932results about How to "Improve optical efficiency" patented technology

An image projection system and method are presented to project an image on at least one of first and second projection planes. The system comprises a light source system including one or more light source assemblies operable to generate light of one or more predetermined wavelength range; a spatial light modulator (SLM) system including one or more SLM units operable to spatially modulate input light in accordance with an image to be directly projected or viewed; and two optical assemblies associated with two spatially separated light propagation channels, respectively, to direct light to, respectively, the first and second projection planes with desired image magnification. The system is configured to selectively direct the input light propagating towards the SLM system or light modulated by the SLM system to propagate along at least one of the two channels associated with the first and second projection planes, respectively.

Light efficient packaging configurations for LED lamps using high refractive index encapsulants. The packaging configurations including dome (bullet) shaped LED's, SMD (surface mount device) LED's and a hybrid LED type, including a dome mounted within a SMD package. In another embodiment used with SMD LED devices a relatively small semi-hemispherical “blob” of HRI encapsulant surrounds the LED chip with the remainder of the SMD cavity filled with conventional encapsulant. The packaging configurations increase the LED's light emission efficiency at a reasonable cost and in a commercially viable manner, by maximizing the light efficiency while minimizing the amount of high refractive index encapsulant used.

We describe optical techniques for replicating an image to expand the exit pupil of a head-up laser-based image display system. The system includes image replication optics to replicate an image carried by a substantially collimated beam, the image replication optics comprising a pair of substantially planar reflecting optical surfaces defining substantially parallel planes spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the parallel planes. The system is configured to launch the collimated beam into a region between the parallel planes such that the reflecting optical surfaces waveguide the beam between the surfaces in a plurality of successive reflections at front and rear optical surfaces. The front optical surface is configured to transmit a proportion of the collimated beam when reflecting the beam such that at each reflection of the collimated beam at the front optical surface a replica of the image is output from the image replication optics.

A polarization grating comprising a polarization sensitive photo-alignment layer (2) and a liquid crystal composition (3) arranged on said photo-alignment layer is provided. An alignment pattern, corresponding to the polarization pattern of a hologram, is recorded in the photo-alignment layer, and the liquid crystal composition is aligned on the photo-alignment layer. As the origin for the alignment of the liquid crystal composition is a polarization hologram recorded in a photo-alignment layer, an essentially defect-free pattern can be obtained with this approach.

An LED lamp (10) has a housing (12) with an interior wall (14) defining a cavity (16). An LED light source (26) is positioned in the cavity (16) and project light in a forward direction. A reflector (28) having a reflective surface (30), a forward opening (32) and a rear opening (34) surrounds the light source (26) and a complex lens (38) closes the forward opening. The lens (38) comprises a first optical refractive element (40) arranged around a peripheral edge (42) and a second optical refractive element (44) centrally located on the lens (38); the first optical refractive element (40) including a plurality of flute lenses (40a) and the second optical refractive element (44) comprising a concavo-convex lens (44a).

A beam focusing and scanning system using a micromirror array lens (optical system) includes a light source configured to emit light and a micromirror array lens, including at least one micromirror, optically coupled to the light source, configured to reflect the light onto a projection medium (projection plane). The optical system also includes at least one actuating component coupled to the at least one micromirror, configured to move the at least one micromirror to enable the at least one micromirror to focus the light on the projection medium. The advantages of the present invention include high speed variable focusing and scanning, large focal length variation, phase compensation, high reliability and optical efficiency, low power consumption and low cost.

A tunable transmissive grating comprises a transmissive dispersive element, a reflective element, and an angle θ formed between the two elements. A first optical path is formed according to the angle θ, wherein light dispersing from the dispersive element is directed onto the reflective element and reflects therefrom. At least one element is rotatable about a rotational center to cause a second optical path and thereby tune the wavelength of the light reflecting from the reflective element. Both elements can be rotatable together around a common rotational center point according to certain embodiments, and / or each element can be independently rotated around a rotational axis associated only with that element. According to some embodiments, the relative angle θ formed between the elements is held constant; however, in other embodiments θ can vary.

