Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.

Abstract: A backlight module has a light guide plate and a frame, wherein the light guide plate includes at least a bump or at least a breach, and at least a pin is arranged on the frame, so as to the bump or the breach may be engaged with the pin. The pin on the frame not only fixes and positions the light guide plate but also prevents the light guide plate from leaking light and enhances the structure strength.

Abstract: A reflector has a curved part covering the light source and a pair of end parts extending at the two sides of the curved part. The inside surface of each end part has a plurality of substantially parallel projections or depressions. The light-guiding plate has an incident surface and an emission surface substantially perpendicular to the incident surface, the incident surface having a plurality of projections or depressions extending substantially parallel to the emission surface. Also, the reflection surface of the light-guiding plate has projections.

Abstract: A polarizer is formed with an arrangement of polymer fibers substantially parallel within a polymer matrix. The polymer fibers are formed of at least first and second polymer materials. At least one of the polymer matrix and the first and second polymer materials is birefringent, and provides a birefringent interface with the adjacent material. Light is reflected and/or scattered at the birefringent interfaces with sensitivity to the polarization of the light. In some embodiments, the polymer fibers are formed as composite fibers, having a plurality of scattering polymer fibers disposed within a filler to form the composite fiber. In other embodiments, the polymer fiber is a multilayered polymer fiber. The polymer fibers may be arranged within the polymer matrix as part of a fiber weave.

Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, Yb doped core having a first index of refraction n1, said core comprising more than 1 wt % of Yb, said core having less than 5 dB/km loss at a wavelength situated between 1150 nm and 1350 nm and less than 20 dB/km loss at the wavelength of 1380 nm and slope efficiency of over 0.8; and (ii) at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2.

Abstract: A lightpipe includes at least first and second projections extending outwardly from the body of the lightpipe, where the first projection is opposite the second projection.

Abstract: The disclosure generally involves an optical (perhaps flat panel) display utilizing backside reflection for time-multiplexed optical shuttering. One display comprises a side-illuminated light guide associated with conditions for total internal reflection. A first surface of the light guide is elastomeric. Disposed against this elastomeric surface is an active layer that selectively deforms the elastomeric surface in locations that can correspond to display pixels. This resulting change in the geometry of the elastomeric surface can be sufficient to defeat the conditions for total internal reflection. When appropriate, light is reflected by the particular deformation and is ejected from another surface of the light guide. In this case, each location that allows light to exit could represent an activated display pixel. In certain situations, color flat panel displays of varying sizes may further implement field sequential color and time-multiplexed optical shuttering.

Abstract: There disclosed is an image display apparatus having a light source, a scanning member for deflecting a light from the light source to scan a predetermined surface with the light to form a two-dimensional image thereon, a first optical system for guiding a light deflected by the scanning member to the predetermined surface and a second optical system for guiding a light from the two-dimensional image formed onto the predetermined surface to an observer. There exists, in optical paths of the first optical system and the second optical system, a common optical element with a plurality of optical surfaces including refractive surfaces and reflective surfaces formed on a same medium and the first optical system and the second optical system share a part of optical surfaces of that optical element.

Abstract: A core layer has a light entrance region and a light exit region, said light entrance region having a width greater than said light exit region. The light entrance region has at least a side surface shaped as a reflecting surface. The light entrance region has an end having a parabolic shape. An LED is disposed in contact with a lower surface of the light entrance region. Signal light is introduced from the LED into the light entrance region with increased light entrance efficiency, and is highly efficiently reflected by the side surface of the light entrance region for higher light collecting efficiency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the transmission behaviour of an optical waveguide with a step index profile, wherein the optical waveguide is composed of guide pieces, protruding into each other, so that the surfaces of said guide pieces comprise real and virtual surfaces, lying respectively outside and inside another guide piece. The transmission behaviour is determined by geometric ray tracing, wherein the points of intersection of a ray with the surfaces of the guide pieces are determined, which are thus defined analytically, in particular, by extrusion of cross sections along an axial trajectory. A real material transition can be determined by an iterative procedure.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having pivotal portions and having a hinge defining a hinge axis between the pivotal portions about which the pivotal portions are pivotal. A light source is associated with one of the pivotal portions and a light receiver is associated with the other pivotal portion. A first substantially rigid light pipe is mounted to the one pivotal portion and is configured to receive light from the light source and direct light therefrom along the hinge axis. A second substantially rigid light pipe is mounted to the other pivotal portion and configured to receive light from the first light pipe along the hinge axis and direct light therefrom to the light receiver.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-light emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern alone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: A Metal Nanoparticle Photonic Bandgap Device in SOI (NC#97882). The device includes a substrate having a semiconductor layer over an insulator layer; a photonic bandgap structure having at least one period operatively coupled to the substrate, adapted to receive and output amplified light along a predetermined path; a metal nanoparticle structure, operatively coupled to the photonic bandgap structure and the substrate, adapted to receive and amplify light rays and output amplified light.

