3090results about "Diffraction gratings" patented technology

A method for displaying an image viewable by an eye, the image being projected from a portable head worn display, comprises steps of: emitting a plurality of light beams of wavelengths that differ amongst the light beams; directing the plurality of light beams to a scanning mirror; modulating in intensity each one of the plurality of light beams in accordance with intensity information provided from the image, whereby the intensity is representative of a pixel value within the image; scanning the plurality of light beams in two distinct axes with the scanning mirror to form the image; and redirecting the plurality of light beams to the eye using a holographic optical element acting as a reflector of the light beams, whereby the redirecting is dependent on the wavelength of the light beam, to create for each light beam an exit pupil at the eye that is spatially separated from the exit pupils of the other light beams.

Diffractive pigment flakes are selectively aligned to form an image. In one embodiment, flakes having a magnetic layer are shaped to facilitate alignment in a magnetic field. In another embodiment, the flakes include a magnetically discontinuous layer. In a particular embodiment, deposition of nickel on a diffraction grating pattern produces magnetic needles along the grating pattern that allow magnetic alignment of the resulting diffractive pigment flakes. Color scans of test samples of magnetically aligned flakes show high differentiation between illumination parallel and perpendicular to the direction of alignment of the magnetic diffractive pigment flakes.

Methods and compositions are provided for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods can be performed in a high-throughput manner. The invention also provides optical devices useful as narrow band filters.

Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods may be performed in a high-throughput manner. An instrument system for detecting a biochemical interaction on a biosensor. The system includes an array of detection locations comprises a light source for generating collimated white light. A beam splitter directs the collimated white light towards a surface of a sensor corresponding to the detector locations. A detection system includes an imaging spectrometer receiving the reflected light and generating an image of the reflected light.

There is provided a beam homogenizer which can unify the energy distribution of a linear laser beam in a longitudinal direction. In the beam homogenizer including cylindrical lens groups for dividing a beam, and a cylindrical lens and a cylindrical lens group for condensing the divided beams, the phases, in the longitudinal direction, of linear beams passing through individual cylindrical lenses of the cylindrical lens group for condensing the divided beams are shifted, and then, the beams are synthesized, so that the intensity of interference fringes of the linear beam on a surface to be irradiated is made uniform.

An optical apparatus for transmitting light having a spectrum of wavelengths is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of optical devices design and constructed to decompose the light into a plurality of portions, respectively corresponding to different sub-spectra of the spectrum, such that each portion of the light is transmitted within a different optical device.

A method and apparatus for drug product tracking (or other pharmaceutical, health care or cosmetics products, and/or the packages or containers they are supplied with) using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 has one or more colocated pitches Λ which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The encoded element 8 may be used to label any desired item, such as drugs or medicines, or other pharmaceutical or health care products or cosmetics. The label may be used for many different purposes, such as for sorting, tracking, identification, verification, authentication, anti-theft/anti-counterfeit, security/anti-terrorism, or for other purposes. In a manufacturing environment, the elements 8 may be used to track inventory for production information or sales of goods/products. Such labeling provides product identification at the pill or liquid medicine level, which provides traceability of these products to their manufacturer, thereby reducing counterfeit products in the marketplace. Also, the elements 8 may be incorporated into a film, liquid, coating or adhesive tape at attached to the product package.

An optical relay device, comprising a substrate, and at least one diffractive optical element is disclosed. The substrate is made, at least in part, of a light transmissive polymeric material characterized by a birefringence, Δn, satisfying the inequality |Δn|<ε, where ε is lower than the birefringence of polycarbonate. In a preferred embodiment, the light transmissive polymeric material comprises a cycloolefin polymer or a cycloolefin copolymer.

Apparatus for projecting a pattern includes a first diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to diffract an input beam so as to generate a first diffraction pattern on a first region of a surface, the first diffraction pattern including a zero order beam. A second DOE is configured to diffract the zero order beam so as to generate a second diffraction pattern on a second region of the surface such that the first and the second regions together at least partially cover the surface.

A resonant grating structure in a waveguide and methods of tuning the performance of the grating structure are described. An apparatus includes a waveguide; and a subwavelength resonant grating structure embedded in the waveguide. The systems and methods provide advantages including narrowband filtering capabilities, minimal sideband reflections, spatial control, high packing density, and tunability.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for providing a wide field-of-view as well as illumination uniformity in exit pupil expanders (EPE) using stacked EPE substrates (or plates) with non-symmetric exit pupil expansion that use a plurality of diffractive elements for expanding the exit pupil of a display for viewing.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for near-to-eye (e.g., retinal) displaying with exit-pupil expansion using a scanning component (e.g., a scanning mirror) and an exit-pupil expander (e.g., diffractive exit-pupil expander) for providing a retinal scanning display with a large exit pupil.

