An optical identifier including a recording surface, a plurality of deflection cells each of which has recorded thereon a range in which light to be diffracted is deflected, at least one spatial phase modulator which fills a space between the deflection cells on the recording surface, and a deposition layer which covers part or all of the recording surface. The deflection cells has a spatial frequency expressed in a form of a relief structure and are discretely formed on the recording surface at regular intervals away from each other. A variable color image is recorded by pixels defined by the deflection cells. The spatial phase modulator has thereon a distribution of phase differences recorded in a form of heights of the relief structure. The spatial phase modulator modulates a phase of light outputted from a point light source and displays a reproduced image.

A subwavelength grating displaying a colored image exhibiting a color corresponding to a grating period of a subwavelength grating in reflection directions including a specular reflection direction. A relief surface displaying a reflection image in monochromatic reflected light in reflection directions including a direction different from the specular reflection direction. An optical element has a first state in which neither a colored image nor a reflection image is displayed, a second state in which the colored image is mainly displayed, and a third state in which the reflection image is mainly displayed. A plane in which the optical element is disposed and a plane including a line of sight of an observer form an observation angle therebetween. The optical element is observed in any of the first, second and third states according to the observation angle.

A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.

A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.

An example optical assembly includes a display, a light source for illuminating the display, and a first diffraction type polarizing beam splitter (DT-PBS) configured to direct light from a first light director, wherein the first DT-PBS is polarization sensitive and configured to direct, based on polarization, a first portion of light towards the display.

An optical device includes an overcoat layer on a surface-relief grating. The overcoat layer is formed by a process including: depositing a layer of a first resin material that is curable by heat or electromagnetic radiation on a surface-relief grating that includes a plurality of grating ridges and a plurality of grating grooves to at least partially fill the plurality of grating grooves, curing the layer of the first resin material, depositing a layer of a second resin material that is curable by heat or electromagnetic radiation and has a higher flowability than the first resin material on the layer of the first resin material, annealing the layer of the second resin material to allow the second resin material to flow and form a planar top surface, and curing the layer of the second resin material.

A focusing device includes a substrate and a plurality of scatterers provided at both sides of the substrate. The scatterers on the both sides of the focusing device may correct geometric aberration, and thus, a field of view (FOV) of the focusing device may be widened.

An internal laser component of an optical device comprises: a waveguide that defines a guided mode of a first optical wave characterized by a first propagation constant associated with a first effective refractive index. An optical antenna grating comprises: a waveguide that defines a guided mode of a second optical wave characterized by a second propagation constant associated with a second effective refractive index, and a grating structure configured to emit a portion of the second optical wave in a selected direction. The internal laser component and the optical antenna grating are configured to provide a relationship between the first effective refractive index and the second effective refractive index such that the selected direction is substantially insensitive to a change in a temperature of a thermal environment in which the internal laser component and the optical antenna grating are thermally coupled.

Disclosed is an improved diffraction structure for 3D display systems. The improved diffraction structure includes an intermediate layer that resides between a waveguide substrate and a top grating surface. The top grating surface comprises a first material that corresponds to a first refractive index value, the underlayer comprises a second material that corresponds to a second refractive index value, and the substrate comprises a third material that corresponds to a third refractive index value.

Configurations for a diffraction grating design and methods thereof are disclosed. The diffraction grating system can include an input waveguide located at a first location on or near a Rowland circle and multiple output waveguides located at a second and third location on or near the Rowland circle. The input waveguide may be located between the output waveguides and this configuration of input and output waveguides can reduce the footprint size of the device. In some examples, the optical component can function as a de-multiplexer. Additionally, the optical component may separate the input wavelength band into two output wavelength bands which are separated from one another by approximately 0.1 μm.