Abstract: An optical diffusion module comprises a first diffusion structure comprising a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions arranged alternatingly, and a second diffusion structure comprising a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions arranged alternatingly. Light from a light source passes through the first diffusion structure and the second diffusion structure sequentially, and each convex portion is adjacent to a plurality of concave portions and each concave portion is adjacent to a plurality of convex portions, and the convex portions, the concave portions and each junction of the convex and concave portions have a curvature different from 0.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-fight emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern atone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: A backlight module including a first light guide plate, a first light source, a second light guide plate, and a second light source. The first light guide plate includes a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a first surface with a micro-groove structure. The first light source is disposed on the first side of the first light guide plate. The second light guide plate is disposed on the first light guide plate, and includes a third side, a fourth side opposite to the third side, and a second surface with a micro-groove structure. The fourth side and the second side are located at the same side. The second light source is disposed on the fourth side of the second light guide plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beam homogenizer being equipped with an optical waveguide having a pair of reflection planes provided oppositely, having one end surface into which the laser beam is incident, and having the other end surface from which the laser beam is emitted in the optical system for forming the beam spot. The optical waveguide is a circuit being able to keep radiation light in a certain region and to transmit the radiation light in such a way that the energy flow thereof is guided in parallel with an axis of the channel.

Abstract: A light guide member for guiding light may include a first pattern on a first side of the light guide member, the first pattern may include a plurality of first features extending along a first direction, and a plurality of second features extending along a second direction, wherein the first direction crosses the second direction, the first feature has a first feature size, the second feature has a second feature size, and the first feature size may be less than the second feature size.

Abstract: A light guide member capable of guiding light received from at least a first light source and second light source, wherein the first light source is spaced a distance D3 from the second light source. The light guide member may include a first side including a plurality of first grooves extending along a first direction and a plurality of second grooves extending along the first direction, wherein the first grooves may have a first pitch and the second grooves have a second pitch, the first pitch being different from the second pitch.

Abstract: A light guide member for guiding light received from a light source unit, the light source unit illuminating light toward the light guide member, the light guide member may include a plurality of first grooves on a first side of the light guide member, the first grooves extending along a first direction, and a plurality of first projections projecting from surfaces of the first grooves.

Abstract: An elongate waveguide for guiding light includes a core having an elongate region of relatively low refractive index; a microstructured region around the core having elongate regions of relatively low refractive index interspersed with elongate regions of relatively high refractive index; and a boundary at the interface between the core and the microstructured region, the boundary including in the transverse cross-section, a region of relatively high refractive index, which is connected to the microstructured region at a plurality of nodes, at least one relatively enlarged region around the boundary (and excluding a boundary having twelve nodes and six enlarged regions substantially at a mid-point between six pairs of relatively more-widely-spaced apart neighboring nodes).

Abstract: A beam shaper has a light pipe fabricated of a material having a refractive index that provides total internal reflection within the light pipe. A first face accepts light and a second face releases light from the light pipe. The faces are orthogonal to an axis about which the light pipe is twisted and have different shapes. The area of the second face differs from an area of the first face by less than 25%.

Abstract: An optical projection system comprises a light source, a substantially planar optical element array for receiving light emitted from the light source, and a display panel for selectively outputting light from the optical element array. The optical element array includes an optically transmissive substrate material and a plurality of optical micro-elements formed on at least one surface of the substrate material. The display panel has a plurality of pixels for selectively outputting light output from the optical element array. The micro-elements can include micro-lenses, micro-prisms, micro-waveguides, or any suitable combination of the foregoing, configured to alter the characteristics of light emitted from the light source to create a desired illumination source.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an illuminating apparatus, configured to uniformly illuminate a surface of an object, and includes a light-guiding member configured to guide light emitted from a source to a surface to be illuminated, and a reflecting member disposed between the light-guiding member and the surface to be illuminated. The reflecting member includes a pair of reflection surfaces disposed so as to face each other in a long side direction of the surface to be illuminated, and reflects light emitted from the light-guiding member in directions having directional components parallel to a short side direction of the surface to be illuminated toward the surface to be illuminated.