The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and method for using a three-dimensional (3D) diffractive element (e.g., a 3D diffractive grating) for expanding in one or two dimensions the exit pupil of an optical beam in electronic devices. Various embodiments of the present invention can be applied, but are not limited, to forming images in virtual reality displays, to illuminating of displays (e.g., backlight illumination in liquid crystal displays) or keyboards, etc.

An optical relay comprises a light-transmissive substrate having a plurality of diffractive optical elements, where at least one diffractive optical element is characterized by nonuniform diffraction efficiency. The substrate and diffractive optical elements are designed and constructed to relay at least a portion of a light beam emanating from an object to at least one predetermined eye-box in a manner such that for each point of the object, there is a set of parallel outgoing light rays originating from the point and arriving to the eye-box. The color difference between any two parallel light rays of the set is less than 50 ΔE* units.

The present invention provides a method and a system for a real-time configurable definition and generation of grating profile libraries. A parameter set is used to specify the ranges of grating dimensions and resolutions of the profile library to be generated. In one embodiment, a compiler creates subsets of a large profile library, the subset designed to enable rapid search and validation of real-time data. In another embodiment, an automatic process generates a new parameter set and a new subset of the library when trigger conditions are met. Subsets of the profile library may be used to check if grating spectrum data are within the ranges established for an application and if the dimensions are within the process averages established for a manufacturing run. The system for generation of grating profile libraries is scalable, operable in a distributed environment, and includes application specific items that can be selected or determined by the client.

An imaging device has a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between the lens unit; and an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal. The zoom lens system has from an object side, a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees; and a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit, and having an optical power, and wherein at least one lens element made of resin is included in the entire lens system.

A holographic planar concentrator (HPC) for collecting and concentrating optical radiation is provided. The holographic planar concentrator comprises a planar highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted on a surface thereof. The multiplexed holographic optical film has recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures having one or more regions which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed. Two or more of the regions may be configured to provide spatial multiplexing. The HPC is fabricated by: (a) recording the plurality of diffractive structures in the multiplexed holographic optical film employing angular, spectral, and, optionally, spatial multiplexing techniques; and (b) mounting the multiplexed holographic optical film on one surface of the highly transparent plate. The recording of the plurality of diffractive structures is tailored to the intended orientation of the holographic planar concentrator to solar energy. The HPC is mounted in the intended orientation for collecting solar energy and at least one solar energy-collecting device is mounted along at least one edge of the holographic planar concentrator. Examples of suitable solar energy-collecting devices include photovoltaic cells and fiber optic light guides for transmitting collected light into an interior of a building for illumination purposes and for transmitting collected solar radiation into a hot water tank for heating. The HPC permits efficient collection of solar energy without expensive requirements, while minimizing energy losses.

A near-eye display of a type having an image generator for generating a succession of angularly related beams and waveguide for propagating the angularly related beams to an eyebox within which a virtual image is visible includes a controllable output aperture for such purposes as reconstructing a better defined pupil within the eyebox while also preserving the possibility for viewing the ambient environment from the eyebox through the controllable output aperture.

An exit pupil extender wherein the relative amount of different color components in the exit beam is more consistent with that of the input beam. In order to compensate for the uneven amount in the diffracted color components in the exit beam, the exit pupil extender, comprises a plurality of layers having additional diffraction gratings so as to increase the amount of diffracted light for those color components with a lower amount. Additionally, color filters disposed between layers to reduce the diffracted light components with a higher amount.

Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one first optical fiber arrangement which is configured to transceive at least one first electromagnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second focusing arrangement in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can be configured to focus and provide there through the first electromagnetic radiation. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one third dispersive arrangement which is configured to receive a particular radiation which is the first electromagnetic radiation and/or the focused electromagnetic radiation, and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure. At least one end of the fiber can be directly connected to the second focusing arrangement and/or the third dispersive arrangement. In addition, an exemplary embodiment of a method for producing an optical arrangement can be provided. For example, a first set of optical elements having a first size in a first configuration and a second set of optical elements in cooperation with the second set and having a second size in a second configuration can be provided. The first and second sets can be clamped into a third set of optical elements. The third set can be polished, and a further set of optical elements may be deposited on the polished set.

An antireflective member according to the present invention has an uneven surface pattern, in which unit structures are arranged in x and y directions at respective periods that are both shorter than the shortest wavelength of an incoming light ray, on the surface of a substrate and satisfies the following Inequality (1): $\begin{array}{cc}\frac{\Lambda x,y}{{\lambda }_{\min }}<\frac{1}{\mathrm{ni}+\mathrm{ni}·\sin \theta i_{\max }}& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

where λ_min is the shortest wavelength of the incoming light ray, θi_max is the largest angle of incidence of the incoming light ray, ni is the refractive index of an incidence medium, Λx is the period of the uneven surface pattern in the x direction, and Λy is the period of the pattern in the y direction. As a result, diffraction of short-wave light components can be reduced in a broad wavelength range.

