An acousto-optic structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a stacked structure for inducing an interaction between incident acoustic wave and incident optical wave, and it includes: a pair of multi-layered structures including a structure in which two layers with different acoustic impedance and optical impedance are alternately arranged in a direction in which the acoustic wave and the optical wave propagate; and a cavity layer disposed between the pair of multi-layered structures in the direction in which the acoustic wave and the optical wave propagate, and made of a medium having acoustic impedance and optical impedance that are different from those of interfacing layers at both sides, wherein the two layers are symmetrically arranged with respect to the cavity layer so that the acoustic wave and the optical wave may be confined in the cavity layer.

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.

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 additive manufacturing device may include a laser source configured to generate a laser beam, a build material holder configured to hold an additive build material, a controllable deflector having a first scan rate, an AOD having a second scan rate faster than the first scan rate, and a controller. The controller may be configured to control the controllable deflector and the AOD to scan the laser beam relative to the build material holder to additively manufacture a workpiece in successive layers from the additive build material.

A frequency-tunable optical relay comprising one acousto-optic device (AOD) in a double pass configuration is provide. The AOD is configured to receive (a) an input optical beam propagating in a first direction toward the AOD from a first side of the AOD and (b) an electrical driving signal. The optical relay further comprises an output optical element array comprising a plurality of output optical elements disposed on the first side of the AOD. Each output optical element of the plurality of output optical elements is configured to provide a respective output optical beam substantially propagating either parallel or anti-parallel to a second direction. The plurality of output optical elements are spaced apart from one another in a third direction, which is transverse to both the first direction and the second direction.

A frequency-tunable optical relay comprising one acousto-optic device (AOD) in a double pass configuration is provide. The AOD is configured to receive (a) an input optical beam propagating in a first direction toward the AOD from a first side of the AOD and (b) an electrical driving signal. The optical relay further comprises an output optical element array comprising a plurality of output optical elements disposed on the first side of the AOD. Each output optical element of the plurality of output optical elements is configured to provide a respective output optical beam substantially propagating either parallel or anti-parallel to a second direction. The plurality of output optical elements are spaced apart from one another in a third direction, which is transverse to both the first direction and the second direction.

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.

An acousto-optic system may include a laser source, and an AOM coupled to the laser source and having an acousto-optic medium and transducer electrodes carried by the medium. The acousto-optic system may also include an interface board with a dielectric layer and signal contacts carried by the dielectric layer, and connections coupling respective signal contacts with respective transducer electrodes. Each connection may include a dielectric protrusion extending from the AOM, and an electrically conductive layer on the dielectric protrusion for coupling a respective transducer electrode to a respective signal contact.

An acousto-optic system may include a laser source, and an AOM coupled to the laser source and having an acousto-optic medium and transducer electrodes carried by the medium. The acousto-optic system may also include an interface board with a dielectric layer and signal contacts carried by the dielectric layer, and connections coupling respective signal contacts with respective transducer electrodes. Each connection may include a dielectric protrusion extending from the AOM, and an electrically conductive layer on the dielectric protrusion for coupling a respective transducer electrode to a respective signal contact.