Abstract: A bar-shaped light guide is provided to allow its emitting surface to be exposed from a white casing and is provided with a pattern for scattering and reflecting the light on a bottom surface opposite to the emitting surface. This pattern is formed by a white paint or minute irregularities. Further, an end face of the bar-shaped light guide opposite to the incident side is made cube-corner shaped. In other words, the end face is made chevroned by mirror-finished flat surfaces. These flat surfaces are tilted at such an angle that an incident angle ? of the rays of light traveling through the bar-shaped light guide parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bar-shaped light guide is smaller than a critical angle.

Abstract: A light integration rod including a first flat Plate, a second flat plate opposite to the first flat plate, a first folded plate and a second folded plate opposite to the first folded plate is provided. The first and the second folded plates are respectively connected between the first and the second flat plates to form a hollow pillar. Each of the first and the second folded plates has a first part and a second part. The first part of the first folded plate is connected to an edge of the first flat plate, and the second part of the first folded plate is connected to an edge of the second flat plate. The first part of the second folded plate is connected to an edge of the second flat plate, and the second part of the second folded plate is connected to an edge of the first flat plate.

Abstract: A Electronic/Photonic Bandgap Device (NC#98614). The apparatus includes a substrate; an electronics layer operatively coupled to the substrate; and an optical bus layer operatively coupled to the electronics layer. The optical bus layer comprises at least one 3D photonic bandgap structure having at least one period operatively coupled to the electronics layer and comprising a plurality of honeycomb-like structures having a plurality of high index regions and a plurality of low index regions, wherein the plurality of honeycomb-like structures comprises at least four honeycomb-like structures layered over each other, wherein a second honeycomb-like structure is offset from a first honeycomb-like structure, wherein a third honeycomb-like structure is offset from a second honeycomb-like structure, and wherein a fourth honeycomb-like structure is not offset from the first honeycomb-like structure. The 3D photonic bandgap structure and the electronics layer are monolithically integrated over the substrate.

Abstract: An optical system including at least one optical fiber having a core and cladding, the at least one optical fiber having a cross section defining a circumference, the at least one optical fiber having at least one light scattering discontinuity at least one location therealong, the at least one optical fiber having optical power at least one light transmissive region having a focus located in proximity to the discontinuity, the at least one light scattering discontinuity having an angular extent of less than ten percent of the circumference and the at least one light transmissive region having an angular extent of more than 25% of the circumference and a light source arranged for directing light along the at least one optical fiber.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup element comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric converting portion formed in the semiconductor substrate; a reflective material portion comprising a hole portion wherein the hole portion is located on a surface, on an area in which the photoelectric converting portion is formed, of the semiconductor substrate, the reflective material portion being formed so as to cover a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an optical waveguide that propagates incident light while confining the light, to guide the light to the photoelectric converting portion, wherein the optical waveguide is configured by a transparent film formed in the hole portion, the transparent film having a light guiding function.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a periodic structure having a first layer constituted by a plurality of first columnar members arrayed at first intervals, and a second layer constituted by a plurality of second columnar members arrayed at second intervals in the direction different from the long-side direction of the first columnar members, wherein the first layer and the second layer are laminated to each other, the method including the steps of: preparing the first columnar members, wherein each first columnar member has a first convex part on a surface, and the length of the first convex part in the long-side direction of the first columnar member is longer than the width of the second columnar members; and laminating the first columnar members and the second columnar members via the first convex parts.

Abstract: A back light system (2) includes a light guide plate (20) and light sources (21). The light guide plate includes an optical output surface (203), a bottom surface (202) opposite to the output surface, and optical input surfaces (201) between the output and bottom surfaces. The light sources are positioned adjacent the input surfaces respectively. A thickness of a middle of the light guide plate is less than a thickness of a periphery of the light guide plate. In operation, light beams from two opposite of the light sources provide ample optical energy to a middle area of the output surface. In addition, a total optical energy at peripheral areas of the output surface is the same as or similar to a total optical energy at the middle area of the output surface. Thus, the back light system provides very high and highly uniform brightness for an associated LCD.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously heating materials, in particular for welding plastic components, having an arbitrary shape of a flat heating contour by laser radiation is provided. The apparatus has, an appropriate optical arrangement that is used to convert a laser beam into an annular laser beam and focus it onto the end wall of a light-guiding tube and couple it in. At an exit end, the tube is deformed in accordance with the desired heating contour such that the emerging laser beam has this heating contour.

