Abstract:
An analog controlled angle diffuser and associated methods provide a wavelength insensitive diffuser with a controlled output. The diffuser has free formed shaped analog fringes, i.e., fringes which have a continuous cross-section from their peak to their termination. Preferably, the depth of the analog fringes will be at least 2&pgr;, even more preferably at least 2O&pgr;. Advantageously, the pattern of the diffuser is computer-generated.
Abstract:
An optical apparatus for circularizing a laser beam includes a bench having indentations thereon and optical elements provided in these indentations. A first optical element has a high numerical aperture. A second optical element collimates the beam output by the first optical element and is spaced from the first optical element. This spacing is determined in accordance with a location of the beam output by the first optical element at which the beam will be most circular. The indentation in which the second optical element is placed may be both vertically and horizontally displaced from the indentation in which the first optical element is placed.
Abstract:
A broadband diffractive diffuser contains at least three levels, with approximately a phase shift of .pi. between at least two of the at least three levels. Such a diffuser provides light with more than two phasor vectors at the zero order. The presence of the more than two phasor vectors reduces the zero order diffraction efficiency at non-design wavelength, increasing the usefulness of the diffuser at wavelengths other than the design wavelength. Preferably, the diffractive diffuser includes a plurality of regions, approximately 50% of an area of the plurality of regions presenting a phase shift of .pi. at a design wavelength, approximately 25% of the area of the plurality of regions presenting a phase shift of 2.pi. at the design wavelength, and approximately 25% of the area of the plurality of regions presenting a phase shift of 0 at the design wavelength. Such a diffractive diffuser may be formed by logical operations between two diffractive diffuser patterns, by adding two diffractive diffuser patterns, or by pixel-by-pixel scanning.
Abstract:
An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers. An active element having a characteristic which changes in response to an applied field may be integrated on a bottom surface of the wafers. The resulting optical system may present a high numerical aperture. Preferably, one of the optical elements is a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.
Abstract:
An integrated optical head, such as, for a disk drive, preferably includes an optically transparent substrate. The substrate has a diffractive optical element formed on one face and a plurality of electrical contact pads exposed on the other face. A light source is positioned to emit light through the substrate, through the diffractive optical element, and toward data storage media. The light source includes a plurality of electrical contact pads corresponding to the plurality of electrical contact-pads exposed on the face of the substrate. An optical detector is positioned to detect light reflected from the data storage media, through the diffractive optical element, and through the substrate. The optical detector includes a plurality of exposed electrical contact pads corresponding to the plurality of electrical contact pads exposed on the face of the substrate. The substrate and the light source and optical detector are passively aligned using solder bumps between pairs of contact pads. A mechanical passive alignment arrangement is also disclosed.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, a BOE-corrected, off-axis image forming apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a first stage with a primary reflective element disposed to reflect light incident from an entrance pupil of the apparatus and form a real image at an intermediate image plane, and a second stage located off-axis with respect to the first stage. The second stage is defined by a secondary reflective and/or refractive assembly which re-images light from the intermediate image plane to a final image plane. A binary optical element (BOE), which has higher-order optical characteristics for providing aspheric correction but extremely low optical power, is provided in one of the stages for correcting aberrations introduced by the other optical elements in the apparatus. The BOE contributes no more than about 3% of the optical power provided by the stage which contains the BOE.
Abstract:
A monolithic polarization controlled angle diffuser includes a system having a first surface and a second surface, a controlled angle diffuser pattern for providing an angular distribution at an illumination plane, the controlled angle diffuser pattern being on one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, and a polarizing pattern on one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate. The controlled angle diffuser pattern includes at least two controlled angle diffuser elements. Each controlled angle diffuser element outputs different angular distributions. The polarizing pattern includes at least two polarizing elements. Each polarizing element corresponds to a respective controlled angle diffuser element. The at least two polarizing elements output polarizations are rotated with respect to one another.
Abstract:
An optical element may include a first diffractive structure having a radially symmetric amplitude function and a second diffractive structure having a phase function. The second diffractive structure may serve as a vortex lens. A system employing the optical element may include a light source and/or a detector.
Abstract:
An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers, at least one of the two optical elements being a spherical lens. The resulting optical system presents a high numerical aperture. One of the optical elements may be a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.
Abstract:
A waveguide to waveguide monitor includes an optics block between the two waveguides. The optics block couples light between the two waveguides and includes at least two parallel surfaces. The monitor also has an optical tap which creates a monitor beam. The optics block may be flush with the endfaces of the waveguides, even if the endfaces are angled. At least two optical elements needed to couple the light between the two optical waveguides and direct the monitor beam on a detector are on the at least two parallel surfaces of the optics block and any surfaces secured thereto.