Various embodiments include a display panel with integrated micro lens array. The display panel typically includes an array of pixel light sources (e.g., LEDs) electrically coupled to corresponding pixel driver circuits (e.g., FETs). The array of micro lenses are aligned to the pixel light sources and positioned to reduce the divergence of light produced by the pixel light sources. The display panel may also include an integrated optical spacer to maintain the positioning between the micro lenses and pixel driver circuits.

To improve detection efficiency in a solid-state imaging element including a SPAD in which an electrode and wiring are placed in a central portion.

A solid-state imaging element includes a photodiode and a light collecting section. The photodiode includes a light receiving surface and an electrode placed on the light receiving surface, and that outputs an electrical signal in accordance with light incident on the light receiving surface in a state where a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage is applied to the electrode. The light collecting section causes light from a subject to be collected in the light receiving surface other than a region where the electrode is placed.

A PDAF imaging system includes an image sensor and an image data processing unit. The image sensor has an asymmetric-microlens PDAF detector that includes: (a) a plurality of pixels forming a sub-array having at least two rows and two columns, and (b) a microlens located above each of the plurality of pixels and being rotationally asymmetric about an axis perpendicular to the sub-array. The axis intersects a local extremum of a top surface of the microlens. The image data processing unit is capable of receiving electrical signals from each of the plurality of pixels and generating a PDAF signal from the received electrical signals. A method for forming a gull-wing microlens includes forming, on a substrate, a plate having a hole therein. The method also includes reflowing the plate.

Embodiments comprise a system created through fabricating a lens array through which lasers are emitted. The lens array may be fabricated in the semiconductor substrate used for fabricating the lasers or may be a separate substrate of other transparent material that would be aligned to the lasers. In some embodiments, more lenses may be produced than will eventually be used by the lasers. The inner portion of the substrate may be formed with the lenses that will be used for emitting lasers, and the outer portion of the substrate may be formed with lenses that will not be used for emitting lasersrather, through etching these additional lenses, the inner lenses may be created with a higher quality.

Various embodiments include a display panel with integrated micro lens array. The display panel typically includes an array of pixel light sources (e.g., LEDs) electrically coupled to corresponding pixel driver circuits (e.g., FETs). The array of micro lenses are aligned to the pixel light sources and positioned to reduce the divergence of light produced by the pixel light sources. The display panel may also include an integrated optical spacer to maintain the positioning between the micro lenses and pixel driver circuits.

Described herein are embodiments of a diffractive optical element (23) such as a grism. In one embodiment, the diffractive optical element (23) includes an input surface (31) configured to receive an input optical signal (29), a diffractive surface (33) adapted to spatially disperse the input optical beam (29) into a dispersed signal and an output surface (35) configured to output the dispersed signal from the diffractive optical element. The input surface (31) and the diffractive surface (33) are non-parallel and the diffractive surface (33) is formed in situ by a photolithographic technique.

A method of forming a device, the method including: depositing a first photoresist layer over a substrate, forming an array of seed lenses by patterning and reflowing the first photoresist layer, a dimension of the array of seed lenses varying across the substrate, forming a second photoresist layer over the array of seed lenses, and forming a microlens array by patterning and reflowing the second photoresist layer.

A method of manufacturing an optical element includes preparing a first transparent base having a d-line refractive index of 1.80 or more and a second transparent base having a d-line refractive index of 1.80 or more, coating an adhesive on the first transparent base and/or the second transparent base, the adhesive containing a photo-curable resin and a photopolymerization initiator having an absorption edge wavelength of 410 nm or more, and bonding the first transparent base and the second transparent base by irradiating the adhesive with light with a wavelength of 400 nm or more through the second transparent base to cure the adhesive.

A microlens array includes N lenses ranging from a 1.sup.st lens to an N.sup.th lens and a lens arrangement area. N is a positive integer. The lens arrangement area has the N lenses arranged in array. The lens arrangement area receives light emitted from a light source. An i.sup.th (i being 1.sup.st to N.sup.th) lens satisfies a conditional expression below:

2020 where denotes an angle formed by a main-axis orientation of double refraction and a reference orientation.

Embodiments comprise a system created through fabricating a lens array through which lasers are emitted. The lens array may be fabricated in the semiconductor substrate used for fabricating the lasers or may be a separate substrate of other transparent material that would be aligned to the lasers. In some embodiments, more lenses may be produced than will eventually be used by the lasers. The inner portion of the substrate may be formed with the lenses that will be used for emitting lasers, and the outer portion of the substrate may be formed with lenses that will not be used for emitting lasersrather, through etching these additional lenses, the inner lenses may be created with a higher quality.