Abstract: An optical system includes semiconductor lasers arranged in the direction of the slow axis of the laser beam, an optical means which makes parallel the collimated laser beams, an optical member which is provided with inlet and outlet faces which are positioned in perpendicular to the optical axis of laser beams and total reflection surfaces which are opposed to each other at a space where the component in the direction of the slow axis of the laser beam entering from the light inlet face repeats internal reflection, and emits from the light outlet face a slow axis uniform laser beam, and an imaging optical means which images the slow axis uniform laser beam on a surface as a linear line beam extending in the direction of the slow axis.

Abstract: A light guide is configured to direct light from a light source. The light guide has an outer guide member and an inner guide member located in the outer guide member. A light passage is defined through the light guide between the inner and outer guide members. When a first end of the light guide is positioned adjacent a light source, light is permitted to pass from the light source through only the light passage in the light guide. The configuration of the light guide reduces passage of light off-angle to the length of the light passage through the guide, such that light is directed substantially parallel to the light passage. The light guide is thus effective in eliminating light dispersion and associated light banding and in focusing light upon a particular object or area.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an article including a high-power, low-loss fiber waveguide that includes alternating layers of different dielectric materials surrounding a core extending along a waveguide axis, the different dielectric materials including a polymer and a glass.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a self-aligned light guide screen. More specifically, in a particular embodiment, fabrication may commence by providing a first ribbon section of light guides with at least one self alignment feature. A second ribbon section of light guides is provided with at least one self alignment feature configured to mate with the at least one self alignment feature of the first ribbon section. The ribbon sections are then stacked, the alignment features aligning the first and second ribbon sections.

Abstract: The present I/O ports comprise (1) a layered structure comprising (a) an unpatterned superstrate having at least one layer, (b) an unpatterned substrate having at least one layer, and (c) at least one intermediate layer sandwiched between the unpatterned superstrate and the unpatterned substrate, (2) a coupling region that is within the at least one intermediate layer and that comprises an arrangement of at least one optical scattering element and (3) at least one output waveguide. The present I/O ports can be effectively used in balanced photonic circuits and unbalanced photonic circuits.

Abstract: An optical waveguide plate for a surface light emitting apparatus and a surface light emitting apparatus using the optical waveguide plate that provides excellent uniformity in surface emission is disclosed. The optical waveguide plate comprises an end face introducing light emitted from a light source, and a light emitting surface outputting light introduced from the end face. The end face has a light introducing portion comprising a plurality of notched prisms which disperse incident light. The intervals between two adjacent prisms are set to become greater in proportion to the distance from the center of the light introducing portion. The angles of the prisms are also adjusted to provide uniform surface emission.

Abstract: A 3D Photonic Bandgap Device in SOI (NC#98374). The structure includes a substrate having a semiconductor layer over an insulator layer and a 3D photonic bandgap structure having at least one period operatively coupled to the substrate. The apparatus has a funnel waveguide configuration.

Abstract: A brightness enhancement film includes a light-refracting microstructure layer, a substrate and a reinforcing layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. The light-refracting microstructure layer is arranged on the first surface of the substrate and is so configured to vary in curvatures for refracting light. The reinforcing layer is arranged on the second surface of the substrate and is so configured to form a relatively high degree of hardness. Accordingly, the reinforcing layer can prevent warpage and abrasion of the brightness enhancement film.

Abstract: A projection display including first through third light source units to radiate first through third light beams having different colors, respectively, a light path combining unit to combine paths of the first through third light beams, an optical modulator to sequentially modulate the first through third light beams according to image information, and a projection lens unit to magnify and project the modulated light beams onto a screen. The light path combining unit includes first and second prisms. The first prism includes first and second incidence surfaces, through which the first and second light beams are incident, respectively, a first emission surface, and a first selective reflection surface to transmit the second light beam toward the first emission surface.

Abstract: A brightness enhancement film having a light-guiding structure includes a substrate, which has a light-guiding layer and a plurality of light-refracting microstructures. The substrate has a light incident surface and a light emission surface opposite thereto. The light-refracting microstructures are arranged on the light incident surface of the substrate and are provided for varying surface curvatures to refract incident light. The light-guiding layer is arranged on the light emission surface of the substrate and is provided for guiding refracted light to generate homogeneous light to emit therefrom.

Abstract: A thin-profile, optically efficient lighting device for use with, among other things, flat information displays, includes a combination of three optically coupled light propagating structures, fabricated of electromagnetic flux transmitting materials. The first structure may be a generally elongated optical pipe adapted to receive light from at least one light source such as a light emitting diode. Radiation from additional sources is coupled into the first structure by a second structure which injects the radiation thereinto. Light injected into the first structure is directed into the third structure where it is redirected so that it propagates out of the third structure uniformly and efficiently and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the third structure. A device can include multiple bodies of any or all three structures.

