In one aspect, an optical device comprises a plurality of waveguides formed over one another and having formed thereon respective diffraction gratings, wherein the respective diffraction gratings are configured to diffract visible light incident thereon into respective waveguides, such that visible light diffracted into the respective waveguides propagates therewithin. The respective diffraction gratings are configured to diffract the visible light into the respective waveguides within respective field of views (FOVs) with respect to layer normal directions of the respective waveguides. The respective FOVs are such that the plurality of waveguides are configured to diffract the visible light within a combined FOV that is continuous and greater than each of the respective FOVs.

An optical composite film includes a reflection grating film layer, an optically-uniaxial optical film layer, and a substrate layer. The optically-uniaxial optical film layer includes a plate-shaped portion and a plurality of refraction portions, where the plate-shaped portion is disposed on the reflection grating film layer, the plurality of refraction portions is disposed on a side of the plate-shaped portion away from the reflection grating film layer, the plurality of refraction portions is selected from one type of camber columns and quadrangular prisms, and an extraordinary light refractive index of the optically-uniaxial optical film layer is less than an ordinary light refractive index of the optically-uniaxial optical film layer; and the substrate layer is stacked on a side of the plate-shaped portion close to the refraction portion.

An array of optical resonators comprises at least a first type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a first wavelength, and a second type of optical resonators each having a resonant response to an optical field at a second wavelength, being different from the first wavelength. The resonant responses can be selected to reduce chromatic aberrations, or to shape a profile of a light beam, or to selectively switch a near field beam.

There is provided an illumination device comprising: a laser; a waveguide comprising at least first and second transparent lamina; a first grating device for coupling light from the laser into a TIR path in the waveguide; a second grating device for coupling light from the TIR path out of the waveguide; and a third grating device for applying a variation of at least one of beam deflection, phase retardation or polarization rotation across the wavefronts of the TIR light. The first second and third grating devices are each sandwiched by transparent lamina.

An optical composite film comprises a reflective grating film layer, a first uniaxial optical film layer, and a second uniaxial optical film layer. The first uniaxial optical film layer comprises a plate portion and a plurality of refraction portions. The plate portion is disposed on the reflective grating film layer. The plurality of refraction portions are disposed on a side of the plate portion away from the reflective grating film layer, and are either curved columns or quadrangular prisms. The second uniaxial optical film layer is laminated on a side of the plate portion adjacent to the refraction portions. The plurality of refraction portions are accommodated in the second uniaxial optical film layer. The second uniaxial optical film layer has an ordinary refractive index less than an extraordinary refractive index of the first uniaxial optical film layer.

An optical device includes a stack of multiple grating structures, each of which includes a plurality of sublayers of liquid crystal material. Each sublayer of liquid crystal material includes laterally extending repeating units, each formed of a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The repeating units of the liquid crystal layers are lateral offset from one another, and defined a tilt angle. The grating structures forming the stack of grating structure have tilt angles of different magnitudes. The grating structures may be configured to redirect light of visible or infrared wavelengths. Advantageously, the different tilt angles of the stack of grating structures allows for highly efficient diffraction of light incident on the grating structures at a wide range of incident angles.

A holographic three-dimensional multi-spot light stimulation device is provided with: a three-dimensional imaging holographic optical system A which employs fluorescent exciting light to acquire three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information resulting from fluorescent signal light from a plurality of stimulation target objects; and a three-dimensional light stimulation holographic optical system B which employs a light stimulation hologram generated on the basis of the acquired three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information to form a plurality of light spots in space, to impart stimulation simultaneously to the plurality of stimulation target objects. Furthermore, the three-dimensional light stimulation holographic optical system B is provided with a spatial light phase modulating element 22 and a control unit 25, wherein the control unit 25 generates the light stimulation hologram by controlling the spatial light phase modulating element 22 on the basis of the three-dimensional fluorescence distribution information.

Improved illumination optics for various applications. The illumination optics may include an optical beam spreading structure that provides a large spread angle for an incident collimated beam or provides finer detail or resolution compared to convention diffractive optical elements. The optical beam spreading structure may include first and second spatially varying polarizers that are optically aligned with each other. The first and second spatially varying polarizers may be formed of a liquid crystal material, such as a multi-twist retarder (MTR). The first and second spatially varying polarizers may diffract light of orthogonal polarization states, which allows for different diffraction patterns to be used in a single optical structure. The two patterns may provide a combined field of view that is larger than either of the first and second fields of view or may provide finer detail or resolution than the first or second fields of view can provide alone.

An optical system is provided. The optical system includes a gaze tracker operative to track a gaze of a user and output data representative of the gaze and a correction portion including multiple spatially varying polarizers. A first polarizer of the spatially varying polarizers has a first control input configured to receive a first control signal indicating whether the first polarizer is to be active or inactive. The first polarizer, when active, provides a first optical correction on light passing through at a location corresponding to a first region of a virtual image. The optical system includes a controller configured to receive the data representative of the gaze, determine, based on the gaze, whether to implement the first optical correction on the light and in response to determining to implement the first optical correction on the light, output the first control signal indicating the first polarizer is to be active.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for determining a range to an object in a fluid. The system includes a polarized light source directed to the object in the fluid, a first imaging sensor, a second imaging sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor characterizes a depolarization rate of the fluid and determines the range to the object. The method includes generating polarized light via a polarized light source, polarizing an imager relative to the polarized light, transmitting the polarized light from the polarized light source into the fluid, receiving reflected light from the object, characterizing a depolarization rate of the fluid, based, at least in part, on the reflected light, and determining the range to the object, based, at least in part, on the depolarization rate of the fluid.