A laser processing head for a laser beam uses actuators engaged with a delivery fiber end to deflect the fiber end relative to an optical axis. The laser beam from the fiber end is collimated by a collimator and is then focused by a focusing component disposed in the head beyond the collimator to a focal point. The focal point of the laser beam is deflected from the optical axis in relation to the deflection of the fiber end. The fiber end and the actuators are housed in a sealed module. Deflection of the laser beam can be sensed by reflecting portion of the laser beam to a sensing element so a control system can monitor and control the fiber end's movement. A mode-stripper in the sealed module removes light from cladding of the delivery fiber, and an actively cooled absorber in the module around the fiber absorbs the energy.

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

Examples are disclosed that relate to display devices having a common light path region. One example provides a display device comprising a light source configured to emit illumination light along an illumination path, and a spatial light modulator configured to modulate the illumination light and emit the modulated illumination light as image light along an imaging path, wherein at least a portion of the illumination path and at least a portion of the imaging path extend through a common light path region. The display device further comprises one or more optical elements positioned within the common light path region, at least one optical element being configured to guide the illumination light as the illumination light travels through the common light path region toward the spatial light modulator, and shape the image light as the image light travels through the common light path region.

An optical fiber array collimator is disclosed for use in a multi-line LiDAR application. The collimator includes an optical fiber array assembly, a collimating lens assembly and a housing. The optical fiber array assembly and a collimating lens assembly are positioned, assembled, and fixed in the housing. The light output surface of the optical fiber array assembly is installed near the focal plane of the collimating lens assembly. By adjusting the distance between the optical fiber array and the collimating lens, the high-precision collimated output beams from multiple optical fibers can be realized simultaneously. The fiber array can be packed and assembled with dozens or hundreds of fibers with high density. The fiber arrangement has the characteristics of adjustable density, high precision spacing and high reliability.

The collimating lens includes at least one spherical or aspherical lens, which can achieve minimal aberration in different fields of view through optical design optimization. The laser spot after collimating has the characteristics of high beam quality, small wavefront distortion and small far-field divergence angle, which can achieve accurate detection of distant targets. In this collimator, due to the fiber location at vertical direction from different channels of the fiber array having different height with respect to the main optical axis of the collimating lens, the output collimating beam will have different emergence angle, which have different viewing angles. By designing and adjusting the fiber locations(height) in the fiber array with respect to the main optical axis, we can realize the accurate control of the field angle; by controlling the density and interval of the fiber distribution in optical fiber array, the density distribution of multiple collimating laser beams at different field angles can be realized.

The disclosure can be widely used for multi-line LiDAR. Because the fiber is very fine, it can be assembled and arranged on the fiber array with high density, which greatly improves the density of the light spot, and then greatly improves the angular resolution of the multi-line LiDAR in vertical space. At the same time, according to the design requirements of multi-line LiDAR, by adjusting the density distribution of optical fibers on the fiber array, it can meet the differential application requirements for LiDAR in different vertical fields of view.

The disclosure of the collimator has N (N≥2) optical fiber input and can be connected with 1xN optical splitter components (including fiber coupler, optical fiber splitter, optical switch, etc.), which can achieve one beam from one laser source split in

The disclosed flow cytometer includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The WDM includes an extended light source providing light that forms an object, a collimating optical element that captures light from the extended light source and projects a magnified image of the object as a first light beam, and a first focusing optical element configured to focus the first light beam to a size smaller than the object of the extended light source to a first semiconductor detector. The disclosed flow cytometer further includes a composite microscope objective to direct light emitted by a particle in a flow channel in a viewing zone of the composite microscope to the extended light source, a fluidic system and a peristaltic pump configured to supply liquid sheath and liquid sample to the flow channel, and a laser diode system to illuminate the particle in the flow channel.

The disclosed flow cytometer includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The WDM includes an extended light source providing light that forms an object, a collimating optical element that captures light from the extended light source and projects a magnified image of the object as a first light beam, and a first focusing optical element configured to focus the first light beam to a size smaller than the object of the extended light source to a first semiconductor detector. The disclosed flow cytometer further includes a composite microscope objective to direct light emitted by a particle in a flow channel in a viewing zone of the composite microscope to the extended light source, a fluidic system and a peristaltic pump configured to supply liquid sheath and liquid sample to the flow channel, and a laser diode system to illuminate the particle in the flow channel.

A method for assembling a two-dimensional fiber array launcher assembly. The method includes providing an alignment structure having a two-dimensional alignment plate with holes at one end and a two-dimensional beam shaper with micro-lenses at an opposite end. An endcap having a fiber attached thereto is systematically positioned in each hole, and is aligned with one of the micro-lenses with a high precision tolerance. The aligned endcap is then secured in the hole using a curable glue. This process is continued until all of the holes have aligned endcaps. If one of the endcaps is mis-aligned or becomes damaged, the glue can be heated and the endcap realigned or replaced.

In various embodiments, the beam parameter product and/or beam shape of a laser beam is adjusted by directing the laser beam across a path along the input end of a cellular-core optical fiber. The beam emitted at the output end of the cellular-core optical fiber may be utilized to process a workpiece.

A method of determining perturbation of a grating formed in an optical fiber, comprises: modulating and transmitting a light beam through the optical fiber, measuring at least one phase shift in a modulation of light reflected off the grating, and determining the perturbation of the grating based on the phase shift(s).

Methods and devices for illuminating a photoconductive switch consisting of an optically actuated photoconductive material situated between two electrodes are described. Light from a light source is coupled to an optical fiber, which is attached to a frustum, the other side of which is proximate to the photoconductive switch. Light from the optical fiber enters the frustum, spreads out, and enters the photoconductive switch via the top-side electrode. Some of the light is absorbed, while the remaining light reflects off the bottom-side electrode, travels back through the photoconductive switch, and any unabsorbed light reenters the frustum. The geometry of the frustum is configured such that most of the light reflects back into the switch itself with only a negligible fraction escaping from the optical fiber, which advantageously results in near total utilization of the light.