesion reliability without an optical adverse effect on the coated body, and an optical film with the surface protection film. The optical surface protection film (1) has a base material layer (10) and an adhesive layer (12) stacked on one surface of the base material layer. The surface of the base material layer (10) on the side of the adhesive layer (12) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra2) of 0.65 ?m or less. The other surface of the base material layer (10) has an arithmetic surface average roughness (Ra1) of 0.6 ?m or more.

Abstract: An optical substrate having a structured surface that enhances brightness and reduces moiré effect. The optical substrate has a three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises an irregular prismatic structure. The irregular prismatic structure may be viewed as comprising longitudinal prism blocks or rows thereof, arranged laterally defining peaks and valleys. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley may be parallel or non-parallel, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. The lateral adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel. The adjacent irregular prism blocks may be irregular longitudinal sections having the same length, or random or quasi-random irregular sections having different lengths. The facets of each prism block may be flat, or curved (convexly and/or concavely).

Abstract: An optical device is provided, for example for use as a brightness enhancing film in a display. The device comprises a sheet (31) carrying a plurality of light-concentrating elements in the form of prism-like structures (171). The sheet (31) is non-flat, for example by being bent or curved, in one direction. Each of the prism-like structures (171) has first and second surfaces (34, 35) extending from the sheet (31) and intersecting at a line (33). A line (32) parallel to the viewing direction and passing through the intersection line (33) bisects the opposite surface (36) where it intersects (38) the film (31). When used in a display, such a device provides improved and uniform display brightness across a display of curved or other non-flat shape.

Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the transparent main body. The first surface defines a plurality of micro-depressions. Each micro-depression forms four inner sidewalls connected with each other. A transverse width of each inner sidewall progressively decreases with increasing distance from the first surface. The second surface defines a plurality of parallelogram microstructures. Each parallelogram microstructure defines four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions.

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: An optical adjusting apparatus having a composite pattern structure is described. The optical adjusting apparatus include a substrate layer, at least one first pattern module and at least one second pattern module. The substrate has a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposite to the first optical surface. The first pattern module positioned on the first optical surface, wherein the first pattern module has a first structure unit along a first arrangement direction. The second pattern module which is adjacent to the first pattern module and positioned on the first optical surface. The second pattern module has the second structure unit along a second arrangement direction. The first structure unit of the first pattern module is connected to the second structure unit of the second pattern module. Therefore, the convergent angle of a light module is adjusted and the brightness of the light module is increased along specific direction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flat prism sheet for backlight units and a method of manufacturing the same, and particularly, to a flat prism sheet, which has flat upper and lower surfaces and prism-shaped protrusions formed therein, and to a method of manufacturing the same. The flat prism sheet for backlight units according to this invention includes a lower layer, a first intermediate layer formed on the upper surface of the lower layer and having a plurality of prism-shaped protrusions formed parallel to each other, a second intermediate layer formed on the upper surface of the first intermediate layer, and an upper layer formed on the upper surface of the second intermediate layer, wherein an air layer is formed between the lower surface of the second intermediate layer and the valleys of the prism-shaped protrusions of the first intermediate layer.

Abstract: A lens sheet according to the invention includes a base film, a lenticular lens resin layer, a prism resin layer, and a filling resin layer. The lenticular lens resin layer includes a plurality of cylindrical lenses formed on one surface of the base film and arranged. The prism resin layer includes a plurality of prisms formed on the other surface of the base film and arranged, and has a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the base film. The filling resin layer is filled on a surface of the prism resin layer provided with the arranged prisms and has a higher refractive index than the refractive index of the prism resin layer. Therefore, the lens sheet according to the invention can restrain side lobe light emitted obliquely to the front surface.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

Abstract: A plurality of convex strip portions are formed on a front surface (or a back surface) of a light guiding plate, extending in a direction from a light incidence plane to an opposite side surface. A concave portion is formed on a side surface of each convex strip portion. An inner wall of the concave portion is formed from at least two flat planes inclined with respect to three axial directions orthogonal to each other (X, Y and Z axial directions), respectively. Thereby, damage to the surface illuminant equipment such as a light guiding plate due to the interference between a back surface and units disposed on the back surface of the light guiding plate is prevented, while preventing a linear part with relatively low luminance from being viewed from the front surface of the light guiding plate.

Abstract: An optical sheet is disposed on an observer side relative to an image source and includes a plurality of layers that control light emitted from the image source to emit the light on the observer side. At least one of the plurality of layers is a base material layer. One layer disposed on one side of the base material layer is an optical functional sheet layer which includes prisms arranged in parallel along the sheet surface of the optical sheet whereby light can be transmitted and light-absorbing parts are arranged in parallel between the prisms whereby light can be absorbed. One layer disposed on the other side of the base material layer is an adhesive layer. An adhesive layer is not provided on a side surface of the optical functional sheet layer facing the side disposed with the base material layer.

Abstract: An optical sheet includes a first plane, a second plane facing the first plane and a plurality of optical patterns. The optical patterns are formed on the second plane along a plurality of columns. An optical pattern includes a plurality of convex light-condensing portions. End portions of the light-condensing portions are connected to each other continuously and form crests and troughs. The optical patterns disposed in adjacent columns share a common side.

Abstract: An electro-optic device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, including: a converging substrate formed of a transparent substrate having groove-shaped prism elements formed in an array pattern, wherein the prism elements are arranged along boundary areas of the pixels, wherein the prism elements each include a plurality of beveled portions arranged on side walls thereof in the direction of the thickness of the converging substrate, and wherein the inclination angle of the beveled portions arranged on an opening end side of each of the prism elements with respect to the normal line of the converging substrate on which the prism elements are formed is smaller than the inclination angle of the other beveled portions.

Abstract: A light-transmitting film that has a predetermined polarization split function, in addition to a light-collecting function is provided. The index of refraction nx in a prism extension direction and the index of refraction in a prism alignment direction differ from each other. By generating a difference in the indices of refraction in the prism extension direction and the prism alignment direction orthogonal thereto, for the light incident on the light-transmitting film, the polarization component Lx oscillating in the prism extension direction and the polarization component Ly oscillating in the prism alignment direction can have different transmission characteristics.