A Head Up Display can be utilized to find light from an energy source. The Head Up Display includes a first waveguide having a first input coupler and a first output coupler. The Head Up Display can also include a second waveguide having a second input coupler and a second output coupler. The first waveguide has a first major surface and the second waveguide has a second major surface, which are disposed approximately parallel to each other. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are positioned as a combiner and allowing viewing an outside feed and information from an image source. The first input coupler diffracts light in the first field of view into the first waveguide and light in a second field of view reaches the second input coupler and is diffracted into the second waveguide.

A multicolor optical image-generating device comprised of an array of grating light valves (GLVs) organized to form light-modulating pixel units for spatially modulating incident rays of light. The pixel units are comprised of three subpixel components each including a plurality of elongated, equally spaced apart reflective grating elements arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces also parallel to each other. Each subpixel component includes means for supporting the grating elements in relation to one another, and means for moving alternate elements relative to the other elements and between a first configuration wherein the component acts to reflect incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the component diffracts the incident rays of light as they are reflected from the grating elements. The three subpixel components of each pixel unit are designed such that when red, green and blue light sources are trained on the array, colored light diffracted by particular subpixel components operating in the second configuration will be directed through a viewing aperture, and light simply reflected from particular subpixel components operating in the first configuration will not be directed through the viewing aperture.

For detecting three-dimensional shapes of an elongated flexible body, a sensor cable to be placed in a passage or channel which is formed axially and coextensively within the elongated flexible body. The sensor cable has two pairs of fiber Bragg grating strands within a tubular carrier casing. A signal light beam containing Bragg wavelength bands is projected from a light source to input same to refractive index change portions in the fiber Bragg grating strands. Reflection diffraction light signals from the refractive index change portions are received by a signal processor to measure the degree of strain at each one of the respective refractive index change portions by comparing wavelengths of the reflection diffraction light signals with reference wavelength.

The invention is directed to an optical system (1). The optical system (1) has a housing (2) with an opening (3) extending through the housing (2) encompassing an in general constant volume (V). A membrane (6) with two or more membrane sections is arranged across the opening separating the volume (V) in a first and a second chamber (7, 8) filled with at least one fluid. The membrane is attached to an annular holding frame (9). An actuator is interconnected to the membrane (6) directly or indirectly to change the optical behaviour of the membrane.

Structured screens for the controlled spreading, diffusion, or scattering of an incident beam are provided. The screens are composed of microstructures (1,2) whose configurations and distribution on the surfaces of the screen are precisely determined. In certain embodiments, the configurations and/or their distribution is randomized. The structured screens can be used as diffusing screens or display screens.

The invention relates to an optical device (50) for manipulating a light wave (λ) using a diffractive grating structure (G). According to the basic idea behind the invention a prior art type diffractive grating structure having a permanently shaped surface relief is substituted with an electrically deformable diffractive grating structure (G), where a preformed, basic surface relief of the grating is composed of dielectric and deformable viscoelastic material, which can be electrically and sequentially fine tuned in shape to adjust the diffraction properties of said grating individually for different wavelengths. The invention permits manufacture of virtual display devices with a significantly larger exit pupil diameter than prior art solutions without degrading the color uniformity of the display device.

There is provided an optical device including an optical waveguide upon which a group of parallel light beams different in traveling direction from each other are incident and from which the group of parallel light beams go out after propagated by repeated total reflection through it. The optical waveguide includes a first reflection-type volume hologram grating, and a second reflection-type volume hologram grating. The pitches of interference fringes on the hologram surfaces of the first and second reflection-type volume hologram gratings are equal to each other. In at least the second reflection-type volume hologram grating, the angle formed between the interference fringes and hologram surfaces are varied continuously or stepwise within the hologram in relation to the main incident light beam so as to meet the Bragg condition. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the unevenness of color and brightness due to angles of view.

Multilayer chromatic diffractive pigment flakes and foils are provided having diffractive structures thereon. The diffractive pigment flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, an asymmetrical stacked coating structure on one side of a reflective layer, or can be formed with one or more encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate. The diffractive pigment flakes and foils can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.

An optical device includes a light guide plate, and first and second reflective volume hologram diffraction grating members. The first member has interference fringes extending from therewithin towards surfaces thereof and arranged at an equal pitch. Each interference fringe and each surface of the first member form an inclination angle therebetween. The first member has the following conditions. (a) In an outer region positioned farther away from the second member than a minimum inclination angle region having a minimum inclination angle, the inclination angles of the interference fringes increase with increasing distance from the minimum inclination angle region. (b) In an inner region positioned closer to the second member than the minimum inclination angle region, the inclination angles of the interference fringes include a maximum inclination angle in an inner area disposed adjacent to the minimum inclination angle region and decrease with increasing distance from the minimum inclination angle region.