We have invented an EUV spectroscopic polarimeter including a light receiving element, a first polarizing modulation element, a second polarizing modulation element, an energy splitting element and a light detecting and analyzing apparatus. The light receiving element is for receiving a target light. The first polarizing modulation element is rotatably connected to the light receiving element for generating a first polarized light. The second polarizing modulation element is rotatably connected to the first polarizing modulation element for generating a second polarized light. The energy splitting element receives the second polarized light so as to generate a modulated-polarization and energy-resolved light. The light detecting and analyzing apparatus receiving the polarization-modulated and energy-resolved light and providing a spectrum information by an analyzing algorithm which is able to retrieve the helicity, ellipticity, tilt angle and the degree of polarization for the whole spectrum of the target light.

A device includes a first polarized image sensor configured to capture first image data relating to an object from a first perspective. The device also includes a second polarized image sensor configured to capture second image data relating to the object from a second perspective different from the first perspective. The device further includes a processor configured to obtain at least one of polarization information or depth information of the object based on at least one of the first image data or the second image data, and to extract a feature of the object based on the at least one of the polarization information or the depth information.

A method of fabricating a polarization sensor is described. It includes a quarter-wave plate to convert circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light. The quarter-wave plate is realized as a metasurface. The sensor also includes a linear polarizer to analyze the light generated by the quarter wave plate, and a photodetector to receive the analyzed light. The sensor may be combined with other linear polarization sensors to form a sensor capable of complete measurement of the polarization state of incident light.

A method of fabricating a polarization sensor is described. It includes a quarter-wave plate to convert circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light. The quarter-wave plate is realized as a metasurface. The sensor also includes a linear polarizer to analyze the light generated by the quarter wave plate, and a photodetector to receive the analyzed light. The sensor may be combined with other linear polarization sensors to form a sensor capable of complete measurement of the polarization state of incident light.

A depth map generation unit 22 generates a depth map that generates the depth map from images obtained by picking up a subject at a plurality of viewpoint positions by an image pickup unit 21. On the basis of the depth map generated by the depth map generation unit 22, an alignment unit 23 aligns polarized images obtained by the image pickup unit 21 picking up the subject at the plurality of viewpoint positions through polarizing filters in different polarization directions at the different viewpoint positions. A polarization characteristic acquisition unit 24 acquires a polarization characteristic of the subject from a desired viewpoint position by using the polarized images aligned by the alignment unit 23 to obtain the high-precision polarization characteristic with little degradation in temporal resolution and spatial resolution. It becomes possible to acquire the polarization characteristic of the subject at the desired viewpoint position.

A depth map generation unit 22 generates a depth map that generates the depth map from images obtained by picking up a subject at a plurality of viewpoint positions by an image pickup unit 21. On the basis of the depth map generated by the depth map generation unit 22, an alignment unit 23 aligns polarized images obtained by the image pickup unit 21 picking up the subject at the plurality of viewpoint positions through polarizing filters in different polarization directions at the different viewpoint positions. A polarization characteristic acquisition unit 24 acquires a polarization characteristic of the subject from a desired viewpoint position by using the polarized images aligned by the alignment unit 23 to obtain the high-precision polarization characteristic with little degradation in temporal resolution and spatial resolution. It becomes possible to acquire the polarization characteristic of the subject at the desired viewpoint position.

Methods, apparatus and systems that relate to a low-cost reconfigurable polarimetric imaging are described. One example polarization imaging system includes a lens positioned to receive light reflected from one or more objects, and a spectral-polarization filter positioned at an aperture plane of the lens to filter the light received by the lens. The polarization imaging system can further include a sensor positioned to detect the filtered light from the spectral-polarization filter to form a polarization image of the one or more objects. The spectral-polarization filter comprises a first array of multiple spectral filters and a second array of multiple polarizers.

Methods, apparatus and systems that relate to a low-cost reconfigurable polarimetric imaging are described. One example polarization imaging system includes a lens positioned to receive light reflected from one or more objects, and a spectral-polarization filter positioned at an aperture plane of the lens to filter the light received by the lens. The polarization imaging system can further include a sensor positioned to detect the filtered light from the spectral-polarization filter to form a polarization image of the one or more objects. The spectral-polarization filter comprises a first array of multiple spectral filters and a second array of multiple polarizers.

According to an example, a polarization control system is to manipulate polarization manipulators to output light that achieves a trajectory on a Poincaré sphere that tracks a known trajectory of a polarizer on the Poincaré sphere, in which the trajectory of the output light enables definition of a reference polarization state of the output light. The polarization control system may also manipulate an output polarization manipulator to set the output light to a predefined polarization state based upon the reference polarization state.

A liquid-crystal based color switch for use with an image sensor having sub-diffraction-limited (SDL) pixels. The color switch may switch between a first mode where green light is passed (and blue and red light is blocked) and a second mode where blue and red light is passed (and green light is blocked). The color switch may include an achromatic switch (such as a liquid crystal switch) and retarder stack filter that are both sandwiched between a first and a second polarizer. The SDL pixels may be distributed so that green subpixels are never adjacent to other green subpixels in the same row or column, so that red subpixels are always adjacent to green subpixels in the same row or column, and so that blue subpixels are always adjacent to green subpixels in the same row or column.