A time-of-flight sensor system (100) comprising an illumination source (102), an optical system (106) and a sensor (108). The illumination source (102) illuminates a subject (104) to which a time-of-flight is to be measured. The optical system (106) transitions the illumination source (102) between spot illumination and flood illumination. A sensor (108) configured to sense light scattered by the subject (104) from the illumination source (102) and to provide data dependent on sensed light. The time-of-flight sensor system (100) is configured to use the data when the illumination is within a range from spot illumination and/or in a range from flood illumination to provide time-of-flight data.

A variable focal length optical assembly may include a deformable entry lens element, a deformable first reflective element and a deformable second reflective element. Using a controller coupled to the deformable elements, an external force such as a mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or electromagnetic force is applied to the deformable elements to provide any number of different focal lengths. Since the deformation of the deformable elements, and consequently the changes in focal length, occur much faster than the playback frame rate, a number of sub-frames, each containing an image obtained at a different focal length, are associated with each playback frame. The availability of multiple images in the form of sub-frames permits the selection of an optimal image for inclusion in the final playback frame sequence. The availability of multiple images in the form of sub-frames at different focal lengths also permits the seamless incorporation of zoom-in and zoom-out effects.

An optoelectronic device, including a tunable optical filter or tunable optical filter with photodiode, uses voltage differentials to filter an optical signal passing along an optical path. A membrane has an electrode and is disposed adjacent a fixed mirror and another. A central portion of the membrane is distanced from the fixed mirror and has an aperture in which a second mirror is disposed. This second mirror translates with the membrane at a freespace gap relative to the fixed mirror when the electrodes are subject to the voltage differentials. In turn, the freespace gap is configured as a Fabry-Perot etalon to pass one or more spectral frequencies of the optical signal along the optical path. The membrane is shaped and reinforced to limit possible bowing. The translatable mirror in the aperture of the membrane is also shaped and reinforced to limit it from possible bowing as well.

In some embodiments, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes a tubular housing having a bore extending longitudinally through the housing. First and second image sensors are disposed proximate a distal end of the bore, each including a light sensitive elements on a face and mounted facing laterally outward. The apparatus further includes a first beam steering element associated with the first image sensor and a second beam steering element associated with the second image sensor. The beam steering elements receive light from first and second perspective viewpoints and direct the received light onto the faces of the image sensors forming first and second images. Either the first and second beam steering elements or the first and second image sensors are moveable to cause a change a spacing between or an orientation of the perspective viewpoints to cause sufficient disparity between the first and second images to provide image data including three-dimensional information.

A light path adjustment mechanism includes a support, a carrier, an optical plate member and a plurality of actuators. The carrier is disposed on the support and connected to the support via a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The carrier includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and each of the third side and the fourth side is located between the first side and the second side. The actuators are disposed on at most three sides of the first side, the second side, the third side and the fourth side, and the actuators are disposed at least on the first side and the third side.

The present invention provides an illumination optical system for illuminating an object, comprising: a first light-transmissive member and a second light-transmissive member, and a control unit configured to control drive of the first light-transmissive member and the second light-transmissive member, therein, while the control unit drives the first light-transmissive member such that an incident angle of light to the first light-transmissive member increases, the control unit drives the second light-transmissive member such that the incident angle of light to the second light-transmissive member decreases, thereby changing the intensity of the light exiting from the illumination optical system.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus suitable for light scanning. The apparatus may comprise a light source, an optical device and a detector. The light source may be configured to generate a scanning light beam that diverges along a first dimension to illuminate a line along the first dimension in a target scene, and may be configured to scan the scanning light beam in a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension. The optical device may be configured to converge return light waves reflected off of the target scene to generate converged return light waves. The detector may comprise a light receiving component. The light receiving component may be configured to receive the converged return light waves. The detector may be configure to detect the converged return light waves incident on the light receiving component.

An optical device including a bearing structure and a light-transmitting plate body is provided. The bearing structure includes a first frame body and a second frame body connected to each other, and the first frame body is located in the second frame body. The first frame body has at least one first inner surface, and the at least one first inner surface has at least one limiting protruding portion protruding from the at least one first inner surface. The light-transmitting plate body is disposed in the first frame body and is fixed to the first frame body. The light-transmitting plate body has at least one first edge, and the at least one first edge of the light-transmitting plate body is positioned through the at least one limiting protruding portion.

Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a device that monitors for the presence of objects passing through or impinging on a virtual shell near the device, referred to herein as a “light curtain”, which is created by rapidly rotating a line sensor and a line laser in synchrony. The boundaries of the light curtain are defined by a sweeping line defined by the intersection of the sensing and illumination planes.

A unique method and a device to generate free space “pop-out” & “sink-in” holograms is disclosed herein. The hologram disclosed herein does not use any special medium, mirrors, reflective screens or wearables such as headgear & special glasses. The hologram disclosed herein can be created in free space, outer space or in air, without any other optical components except for the special display screen of the hologram device. This device demonstrates a free space hologram and the hologram Augmented Reality & hologram Virtual Reality. A camera capable of hologram quality images equipped with a smart lens which mimics the human eye by changing it's lens aperture according to the light intensity as the pupil of the human eye and focus & capture “pop-out” & “sink-in” hologram images is disclosed herein. The audio which is incorporated with the device provide multi dimensional multi directional audio effects.