A system includes a diffractive optical element configured to receive a first beam and a second beam interfering with one another to generate a first interference pattern. The diffractive optical element is also configured to forwardly diffract the first beam and the second beam to output a third beam and a fourth beam. The third beam and the fourth beam interfere with one another to generate a second interference pattern. The system also includes a detector configured to detect the second interference pattern.

LiDAR system and methods discussed herein use a dispersion element or optic that has a refraction gradient that causes a light pulse to be redirected to a particular angle based on its wavelength. The dispersion element can be used to control a scanning path for light pulses being projected as part of the LiDAR's field of view. The dispersion element enables redirection of light pulses without requiring the physical movement of a medium such as mirror or other reflective surface, and in effect further enables at least portion of the LiDAR's field of view to be managed through solid state control. The solid state control can be performed by selectively adjusting the wavelength of the light pulses to control their projection along the scanning path.

An external resonance-type laser module includes: a quantum cascade laser; a MEMS diffraction grating including a movable portion capable of swinging around an axis and a diffraction grating portion formed on the movable portion; and a lens. The diffraction grating portion includes a plurality of lattice grooves arranged in a first direction and each of the plurality of lattice grooves extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The MEMS diffraction grating is disposed such that a normal line of the diffraction grating portion is inclined with respect to an end surface and the first direction is along a lamination direction of a laminated structure when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the end surface. A length of the diffraction grating portion in the first direction exceeds a length of the diffraction grating portion in the second direction.

Beam steering devices include a laser and a metasurface for dynamic beam shaping of laser light. A steering actuator may adjust a metasurface with respect to a laser to dynamically shape the beam. Lasers in a plurality of lasers may be selectively activated to generate a desired beam shape.

An optical focus control and method use rotations of a set of shift-invariant optical elements (Risley elements) that are fairly tolerant to optical misalignments and wobble in control systems. The Risley elements can be Risley prisms, Risley gratings, or photonic crystals that impart a fixed angular offset. Aligning at least one pair of Risley elements that are individually rotated can achieve an angular correct to light received off-axis for better detection by an optical detector, improving focus control.

An image acquisition device includes a spatial light modulator modulating irradiation light, a control unit controlling a modulating pattern so that first and second light converging points are formed in an observation object, a light converging optical system converging the irradiation light, a scanning unit scanning positions of the first and second light converging points in the observation object in a scanning direction intersecting an optical axis of the light converging optical system, and a photodetector detecting first observation light generated from the first light converging point and second observation light generated from the second light converging point. The photodetector has a first detection area for detecting the first observation light and a second detection area for detecting the second observation light. The positions of the first and second light converging points are different from each other in a direction of the optical axis.

An atmosphere starry sky light for festival entertainment is provided. The constellation unit is configured to switch patterns of twelve constellations and perform projection display on the patterns of the twelve constellations. The starry sky unit is configured to project a starry sky background. The background unit is configured to project patterns of aurora, clouds, and ripples. The planetary unit is configured to switch patterns of a planet, and to project and display a planetary image. The constellation unit, the planetary unit, the starry sky unit and the background unit form a panoramic image of the cosmic starry sky by superimposing and combining.

Optical devices and cognitive prosthetics based on novel components for enhanced human vision, selective video/television display, digital processing and/or unique image analysis to modify the image that a user sees and significantly improve the perception of that user are disclosed. What the user sees is responsive to specific perceptual and informational needs of the user in real time. Devices from the parent patents are herein made both more useful in practical day-to-day use and are more widely applicable to improving the ability of a user to perceive visual stimuli.

Systems and methods for multiplying the resolution and field-of-view of pixelated displays in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an apparatus having an image projector for directing light from a pixelated image source into unique angular directions, an image processor electrically connected to the image projector for computing native images of the image source corresponding to first and second field-of-view portions and for computing shifted images in a predefined direction corresponding to the first and second field-of-view portions for sequential display by the image projector, a first set of gratings having a native configuration for propagating the light of the native image and at least one shifted configuration for propagating the light of at least one shifted image, and a second set of gratings having a first configuration for projecting the first field-of-view portion and a second configuration for projecting the second field-of-view portion.

A three-dimensional display system and methods for forming 3D images are disclosed. In one version, a diffusion screen is formed at a predetermined location.sub.1 of a set of predetermined locations 1-n within an image chamber. The diffusion screen is illuminated with visible light indicative of a cross-sectional image.sub.1 of a set of a plurality of cross-sectional images 1-N of a three-dimensional image at the predetermined location.sub.1 within the image chamber. The diffusion screen is erased and the method is repeated for cross-sectional images 2-N and predetermined locations 2-n of the three-dimensional image at a scan rate sufficient to produce a representation of the three-dimensional image in the image chamber.