A liquid crystal based optical deflector includes a light source array configured to generate a laser beam, an optical deflector including a plurality of liquid crystal cells, which transmit the laser beam, the optical deflector configured to deflect a transmission path of the laser beam depending on a gradually increased voltage profile applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells, an optics assembly configured to scan the laser beam deflected by the optical defector in a horizontal direction, and a controller configured to adjust the voltage profile applied to the plurality of liquid crystal cells.

A see-through type display apparatus includes a see-through type optical system configured to transmit a first image via a first-path light, which is light traveling on a first path, to an ocular organ of a user, and a second image via a second-path light, which is light traveling on a second path, to the ocular organ of the user; and an incident light-dependent lens unit provided between the see-through type optical system and the ocular organ of the user and having different refractive powers according to characteristics of incident light, where the incident light-dependent lens unit has a positive first refractive power with respect to the first-path light and has a second refractive power different from the first refractive power with respect to the second-path light.

An integrated optical transmission element may be provided. The integrated optical transmission element includes an optical cavity including an input port and an output port, and photorefractive material within the optical cavity. A transmission of light from the input port to the output port is persistently changeable by an optical control signal provided to the photorefractive material, the optical control signal being configured to change a refractive index.

A see-through type display apparatus includes a see-through type optical system configured to transmit a first image via a first-path light, which is light traveling on a first path, to an ocular organ of a user, and a second image via a second-path light, which is light traveling on a second path, to the ocular organ of the user; and an incident light-dependent lens unit provided between the see-through type optical system and the ocular organ of the user and having different refractive powers according to characteristics of incident light, where the incident light-dependent lens unit has a positive first refractive power with respect to the first-path light and has a second refractive power different from the first refractive power with respect to the second-path light.

Methods and devices for manipulating optical signals. In one example, a LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) device includes a surface bearing an anti-reflection structure. The anti-reflection structure includes i) a physical surface having a topography with features having lateral dimensions of less than 2000 nm and having an average refraction index which decreases with distance away from the surface; and ii) a configuration of the topography, averaged over lateral dimensions of greater than 2000 nm, varies with lateral position on the surface.

Embodiments of the invention are directed compositions and devices that include a spatially-variant lattice (SVL), such as spatially variant photonic crystals (SVPC), as well as methods for making and using the same. In particular, the compositions and devices include SVPCs that are configured for manipulating the path and/or properties of electromagnetic radiation flowing through the SVPC in a variety of ways.

An active prism structure includes: an isotropic layer made of a photocurable isotropic polymer having a predetermined refractive index n.sub.p and stacked on a substrate; and a birefringent layer made of a birefringent material having an ordinary refractive index n.sub.o and an extraordinary refractive index n.sub.e and stacked on the isotropic layer, an interface between the isotropic layer and the birefringent layer is formed in a prism shape, and refractive index differences occurring at the interface between the isotropic layer and the birefringent layer are different according to a polarization direction of incident light. The active prism structure is configured such that the refractive index differences are different according to the polarization direction of the incident light, and thus, it is possible to change a refraction angle and refraction direction of the prism by controlling the polarization direction of the incident light.

An apparatus and method for electromagnetic beam steering and manipulating employ narrow beams in close proximity. The beam width and distance between neighboring beams are arranged around or smaller than the wavelength. In an aspect, a strong beam is steered by a much weaker beam. In another aspect, a strong beam is focused by a small group of much weaker beams.

A long range electromagnetic radiation sensor apparatus comprising a sensing system for receiving electromagnetic radiation signals from an object or area of interest and at least one electromagnetic radiation sensor, the apparatus further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source and a control system configured to cause electromagnetic radiation from said source to be applied to a selected plurality of three-dimensional portions of an atmospheric volume between said optical system and said object or area of interest (204) so as to heat and/or ionise the air within said portions, wherein said selected portions are spatially located together in a three-dimensional configuration so as to simulate an electromagnetic radiation path modifying device (202) for capturing said electromagnetic signals from said object or area of interest and directing and/or converging said captured signals toward said electromagnetic radiation sensor of said sensing system.

A switch based on a phase change material including: a region in said phase change material that couples the first and second conductive electrodes of the switch; and a waveguide including a first end in line with a face of the region in said phase change material and a second end, opposed to the first end, designed to be illuminated by a laser source.