Abstract: An optical fiber can increase efficiency of a laser source and can uniformly distribute the intensity of laser beam when patterning electrodes using a laser. A plasma display panel uses the optical fiber. The shape of a cross-sectional shape of an inner side of the optical fiber is formed to correspond to an outer rim of a pattern mask. The optical fiber transmits light and is connected to the laser source.

Abstract: A backlight module (2) includes a light source (66) and a light guide plate (20), the light guide plate includes a light incidence surface (25), a light-emitting surface (21) adjacent to the light incidence surface; and a bottom surface (22) opposite to the light-emitting surface, the bottom surface includes a plurality of curved grooves (23), the light-emitting surface includes a plurality of grooves (24). In the backlight module, because of the curved grooves of the bottom surface and the grooves of the light-emitting surface, light beams entering the light guide plate are concentrated at the bottom surface and light-emitting surface, thus the surface light beams outputting from the light-emitting surface have a rather higher brightness.

Abstract: A lens of a side emitting LED includes a bottom surface, an incident surface, a reflective surface, a first refractive surface, a second refractive surface and a third refractive surface. An light emitted by a LED enters the lens through the incident surface. A portion of the light is reflected by the reflective surface in an internal total reflection manner to the second refractive surface and emits out of the lens along a first optical path. The other portion of light directly emits out of the lens through the first refractive surface and the third refractive surface. A transitive surface is located between the first refractive surface and the reflective surface. Such a design allows the light entered the lens through the incident surface not cross with the transitive surface. Hence an improper reflection or refraction can be prevented.

Abstract: The provided backlight module includes a reflection sheet, a retardation plate, a light-guide plate, a light source, and a sub-wavelength grating plate. The retardation plate is set over the reflection sheet. The light-guide plate is disposed over the retardation plate, and the surface of the light-guide plate comprises a plurality of micro-structures. The light source is set beside the light-guide plate, and the light from the light source transferring into the light-guide plate passes through one of its end and out through the micro-structures. The sub-wavelength grating plate is disposed over the light-guide plate: (i) to transmit light having a polarization oriented parallel to the rows of bars and to define a transmitted light, corresponding to the light, as P-ray, and (ii) to reflect light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the rows of bars and to define a reflected light, corresponding to the light, as S-ray.

Abstract: When guiding diffused light to an optical member that has optical surfaces parallel to the optical axis, illumination unevenness is efficiently uniformized at the light emitting surface without an overall increase in length. There is provided a light guiding member, wherein a plurality of tapered rod sections which abut along a central axis direction passing substantially through the centers of an incident end disposed on a light source side and an emitting end disposed on an optical member side are provided between the incident end and the emitting end, and each tapered rod section is shaped to widen gradually from the incident end side towards the emitting end side at a constant taper angle, and a taper angle of each tapered rod section is set smaller than a taper angle of the adjacent tapered rod section on the incident end side.

Abstract: Improvements in a biosensor of the type having reservoirs or wells for analyzing a biological liquid are disclosed. A biosensor (190) includes a waveguide (164) placed between a plurality of members such as plates (100, 186), at least one of the members (100) being formed to define the walls (132, 134, 136) of the reservoirs where the liquid is biologically analyzed. The walls of the reservoirs are made of an inert, opaque material such as a metal. Although the biosensor may include a gasket (162), the gasket is associated with the members and waveguide in such a way (e.g. by recessing the gasket into a channel formed into a metal plate) so that the gasket does not form any significant portion of the reservoir wall. Waveguides of varying composition (e.g. plastic, quartz or glass) may be associated with the members to form the biosensor. The metal plate of the biosensor has input and output ports for infusing, draining, or oscillating the liquid to be analyzed in the reaction reservoir.

Abstract: There is provided a very thin light guide plate for a surface light source device and a method of manufacturing it without the use of high-precision molding machine. A surface light source device using this light guide plate generates outgoing light having high uniformity. According to the manufacturing method, a light guide plate free from a weld line or warp can be manufactured with good transferring characteristics. The light guide plate is thick on an incident surface 1 side and thin on a lower surface 4 side. At the central portion of an incident surface 1 in a longitudinal direction, a projecting portion obtained by cutting an overhang portion 7 at a position a distance D apart from the incident surface 1 is formed. The cut surface of the projecting portion is not made specular and is kept rough. In molding of the light guide plate, a molten material is supplied from the position of a gate mark 9.