A switchable grating may be used to redirect illuminating light for illuminating a user’s eye in an eye tracking system, to facilitate the determination of eye position and/or orientation. The eye tracking system may be used in a near-eye display. An eye tracking camera obtains an eye image, and a controller performs an initial determination of the eye position. The controller may switch the switchable grating to direct the illuminating light beam onto the eye, for a better position and/or eye orientation determination.

A tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction (TAG) lens and system are provided that permit, in one aspect, dynamic selection of the lens output, including dynamic focusing and imaging. The system may include a TAG lens and at least one of a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. A controller may be provided in electrical communication with the lens and at least one of the source and detector and may be configured to provide a driving signal to control the index of refraction and to provide a synchronizing signal to time at least one of the source and the detector relative to the driving signal. Thus, the controller is able to specify that the source irradiates the lens (or detector detects the lens output) when a desired refractive index distribution is present within the lens, e.g. when a desired lens output is present.

A tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction (TAG) lens and system are provided that permit, in one aspect, dynamic selection of the lens output, including dynamic focusing and imaging. The system may include a TAG lens and at least one of a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation. A controller may be provided in electrical communication with the lens and at least one of the source and detector and may be configured to provide a driving signal to control the index of refraction and to provide a synchronizing signal to time at least one of the source and the detector relative to the driving signal. Thus, the controller is able to specify that the source irradiates the lens (or detector detects the lens output) when a desired refractive index distribution is present within the lens, e.g. when a desired lens output is present.

A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.

A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.

A volumetric display capable of high-speed image presentation includes a resonance-type liquid lens having a focal length that is periodically adjusted using resonance of a liquid. An image projector projects an image toward a viewpoint position of a user via the resonance-type liquid lens. Further, the image projector projects an image toward the viewpoint position within a shorter time period than one-tenth of a variation cycle of the focal length. The image projector includes an LED and a DMD, for example.

A volumetric display capable of high-speed image presentation includes a resonance-type liquid lens having a focal length that is periodically adjusted using resonance of a liquid. An image projector projects an image toward a viewpoint position of a user via the resonance-type liquid lens. Further, the image projector projects an image toward the viewpoint position within a shorter time period than one-tenth of a variation cycle of the focal length. The image projector includes an LED and a DMD, for example.

Provided are an acousto-optic element, an acousto-optic element array, and a display apparatus including the acousto-optic element array. The acousto-optic element includes: an acousto-optic modulator which includes an acousto-optic layer formed of an acousto-optic material; a light supplier which supplies light to the acousto-optic modulator in a first direction; a first sound-wave modulator which applies first elastic waves to the acousto-optic modulator in a second direction; and a second sound-wave modulator which applies second elastic waves to the acousto-optic modulator in a third direction. The light supplied from the light supplier to the acousto-optic modulator is deflected by diffraction caused by the first elastic waves applied from the first sound-wave modulator and diffraction caused by the second elastic waves applied from the second sound-wave modulator, and is output from the acousto-optic modulator through a front side of the acousto-optic modulator.

The present invention concerns a method for generating a pattern of light, this method comprising the following steps: a) emitting an input laser pulse (P1), b) deflecting the input laser pulse (P1) by a first deflector (22) to obtain a first laser pulse, c) deflecting the first laser pulse (P3) by a second deflector (24) to obtain a second laser pulse (P4), and d) focusing the pulse (P4) by an optical element characterized in that: —the first deflector (22) shapes the first laser pulse (P3) according to a first function, —the second deflector (24) shapes the second laser pulse (P4) according to a second function, and —the first function f(x) and the second function g(y) are computed and/or optimized to obtain the desired pattern of light.

The present invention concerns a method for generating a pattern of light, this method comprising the following steps: a) emitting an input laser pulse (P1), b) deflecting the input laser pulse (P1) by a first deflector (22) to obtain a first laser pulse, c) deflecting the first laser pulse (P3) by a second deflector (24) to obtain a second laser pulse (P4), and d) focusing the pulse (P4) by an optical element characterized in that: —the first deflector (22) shapes the first laser pulse (P3) according to a first function, —the second deflector (24) shapes the second laser pulse (P4) according to a second function, and —the first function f(x) and the second function g(y) are computed and/or optimized to obtain the desired pattern of light.