A passive collimating tubular skylight consisting of a radiant energy-collecting aperture, a radiant energy-delivering aperture, and a radiant energy passageway between these two apertures, the passageway having a specularly reflective interior surface and a configuration to improve the collimation of the radiant energy passing therethrough. The skylight can be configured with the radiant energy-collecting aperture located above the roof of a building, oriented to collect sunlight; and equipped with a sealed weatherproof glazing, with the radiant energy-delivering aperture, or luminaire, located at ceiling level within the building, and equipped with a diffusing glazing; and with the reflective tubular light passageway constructed with a larger cross sectional area near the radiant energy-delivering aperture than near the radiant energy-collecting aperture. In complete accord with the second law of thermodynamics, and as proven by experimental results, the new passive collimating tubular skylight provides significant advantages over the prior art, including better solar energy collection, higher throughput optical efficiency, improved radiant energy collimation, enhanced interior illumination levels, and more precise positional control of the interior illumination.

A polarization grating comprising a polarization sensitive photo-alignment layer (2) and a liquid crystal composition (3) arranged on said photo-alignment layer is provided. An alignment pattern, corresponding to the polarization pattern of a hologram, is recorded in the photo-alignment layer, and the liquid crystal composition is aligned on the photo-alignment layer. As the origin for the alignment of the liquid crystal composition is a polarization hologram recorded in a photo-alignment layer, an essentially defect-free pattern can be obtained with this approach.

A method and instrument to irradiate a light adjustable lens, for example, inside a human eye, with an appropriate amount of radiation in an appropriate intensity pattern by first measuring aberrations in the optical system containing the lens; aligning a source of the modifying radiation so as to impinge the radiation onto the lens in a pattern that will null the aberrations. The quantity of the impinging radiation is controlled by controlling the intensity and duration of the irradiation. The pattern is controlled and monitored while the lens is irradiated.

An optical near-field generating efficiency of an optical near-field generating element is improved and a temperature rise of the element is suppressed. An optical near-field is generated using a conductive structure having a cross-sectional shape whose width in a direction perpendicular to a polarization direction of incident light transmitted through a waveguide gradually becomes shorter toward a vertex where an optical near-field is generated and having a shape whose width gradually, or in stages, becomes smaller in a traveling direction of the incident light toward the vertex where an optical near-field is generated. The waveguide is arranged beside the conductive structure and an optical near-field is generated via a surface plasmon generated on a lateral face of the conductive structure.

The present invention relates to a micro-optical pointing device suitable for mobile terminals such as a cellular phone and PDA. A disclosed pointing device includes a light source emitting light rays to a subject; a contact member comprising a lattice type or perceivable pattern, which reflects an image of the moving subject; and an automatic transfer device restoring the contact member moved by a finger. The pointing device may further include a flip chip containing an image sensor, which converts the acquired image into an electronic signal, and a circuit for signal processing. The pointing device may include an integrated optical structure comprising a condensing lens, a specular surface, a light output part, and an image-formation lens. The pointing device may include a light guide structure that a parallel light prism lens, an image-formation lens, and a mask for blocking disturbance ray are formed into a single part.

A micromirror array lens consists of many micromirrors with two degrees of freedom rotation and one degree of freedom translation and actuating components. As a reflective variable focal length lens, the array of micromirrors makes all lights scattered from one point of an object have the same periodic phase and converge at one point of image plane. As operating methods for the lens, the actuating components control the positions of micromirrors electrostatically and / or electromagnetically. The optical efficiency of the micromirror array lens is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding micromirrors and the actuating components under micromirrors. Semiconductor microelectronics technologies can remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires. The lens can correct aberration by controlling each micromirror independently. Independent control of each micromirror is possible by known semiconductor microelectronics technologies. The micromirror array can also form a lens with desired arbitrary shape and / or size.

