A solar collector utilizes an inflated tubular film which concentrates sunlight onto a solar receiver. The film incorporates refractive elements in a pattern which focuses light in one or two dimensions to create foci in the form of lines, spots, or other shapes. The film may be replaceable. The film may include layers of material to optimize optical, structural, thermal, and durability characteristics.

An imaging optical system includes a plurality of lenses, and the plurality of lenses includes a lens pair consisting of two lenses arranged near each other, in which radii of curvature of two surfaces arranged near each other is close to each other, and which satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.

The invention provides a lighting module (100) which comprises a plurality of first light sources (101) configured for emitting first light (102) in a first predetermined direction, and at least one second light source (103) configured for emitting second light (104). The lighting module (100) further comprises a light guide (105) which comprises at least one light in-coupling portion (106) to couple at least part of the second light (104) into the light guide (105), and a plurality of light out-coupling portions (107) to couple at least part of the second light (104) out of the light guide (105). The light guide (105) is arranged to guide the second light (104) coupled into the light guide (105) at the at least one light in-coupling portion (106) via total internal reflection (108) to the plurality of light out-coupling portions (107) for generating out-coupled light in a second predetermined direction. The light guide (105) is mechanically coupled to and extends along the plurality of first light sources (101). The light out-coupling portions (107) cover a larger first area (109) than a second area (110) covered by the plurality of first light sources (101). A total luminous flux generated by the at least one second light source (103) is lower than a total luminous flux generated by the plurality of the first light sources (101). The first predetermined direction and the second predetermined direction at least partly overlap.

A glazing unit is provided for producing an aesthetically pleasing effect, comprising or consisting of at least one pane, said pane having a first structured surface to which a three-dimensional photonic structure is applied and the average refractive index of the photonic structure being higher than approximately 1.6 or higher than approximately 1.8 or higher than approximately 1.95. A method of producing such a glazing unit and the use thereof is also provided.

An adaptive lighting system comprises an array of independently controllable LEDs, and a metalens positioned to collimate, focus, or otherwise redirect light emitted by the array of LEDs. The adaptive lighting system may optionally include a pre-collimator positioned in the optical path between the array of LEDs and the metalens.

A light-emitting apparatus for facilitating the growth of one or more plants. The apparatus has a light-emitting layer comprising one or more light-emitting diodes for emitting light, and at least one optical-transformation layer having one or more optical-transformation units. Each optical-transformation unit has a metasurface for adjusting one or more parameters of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer. In some embodiments, the light-emitting apparatus may further have a polarization-control layer sandwiched between the light-emitting layer and the optical-transformation layer.

High-efficiency line-forming optical systems and methods that employ a serrated aperture are disclosed. The line-forming optical system includes a laser source, a beam conditioning optical system, a first aperture device, and a relay optical system that includes a second aperture device having the serrated aperture. The serrated aperture is defined by opposing serrated blades configured to reduce intensity variations in a line image formed at an image plane as compared to using an aperture having straight-edged blades.

Aspects of the present disclosure include systems with multiple lasers having modified beam profiles. Systems according to certain embodiments include a first laser that produces a first beam of light, a second laser that produces a second beam of light and a beam shaping component that receives the first beam of light and the second beam of light at substantially the same position from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the first beam of light and the second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis. Methods for irradiating a sample in a flow stream with the output beam of light are also described. Kits having one or more lasers and a beam shaping component configured to generate from a first beam of light and a second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis are also provided.

A light-emitting apparatus for facilitating the growth of one or more plants. The apparatus has a light-emitting layer comprising one or more light-emitting diodes for emitting light, and at least one optical-transformation layer having one or more optical-transformation units. Each optical-transformation unit has a metasurface for adjusting one or more parameters of the light emitted from the light-emitting layer. In some embodiments, the light-emitting apparatus may further have a polarization-control layer sandwiched between the light-emitting layer and the optical-transformation layer.

High-efficiency line-forming optical systems and methods that employ a serrated aperture are disclosed. The line-forming optical system includes a laser source, a beam conditioning optical system, a first aperture device, and a relay optical system that includes a second aperture device having the serrated aperture. The serrated aperture is defined by opposing serrated blades configured to reduce intensity variations in a line image formed at an image plane as compared to using an aperture having straight-edged blades.