An optical computing system includes: a light diffraction element divided into blocks and including cells having respective thicknesses or refractive indices set independently of each other, wherein each of the blocks includes: a first cell of the cells having a thickness or a refractive index such that first optical computing is carried out and, a second cell of the cells having a thickness or a refractive index such that second optical computing is carried out; a light-emitting device including light-emitting cells corresponding to each of the blocks, that generates signal light, and that emits the signal light to the light diffraction element; and a light-receiving device including light-receiving cells corresponding to each of the cells of the light diffraction element, and that detects the signal light from the light diffraction element.

A multifunctional rangefinder capable of functioning as a rangefinder and at least one additional function. The multifunctional rangefinder comprises a laser transmitter for transmitting a laser pulse and an object lens, located at an inlet of the multifunctional rangefinder, for capturing light reflected by a target and focusing the reflected light at a first digital micro-mirror device. The first digital micro-mirror device has a plurality of micro-mirrors, and each of the plurality of micro-mirrors has an “on” position and an “off” position. A single detector element receives light reflected by the plurality of micro-mirrors of the first digital micro-mirror device. An optical condenser arrangement is located between the digital micro-mirror device and the detector element. An analog/digital converter is coupled to the single detector element for processing signals detected by the single detector element. A grating, a second digital micro-mirror device, first and second collimating lens are also provided.

Provided are meta illuminators. The meta illuminators according to embodiments include a first light emitter configured to emit pattern light, and a second light emitter configured to emit non-patterned light, wherein the first and second light emitters forms a single body. The first and second light emitters respectively include meta-surfaces that are different from each other, and the different meta-surfaces may be formed on a single material layer. The first light emitter includes a pattern region that transmits a portion of incident light, and the second light emitter does not include the pattern region. A mask may be arranged between the light source and the transparent substrate.

The disclosed structured light projector may include (1) a light source having a light-emitting side that emits light, (2) a solid optical spacer element having a first side securely coupled to the light-emitting side of the light source, and (3) a diffractive optical element (DOE) stack including one or more DOEs, where the DOE stack includes (a) a light-receiving side securely coupled to a second side of the solid optical spacer element opposite the first side, and (b) a light-emitting side opposite the light-receiving side that emits structured light in response to the light received from the light-emitting side of the light source via the solid optical spacer element. Various other devices and methods are also disclosed.

A structured light projection module, a depth camera, and a method for manufacturing the structured light projection module are provided. The module comprises: a light source, comprising a plurality of sub-light sources that are arranged in a two-dimensional array and configured to emit two-dimensional patterned beams corresponding to the two-dimensional array, and the two-dimensional patterned beams comprising two-dimensional patterns; a lens, receiving and converging the two-dimensional patterned beams; and a diffractive optical element, receiving the two-dimensional patterned beams converged and emitted from the lens, and projecting speckle patterned beams corresponding to speckle patterns. The speckle patterns comprise a plurality of image patterns corresponding to the two-dimensional patterns, and the image patterns are rotated by an angle such that edges of the image patterns are not in parallel with a baseline between the structured light projection module and a capture module.

A near-eye display system for pupil expansion based on a diffractive optical element includes: A laser light source or an LED light source; a diffusion sheet, arranged on an emergent light path of the laser light source or the LED light source; a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror, arranged on an emergent light path of the diffusion sheet; a diffractive optical element, arranged on an emergent light path of the MEMS scanning mirror; a collimating lens module, arranged on an emergent light path of the diffractive optical element; a mirror, arranged on an emergent light path of the collimating lens module; and a reflective diffraction structure, arranged on a reflection light path of the mirror such that a human eye sees a superimposed image of a real world and a virtual world.

An electrowetting display device includes a first support plate and a second support plate. A first fluid and a second fluid that is immiscible with the first fluid are between the first support plate and the second support plate. A plurality of pixel walls having concave side surfaces are formed on the first support plate to define a plurality of electrowetting pixels. A pixel electrode is disposed on the first support plate for applying a voltage within each electrowetting pixel to cause relative displacement of the first fluid and the second fluid.

A method for assessing the relative alignment of a first and second diffractive element. The method includes illuminating the first diffractive element to form a first diffraction pattern in the far field and illuminating the second diffractive element to form a second diffraction pattern in the far field. The method further comprises determining a positional and/or rotational relationship between the first diffraction pattern and the second diffraction pattern in the far field.

A method of making an iridescent badge that includes: embossing a diffraction grating into a polymeric film to form a diffraction film; positioning the diffraction film in a mold; and injecting a translucent polymeric material into the mold over the diffraction film to form a vehicular badge. Further, the diffraction grating has a thickness from 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns. Another method of making an iridescent badge includes: heating a diffraction film positioned in a mold; applying a vacuum to form the film against a mold surface; and injecting a translucent polymeric material over the mold surface to form a vehicular badge. Further, the diffraction film comprises a polymeric material and a diffraction grating having a thickness from 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns.

Provided is a design method for a diffractive optical element for being used for projecting an oblique line. The method comprises: determining an angle θ between an oblique line and a first direction (S101); according to the angle, determining a first cycle d1 of a diffractive optical element in the first direction and a second cycle d2 of the diffractive optical element in a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and the first cycle d1 and the second cycle d2 satisfy tgθ=d1/d2 (S102); and obtaining a phase distribution map of the diffractive optical element according to the first cycle d1, the second cycle d2 and a target pattern with an oblique line at 45° (S103). By means of the design method, the visual effect of an optical field projected by means of a diffractive optical element can be improved.