The invention relates to an optical element comprising a substrate, a wire grid on one side of said substrate, and prismatic light collimating features on the other side of said substrate

A thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material, the thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material having: a thickness in a range 100 nm to 50 μιη; a concentration of quantum spin defects greater than 0.1 ppb (parts-per-billion); a concentration of point defects other than the quantum spin defects of below 200 ppm (parts-per-million); and wherein at least one major face of the thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material comprises surface termination species which have zero nuclear spin and / or zero electron spin.

Provided are a nitride semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same. In the method, semiconductor nanorods are vertically grown on a substrate, and then a nitride semiconductor thin film is deposited on the substrate having the semiconductor nanorods. Accordingly, a high-quality nitride semiconductor thin film can be deposited on a variety of inexpensive, large-sized substrates. Also, because the nitride semiconductor thin film containing the semiconductor nanorods can easily emit light through openings between the nanorods, internal scattering can be greatly reduced. Thus, the nitride semiconductor thin film can be usefully employed in optical devices such as light emitting diodes and electronic devices.

Provided are a light-emitting element and a method of fabricating the same. The light-emitting element includes: a first pattern including conductive regions and non-conductive regions. The non-conductive regions are defined by the conductive regions. The light-emitting element also include an insulating pattern including insulating regions and non-insulating regions which correspond respectively to the conductive regions and non-conductive regions. The non-insulating regions are defined by the insulating regions. The light-emitting element further includes a light-emitting structure interposed between the first pattern and the insulating pattern. The light-emitting structure includes a first semiconductor pattern of a first conductivity type, a light-emitting pattern, and a second semiconductor pattern of a second conductivity type which are stacked sequentially. The light-emitting element also includes a second pattern formed in the non-insulating regions.

A novel thin planar latching switch device, generally based on a layer of polymeric switching materials sandwiched between two electrical planar conductors operative as electrodes. The device behaves as a bi-stable switch. Furthermore, the switch device generally shows a memory effect. In the open state, when no voltage is applied to the electrodes, the switching material is effectively an insulator. When an electric field greater than a certain threshold level is applied to the switching material, the material becomes more conductive, and the device thus essentially becomes a closed switch. Applications of such switching devices are described for use in flat panel displays, generally based on liquid crystals, in high efficiency color displays, and in touch screens.

The polarization direction of an optical signal is changed by a polarization controller so as to be orthogonal to a main axis of a polarizer. A control pulse generator generates control pulses from control beam with a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the optical signal. The optical signal and the control pulse are input to a nonlinear optical fiber. In the nonlinear optical fiber, the optical signal, during a time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, is amplified with optical parametric amplification around a polarization direction of the control pulse. The optical signal, during the time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, passes through the polarizer.

An imaging light guide has a waveguide and an in-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide and disposed to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. An array of two or more at least partially reflective surfaces are oriented in parallel and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and to direct the expanded image-bearing light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The out-coupling diffractive optic is formed on the waveguide and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension and to direct the image-bearing light beams toward a viewer eyebox.

A light guide containing substantially aligned non-spherical particles provides more efficient control of light scattering. One or more regions containing ellipsoidal particles may be used and the particle sizes may vary between 2 and 100 microns in the smaller dimension. The light scattering regions may be substantially orthogonal in their axis of alignment. Alternatively, one or more asymmetrically scattering films can be used in combination with a backlight light guide and a reflector to produce an efficient backlight system. The light guides may be manufactured by embossing, stamping, or compression molding a light guide in a suitable light guide material containing asymmetric particles substantially aligned in one direction. The light scattering light guide or non-scattering light guide may be used with one or more light sources, collimating films or symmetric or asymmetric scattering films.

