An optical element is configured by connecting a plurality of tiles each constituted by a plurality of reflective optical elements, and is formed in a shape having a plane surface. The tiles configuring the optical element are formed such that outer shapes on the plane surface of the tiles have at least two different triangular shapes, while an end surface of each tile is provided with a light shielding part.

A sunlight redirector has a first mirror array formed of a first plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal outward mirror segments; and a second mirror array formed of a second plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal inward mirror segments. Each mirror segment has a normal vector. The outward mirror segments are adjustably positionable, such that their normal vectors remain parallel. The first mirror array is rotatable about a normal vector of the sunlight redirector. The inward mirror segments may remain fixed in position at all times; or they may be moved, twice per day, between first and second fixed positions.

An optical waveguide unit, an optical waveguide array including optical waveguide units, and a flat lens including optical waveguide arrays. The optical waveguide unit includes: at least one group of total reflection layers, each group including at least one type of total reflection layer, and each type of total reflection layer including at least one single total reflection layer; and at least two sub-waveguides, one group being arranged between every two adjacent sub-waveguides.

An optical lens includes: two transparent substrates, each transparent substrate being provided with two optical surfaces; and two optical waveguide arrays, arranged between the two transparent substrates by means of glue, optical waveguide extending directions of the two optical waveguide arrays being arranged orthogonally; each optical waveguide array including a plurality of optical waveguide units, each optical waveguide unit having a rectangular cross section, and the plurality of optical waveguide units being joined in parallel; an outer contour of the optical waveguide array being a rectangle and an extending direction of the optical waveguide unit and at least two sides of the outer contour of the optical waveguide array forming an angle of 30 to 60 degrees.

An optical isolator for use with high power, collimated laser radiation includes an input polarizing optical element, at least one Faraday optical element, at least two reflective optical elements for reflecting laser radiation to provide an even number of passes through said at least one Faraday optical element, at least one reciprocal polarization altering optical element, an output polarizing optical element, at least one light redirecting element for remotely dissipating isolated or lost laser radiation. The isolator also includes at least one magnetic structure capable of generating a uniform magnetic field within the Faraday optical element which is aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and a mechanical structure for holding said optical elements to provide thermal gradients that are aligned to the path of the collimated laser radiation and that provide thermal and mechanical isolation between the magnetic structure and the optical elements.

A light guide device that does not cause non-uniformity in image light and external light and does not cause ghosts, and a virtual image display apparatus provided with the light guide device. The light guide device includes a parallel light guide, an incident section, and an emission section. Here, the light guide device is set such that image light rays are reflected without reflecting from a boundary surface between the parallel light guide and the reflection unit and head for an observer. Thus, the image light rays only pass through half mirrors, which are positioned in positions where the image light rays are emitted from the reflection unit of the emission section or are positioned therearound. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent luminance non-uniformity or light reduction by reducing the number of times of the image light rays to be observed pass through the half mirrors.

An optical article for directing and distributing light including an optically transmissive layer having one or more arrays of TIR channels and a light diffusing element disposed in optical communication with the optically transmissive layer. The TIR channels define reflective surfaces extending perpendicular or near-perpendicular to a prevailing plane of the optically transmissive layer. The TIR channels and the light diffusing element operate concurrently to redirect and redistribute a beam of light received from a light source such as daylight or an LED over a broad angular range.

A external light control device for equatorially located building utilizes tilting external light shelves that are capable of tilting backward (toward the building) from a vertical orientation to reflect low am (or late pm) sun away from occupants, but are deployed at a tilt away from the building exterior to capture more sun closer to noon time. The structure preferably integrate IR rejecting coating for incident light which is re-directed by TIR surface disposed normal to the thin film layers in a multi-layer IR reflective coating. The panel may be monolithic or comprise tilting louvers, which can be metallic, dielectric, or TIR reflectors. The louvers preferably also tilt in response to the determined sun position with the panel to optimize light utilization.

The invention relates to the field of biometric identification. The technical result consists in decreasing the overall dimensions and increasing the reliability of a system for registering papillary ridge patterns, while providing for reduced cost, high image quality, rapid operating speed and reduced energy consumption. The present system comprises a light source, an element which defines the position of a reading surface, an optical system, and a multi-element image receiver, wherein the reading surface is optically linked to the image receiver by rays passing through a guiding optical element, comprising a refractive surface and a reflective surface, by means of consecutive refraction on the refractive surface, reflection on the reflective surface and total internal reflection on the refractive surface

An optical waveguide for a see-through display system using Fresnel lenses is disclosed. This invention enables high efficiency of light utilization, wavelength independence, high resolution and very small form factor. This display system is suitable for head-up-display and wearable display.