Fabrication of a micro mirror array having a hidden hinge that is useful, for example, in a reflective spatial light modulator. In one embodiment, the micro mirror array is fabricated from a substrate that is a first substrate of a single crystal material. Cavities are formed in a first side of the first substrate. Separately, electrodes and addressing and control circuitry are fabricated on a first side of a second substrate. The first side of the first substrate is bonded to the first side of the second substrate. The sides are aligned so the electrodes on the second substrate are in proper relation with the mirror plates that will be formed on the first substrate and that the electrodes will control. The first substrate is thinned to a pre-determined, desired thickness, a hinge is etched, a sacrificial material is deposited, the upper surface of the first substrate is planarized, a reflective surface is deposited to cover the hinge, a mirror is released by etching and the sacrificial layer around the hinge is removed to release the hinge so the hinge can rotate about an axis in line with the hinge.

A variable focal length lens comprising micromirrors with pure translation is invented. The lens consists of many micromirrors and actuating components. The array of micromirrors with pure translation makes all lights scattered from one point of an object have the same periodic phase and converge at one point of image plane by using Fresnel diffraction theory. The actuating components control the positions of micromirrors electrostatically and / or electromagnetically. The optical efficiency of the micromirror array lens is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding micromirrors and the actuating components under micromirrors. The known semiconductor microelectronics technologies can remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires. The lens can correct aberration by controlling each micromirror independently. Independent control of each micromirror is possible by known semiconductor microelectronics technologies. The micromirror array can also form arbitrary shape and / or size of a lens.

An array of micromirror array lenses is invented. The micromirror array lens consists of many micromirrors and actuating components. Each micromirror array lens is variable focal length lens with high speed focal length change. The lens can have arbitrary type and / or size as desired and desired arbitrary optical axis and can correct aberration by controlling each micromirror independently. Independent control of each micromirror is possible by known microelectronics technologies. The actuating components control the positions of micromirrors electrostatically and / or electromagnetically. The optical efficiency of the micromirror array lens is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding micromirrors and the actuating components under micromirrors. The known microelectronics technologies remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization. The difference in the polarizations can discourage collection of light specularly reflected from the tissue surface, and can encourage preferential collection of light that has interacted with a desired depth of penetration or path length distribution in the tissue. The different polarizations can, as examples, be linear polarizations with an angle between, or elliptical polarizations of different handedness.

A device for creating a predetermined light output distribution having a substantially rectangular shape in angle space is provided having a lens with a revolved inner surface and a complex outer surface. The inner surface has a combination of reflective and refractive surface facets swept about an axis of revolution perpendicular to the optical axis of the device. The outer surface has a non-planar, non-circular, non-spherical shape. This outer surface generates an appropriate intensity distribution in a direction generally parallel to the major axis of the output rectangle and may also distribute energy generally parallelly to the minor axis of the output rectangle as well. The optical efficiency improvement in the design of this improved preferably LED-based product has several direct benefits including; increased reliability, lower operating temperature, reduced electrical requirements, greater product life and significantly reduced cost as compared to existing LED products. The resulting cost savings attendant with the implementation of the present invention makes high performance LED lamps more accessible to the general public and improves vehicle safety.

A thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material, the thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material having: a thickness in a range 100 nm to 50 μιη; a concentration of quantum spin defects greater than 0.1 ppb (parts-per-billion); a concentration of point defects other than the quantum spin defects of below 200 ppm (parts-per-million); and wherein at least one major face of the thin plate of synthetic single crystal diamond material comprises surface termination species which have zero nuclear spin and / or zero electron spin.

A discretely controlled micromirror array lens (DCMAL) consists of many discretely controlled micromirrors (DCMs) and actuating components. The actuating components control the positions of DCMs electrostatically. The optical efficiency of the DCMAL is increased by locating a mechanical structure upholding DCMs and the actuating components under DCMs to increase an effective reflective area. The known microelectronics technologies can remove the loss in effective reflective area due to electrode pads and wires. The lens can correct aberrations by controlling DCMs independently. Independent control of each DCM is possible by known microelectronics technologies. The DCM array can also form a lens with arbitrary shape and / or size, or a lens array comprising the lenses with arbitrary shape and / or size.